Trying to setup VPN at home, using Windows, but I'm confused about the IP addresses

aph

aph

aph

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27 Oct 2005
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Hi guys,

I've not done this before. Here's what I understand. I understand how to setup windows as a VPN server, and configure usernames for access.

The next step I'm confused about. I obviously need to be able to put an IP address into the internet, which allows me to connect to my server.

Thing about that is with my Netgear DG834G router, I had VPN settings, and I presume that the VPN passthrough bit would mean that the router redirects the public ip to a local ip.

just a guess. but i moved to Be internet. and the DG834G didn't work, constantly dropped connections, so I've had to use the Be Box provided. which in fairness is great, but it doesn't have anything about vpn. closest options it has are dynamic dns. but then isn't that for people who don't have a static ip. i'm really confused! i just want to be able to setup vpn.

i've googled a lot for the answer, and there's a lot about setting windows up as a vpn server... not so much about the setting up of ip addresses for the connection

does anyone know about this?
 
Your router needs to be able to forward
TCP port 1723 (PPTP) and
IP Protocol 47 (GRE)

A lot of SOHO routers will not allow this (i have no idea if the router you have supports it).

VPN Passthrough generally means you will be able to initiate Outgoing VPN connections.

Dynamic DNS has nothing to do with this and is for people with DYNAMIC ips who want to be able to connect from externally even if their IP changes.
 
Yeah I can forward those two ports to the server from the router.

Once I've done that, if I type my public IP address into a computer in say starbucks. Will I then get connected to the server? That's the bit I still don't fully understand.
 
yes, thats the theory. IP Protocol 47 (GRE) isnt a port though, its a protocol (so forwarding port 47 won't work). The DG834G allows passthough (I use exactly the same router at home and have VPN set up). In my case, there is a firewall rule (in the rules by default) for VPN - select that, enter the IP address to forward into (e.g 192.168.2.x) and jobs done.
 
Last edited:
lokkers said:
yes, thats the theory. IP Protocol 47 (GRE) isnt a port though, its a protocol (so forwarding port 47 won't work). The DG834G allows passthough (I use exactly the same router at home and have VPN set up). In my case, there is a firewall rule (in the rules by default) for VPN - select that, enter the IP address to forward into (e.g 192.168.2.x) and jobs done.
Click to expand...

Oh dear, I don't think my router allows for that protocol. I thought there must be more to it than just TCP and UDP port forwarding. Heh, I'm learning... slowly. I'll get into contact with Be and see if the router supports that. The interface for it is rather bizzare. It's not easy to navigate so there is a chance I've missed a setting.

Thanks for your well written reply. That's cleared up my confusion.
 
easiest way around this..

install hamachi on your machine and create a network on that, you'll need to install it on the machine that you want to connect from also, but it's totally secure and free (and super easy to setup) :)
 
aph said:
Thanks for your well written reply. That's cleared up my confusion.
Click to expand...

No problems :)

Bledd has some good advice - Hamachi is an excellent cliet/server vpn application. You could also consider Logmein if you only needed desktop access.
 
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