VPN Connection to my home network

Question

I'm currently trying to try VPN however I'm a little confused as to how to make it work. I'm trying to connect to my home network from my friends home network. When it asks for the IP address of the computer I want to connect to, which IP address do I need to give, my router IP or the IP of the pc I'm trying to connect to on my home network? Also do I need to change any settings on my router in order for me to establish a VPN connection? I'd appreciate any help or guidance in this matter. Thanks.

DELL-BobT · Answer

Baldie, Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum. Look at item #5 in the primary network FAQ.

SwampNut · Answer

The full solution to this is too complex to just give you an answer. You need to have a VPN server. That can be a Windows NT/2000/2003 server, or it can be a router that supports VPN termination (most only support pass-through). Linksys has a termination-capable router for about $175.

I don't believe Win XP supports VPN terminations, but I've never really looked.

regmeyster · Answer

I set-up the VPN software, that was included with XP, on my client pc and on my remote pc. I was told that I needed to install VPN software on my client pc, is this true? I assumed that XP already had the necessary software to create a VPN connection.

Also I needed to know how to configure my router to allow the connection. I was told that I needed to open a port for the connection to go through however which port do I need to open up? It also asks for an IP address however the IP address on my client pc will always be different on another network so how can I set an IP on my router to let it know to let me pass-through?

regmeyster · Answer

I recently purchased a belkin router and it stated it supported IPSEC pass-through for vpn connection. Is this what I'm looking for?

SwampNut · Answer

I have never done inbound VPN using a consumer-grade router.

You will need a VPN server on the network you want to connect to. What is providing that service? Is there a VPN server for XP? The client is built in. Go to networks and click new connection, you'll see VPN client there. The port used will vary depending on the service used. Windows is usually PPTP, port 1723.

This might not ever work. It says IPSEC pass-through, but they assume that to mean outbound. It may not work inbound.

regmeyster · Answer

So having a home network with a router, VPN cannot be done? Is there a way I can log onto my home desktop from another network? Perhaps VPN isn't the right situation I'm looking for.

SwampNut · Answer

I don't know if it's possible, never tried it without a real server or VPN termination router.

If you just want access to your home XP machine, use remote desktop. Enable remote desktop access on the home machine, add your user account to the remote callers group, then forward port 3389 on your router to that machine. The remote client is in Windows XP, and can be downloaded and installed on any Windows machine.

regmeyster · Answer

Thanks swampnut.....I think remote desktop is exactly what I was looking for. Okay so on my router I open port 3389 and fwd any IPS going into that port to fwd to my desktop correct? So from the client side, what IP am I gonna enter to connect to....my routers IP?

Also......my parents live in Fresno and I am in Long Beach. I may from time to time need to connect to their desktops (2) to do some maintenance on their pc's. Will I be able to utilize remote desktop to do that?

SwampNut · Answer

Yes, you've got those details right. Forward 3389 to the internal machine IP, then from outside you connect to the router's external IP address.

You can use remote desktop, but the easiest way is for them to send you a support request from their machine.

regmeyster · Answer

So for example....when I enter the IP of my router, it is entered as 48l48.48.4:3389? (not the real IP)

SwampNut · Answer

No, the real, outside IP address. The remote client will use port 3389 automatically.

SwampNut · Answer

On the client, you will enter the router's outside, real, internet address. It is usually listed as WAN IP in the router.

regmeyster · Answer

OK Great!! okay....I'm not sure if you can help me out with this but on my router...I was trying to find out where to configure settings to open the 3389 port. Do you I need to go into Applications Gateway or the Virtual Servers tab?

regmeyster · Answer

okay sorry swampnut....I'm confused... . When it asks for the computer I wish to connect to, which IP do I give? My WAN IP (the ip my router gives out publicily)? My desktop IP?

SwampNut · Answer

Virtual servers.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

VPN Connection to my home network

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