VPN setup guide, part 2: How to configure Windows Vista workstations

Service provider takeaway: Value-added resellers (VARs) and networking consultants learn how to configure Windows Vista workstations to connect to a VPN server running on Windows Server 2008.

Previously in the VPN setup guide, I walked you through the process of configuring Windows Server 2008 to act as an SSL VPN server. In part two of the guide, I demonstrate how to configure a Windows Vista workstation to connect to the VPN server that you configured. Before we begin, we need to modify the Host file.

One of the problems with connecting to an SSL-based VPN is that there are no public DNS records that clients can use to resolve the VPN server's name. Therefore, we need to add a couple of records to the machine's Hosts file -- a simple text file that you can use to enter a static list of host names and IP addresses.

There are two host names that you will enter int...

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o the Hosts file. The first is the name and IP address of the VPN server. The other host that you need to enter is the CDP URL.

You can actually create DNS records instead of adding these records to the Hosts file. However, I recommend using the Hosts file to avoid disclosing your customer's VPN-related IP addresses to the general public.

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Brien Posey
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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.