How to configure a Vista VPN connection to use SSL

So far we have been connecting to the VPN using PPTP. Now that everything is in place, we need to modify the connection to use SSL. To do so, perform the following steps:

1. Open the Network and Sharing Center, and click the Disconnect link,

   Vista VPN setup guide, part 1 Learn how to configure Windows Server 2008 to act as an SSL VPN server in part 1 of our Vista VPN setup guide.

   followed by the Manage Network Connections link.
2. Right-click on the VPN connection that you created earlier, and choose the Properties command from the resulting shortcut menu.
3. At this point, Windows will display the connection's properties sheet. Go to the properties sheet's Networking tab, and choose the Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) option from the Type of VPN dropdown list.
4. Click OK.

We have now created an SSL-based VPN, and your users should be able to use it to connect to the network. If users have trouble logging into the network, then remember that you have to give them permission to remotely connect to the network via a VPN. To do so, open the Active Directory Users and Computers console, right click on a user account, and choose the Properties command from the resulting shortcut menu. When Windows displays the user's properties sheet, go to the Dial-In tab, select the Allow Access option and click OK.

Vista VPN setup guide, part 2

  Introduction
 Connect to the VPN server
 Establish trust
 Install the downloaded certificate
 Configure the VPN connection to use SSL

Brien Posey

About the author
Brien M. Posey, MCSE, is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with Windows 2000 Server and IIS. Brien has served as the CIO for a nationwide chain of hospitals and was once in charge of IT security for Fort Knox. As a freelance technical writer he has written for Microsoft, TechTarget, CNET, ZDNet, MSD2D, Relevant Technologies and other technology companies. You can visit Brien's personal Web site at http://www.brienposey.com.