Installation of the Windows XP VPN-Client

To be able to use a VPN-connection, you just need to have a connection to the Internet,
which can be direct or via a router, either a hardware router

or a software router, like the Windows XP Internet Connection Sharing.

	In the "Network Connections", use in the "Network Tasks" "Create a new connection"
	screen "Network Connection Type" Select "Connect to the network at my workplace"
	screen "Network Connection" select "Virtual Private Network Connection", connect to the network using a virtual private network (VPN) connection over the Internet.
	screen "Connection Name" give your connection a name, could be the Company name, but could also be the name of a friend to which you like to connect
	screen "Public Network" since the connection is establish via the Internet, you will need first to connect to the Internet and the in a second step to connect via VPN to the VPN-server. You can define, whether to make both connections manually yourself or whether the VPN-connection should handle also the initial connection to the Internet, allowing you just to start the VPN-connection.
	you need to define the address, to which to connect to via VPN, either as Internet know Host name or as Internet IP-address. when using VPN in professional configurations, then such an IP-address for a VPN-server is permanent, but when using it for connection to a private system, it may change each day, since on most dialup-connections you will usually get a different IP-address and also most ISP will assign each day a different IP-address for cable or DSL/ADSL modem (also forcing a disconnect and reconnections al least once a day). Just enter the IP-address valid now for the VPN-server.
	The Wizard has completed the new connection. continue with "Finish"
	The wizard will start immediately the connection, you can enter the Username and password, which is valid for a connection to the VPN server, and connect. you need to check a few items in the properties of the VPN connection.
	The VPN connection has been created and stored in your network connections in the section "Virtual Private Network". Right-click and view the Properties.
	tab : Networking Type of VPN set to "Automatic", allowing to connect via PPTP , which is the default for Microsoft VPN servers but not 100% secure, or via L2TP IPsec, which will require additional configuration on the VPN-server. for most uses, please use the "Automatic" setting. You need to select the TCP/IP protocol and display the properties.
	By default, the VPN-server will assign to the VPN-client the settings for the TCP/IP. Click on "Advanced" . Tab "General". by default the VPN-connection will be used as "Default gateway": if you are connected to the Internet and have made the VPN-connection, all requests to other Internet sites will be routed to the VPN-server and NOT directly to the Internet site. if you need to access via the VPN-server a company network, then you need to keep this selection of the "Default gateway", but if you connect via VPN only to a single system, un-check this selection to allow you to connect via the VPN and to other Internet sites in the same session.

Make the VPN-connection