Configure Windows XP Professional to be a VPN server

Configure Windows XP Professional to be a VPN server

By Dr. Thomas Shinder, Special to ZDNet Asia
Friday, August 23, 2002 12:01 PM
Find out how to configure a Windows XP Professional computer to accept incoming VPN connections.

For the Small Office/Home Office (SOHO), Windows XP Professional VPN features are a real boon.

Traveling users with laptops or handheld computers will inevitably want files on the home network; you just can’t bring everything with you. This is where the beauty of the Windows XP Professional computer connected to an always-on connection, such as DSL or cable modem, shines. That always-on link can be used to accept incoming VPN connections and allow your mobile users to access shared folders and files on your private network.

In this article, I’ll explain how to configure a Windows XP Professional computer to accept incoming VPN connections and discuss some tips on improving the remote access experience for the VPN client computer user.

Windows XP’s all-in-one VPN solution
Windows XP Professional is designed as the one-stop solution for the SOHO, taking all the usability features available to Windows Me users and adding the powerful networking features available in Windows 2000. The combination lets you create the ideal remote access solution for the SOHO.

The Windows XP Professional remote access server capabilities are very similar to those available in Windows 2000 Professional. A Windows XP computer can accept a single incoming connection on each interface that can accept a connection. For example, a Windows XP machine can accept incoming connections on each of the following interfaces: