How to install VPN for windows server

I am trying to install a VPN for windows 2003 server, mainly to secure Remote Desktop Login

Does any one know where to start this process?

Any good online tutorial and guidelines will be very useful

Thanks in advance

Check this out: http://articles.techrepublic.com.co...35-5805260.html

Thanks for the reply, looks like a very good article. I willtry to follow these steps and setup VPN

Thanks

No problem, hope this helps you get it setup correctly

I was checking our system, i was wondering how easy it is to uninstall VPN if things started to not work properly.

Also do you guys know any hardware firewall we can install easily without any major hassles

I did some online research for hardware firewall for VPN

what you think about this one.

Found this one at HotBricks
http://www.hotbrick.com/produto.asp?tipo=2&codPro=7

Its support all the main functionality to secure our network

Do you guys think this is worth buying.

I would imagine you could run the configuration wizard and remove VPN from the server roles. Don't quote me on that, though.



From the key benefits, it looks like a pretty good solution. It states it performs packet inspection, but it doesn't say how deep that goes. May want to look into that. However, it does provide NAT, load balancing, DMZ bi-directional communication, and so on and so forth. These are good services to have.

[EDIT]
Just wanted to add, you may want to check out our sister forum, DevHardware, as there are people who are more knowledgeable with hardware related questions.
[/EDIT]

I would advise using an external vpn router, they are more secure and eliminate all the problematic server configuration you need to do. Of course, from what I hear configuring VPN routers isn't a picnic either

For myself, I use SSH on both windows and linux as a more-or-less VPN tunnel over the internet. So far I've been able to do everything I need remotely without actually being on the remote network like you'd be with a true VPN connection. I run remote desktop over the SSH tunnel without any problems.

I would agree with Doug.

I run 3 VPNs to different sites via a couple of Draytek routers and a Linksys, a couple on IPSec and one on PPTP (I didn't set this one up). As far asI know IPSec is more secure than PPTP, but I find the PPTP more stable.

Pretty simple to setup. Just input the respective static IPs to each router and the shared key both ends and you're sorted. Just remember to put different ends on different subnets; ie don't have 192.168.1.x on both networks, have 192.168.1.x one end and 192.168.2.x at the other, otherwise you get confliction problems. Assuming your server is on a static at, say 192.168.1.2, to use remote desktop, just type in that IP to the app from your remote location.

I think software VPNs can be a real pig to setup, because you have to get your software VPN setup right and sort out hardware and/or software firewall permissions aswell. Just presents you with another debugging issue if you don't get it to fire up first time. A hardware tunnel is direct connection, endpoint to endpoint.

I still get the occasional dropoff on the IPSecs, but it normally comes back on in a few seconds or it's nothing a quick router reboot doesn't sort.

Suppose it depends if you've got any budget to spend on routers. The linksys I use as an endpoint was only about £40, I think, only provides IPSec and not wireless, but you can set it up reasonably cheaply. I also tried a couple of Netgears but couldn't get those to work at all. In preference I'd probably go for something more expensive though.

Hope that helps.

Thanks a lot guys, we will be installing hardware version of VPN soon, hopefully we will be able to setup without any major issues, I will keep you guys updated.

Thanks