MS-VPN setup and use

CUBINlab hosts a Microsoft PPTP compatible Virtual Private Network (VPN) server allowing users to have convinient network access. The VPN enables the following services that would otherwise be blocked at the network firewall.

• X-Windows via XDCMP
• MS-Windows File Mounts (via SAMBA)
• Direct access to all CUBINlab machines for SSH or other network experiments

In addition to these services above, the VPN is used as a secure transport for the CUBINlab Wireless LAN.

VPN clients are currently supported under Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Apple OS X. No client software is required to be installed (other than having the latest service pack being installed in MS-Windows). Linux and FreeBSD clients can be supported through the use of the PoPToP open source PPTP client.

The guides below give a brief outline of the steps required for setting up a VPN client connection. It is hoped that eventually similar guides can be written for all client operating systems (including Windows 98, Linux and FreeBSD).

Windows 2000 Clients

In the Control Panel, select Network and Dial-up Connections. Double click Make New Connection as shown below.

You will now proceed through the Network Connection Wizard as shown below. Click on Next.

We are wanting to set up a VPN connection, so select that here, then click on Next.

If you are setting up your workstation in the department, there is no need to establish a network connection first, before attempting to use the VPN. In this case, select Do not dial the initial connection (see the screenshot below). If you are setting up a machine off-campus and you are using dial-up, you may wish to select an existing MS-Windows Dial Up Networking (DUN) connection profile from the drop down list.

Click Next once you have made your selection.

The hostname of the VPN server is vpn.cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au. Enter this in the destination address as shown below then click Next.

Lastly, the wizard will ask you to give a name to the new VPN connection. You may call this anything you wish. You might find it convinient to also place a shortcut to the VPN connection on your desktop. See the example screenshot below.

You will now be presented with the connection dialogue box for the VPN connection, as shown below. We wish to set up the connection properties first, so click on Properties.

Under the options tab as shown below, select the redial if line is dropped check box, then click on the OK button. The other properties can be safely left as default.

Back at the VPN connection dialogue box (as shown below), enter in your CUBINlab password, then select the Save Password check box if you would like MS-Windows to keep the password saved for future sessions.

Click on the Connect button to connect to the VPN through the network (departmental Intranet or public Internet).

Once connected to the VPN, you should see the connection icon in the tray, as shown below. To disconnect from the VPN, either right click the icon or double click it, then select Disconnect.