vpn Newbie Help 2

[Di254]

I need to connect to a home computer running win 98(in another state) via the internet from my winxpHome computer. My mother is a new user and needs lots of help and I thought this would allow me to access her computer. How do I do this. What needs to be set up on the computer I am trying to contact. I have a very good computer knowledge so just need a few tips .

 

[vishuonline]

Hi,
if you want to make a virtual connection between 2 machines over the internet, then your are at the right place.!

Firstly(of manny mre thing to come..),
you need to make(/Configure) one machine a server and another a client for this..i mean for VPN to work. So, you could decide which machine XP/98 to be made as a server. I would prefer XP, not just becoz it is the latest..but I hate 98 totally..and Microsoft has made 98 tailored just for home users...i dont expect good things fomr it..(did I say I have 98 as my PC!)

Then you need to make(/Configure) the other machine as the client. If you choose to make 98 as the client..you have a VPN client readily available from Microsoft to use..! and it is FREEEEEE!..

Now lets come to the more interesting aspect of this situation.. What are the possible bottlenecks you might run into..?
You could configure your XP machien as a VPN (RAS) server.
This you culd configure as PPTP (Microsoft way..) or L2TP/IPSec (IETF standard..and ..truly an industry standard..as it ensures mroe security and authenticity thru encryption).

Now after deicding which way, then you follow the required steps (widely available over the internet) you are ALMOST ready..

Finally, you might want to check the issue of NAT coming into your scenario. If the 2 machines are behind NAT bozex which do PAT..then you might have some prolems with L2TP/IPsec. You mgiht want to check withyour ISP for making IPSec traffic go thRU..

so if you do this..lets know how was yoru exprience..I am
sure there are a lot of people who culd benefit ..

goodluck
Vishu.

 

[John Lewis]

I'll agree with vishuonline on this one for the most part. I would configure XP as a server, 98 as a client. Initiating the connection is not difficult, so that should not be a problem. As for specifics, check out

http://www.onecomputerguy.com

. Click on Start at the top of the page, then Networking -- should be able to follow it from there. Certainly not the only resource on the web, but I have found it is easy for others to follow. Lots of nice screen shots.

Only have one real difference of opinion, I would skip the L2TP/IPsec issue and stick with PPTP. This doesn't strike me as a situation that requires real good security, and those options are more difficult to configure.

 

[vishuonline]

I concur with mhk's opinion too..IPSec might be an overkill.. I was just presenting possibilities and situations .. and mhk... thanks for the link..

Vishu.