VPN Server

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Can a XP Home machine act as a VPN server/host? Or is it only XP Pro that
can... I have been successful in setting up a VPN connection... can dial in
to the Host machine(XP home) but I am unable to see any of the other
computers on the network via my vpn connection
 
Todd said:
Can a XP Home machine act as a VPN server/host? Or is it only XP Pro that
can... I have been successful in setting up a VPN connection... can dial
in
to the Host machine(XP home) but I am unable to see any of the other
computers on the network via my vpn connection
Click to expand...

Sure...

Presuming you have shared files available on your network I suggest using a
lmhosts file to map PC names to static IP addresses. Then you can use the
form \\PCName\ShareName to access shares. Here is an example lmhosts file...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Vista/PPTP/Examplelmhosts.txt

....which is based on this example network...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Vista/PPTP/ExampleVistaVPNNetwork.pdf

The MS take on a lmhosts file...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314884/en-us

Without using a lmhosts file use the form \\12.34.56.78\ShareName to address
the PC and shared folder. Obviously the IP is specific to your home LAN.

Make sure the XP SP2 Windows Firewall on each PC you want to access is
configured so File & Print Sharing is available either for the local subnet
or specific IP addresses including the assigned IP the VPN client gets...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,17272952

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
2 things I have found the LMHOST file but can not access it to add the
addresses.(microsoft needs to know what program to use to open the file)
2nd if I just use the ip address 12.34.56.78\sharename where do I type in
that information to see my shared network places at work?
 
Todd said:
2 things I have found the LMHOST file but can not access it to add the
addresses.(microsoft needs to know what program to use to open the file)
2nd if I just use the ip address 12.34.56.78\sharename where do I type in
that information to see my shared network places at work?

:
Click to expand...

Use Notepad or Word to edit the lmhosts file. Note you should have admin
privileges.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
hmm.... are you ABSOLUTLEY sure XP home edition can be setup as a
server/host for VPN? (using XP Home, not third party software etc...but the
built in vPN features in XP home and pro) i have tried everything possible to
get (2) computers that both have Home editon to connect and no luck at all.
I can get a XP PRO pc and a XP home to do it though....XP PRo is the HOST, XP
HOME iois the client. I found a microsoft support page saying SERVER isn't
supported in Home edition but on PRO?

the (2) machines also have their own routers each end...all ports necessary
open and firewalls off (for making sure fiirewalls aren't interferring at
all.).

this is really driiving me crazy... some people say XP home can HOST and
some say no? I know it can be a client...but can it host?
thanks!!!!
 
Tim said:
hmm.... are you ABSOLUTLEY sure XP home edition can be setup as a
server/host for VPN? (using XP Home, not third party software etc...but
the
built in vPN features in XP home and pro) i have tried everything possible
to
get (2) computers that both have Home editon to connect and no luck at
all.
I can get a XP PRO pc and a XP home to do it though....XP PRo is the HOST,
XP
HOME iois the client. I found a microsoft support page saying SERVER
isn't
supported in Home edition but on PRO?

the (2) machines also have their own routers each end...all ports
necessary
open and firewalls off (for making sure fiirewalls aren't interferring at
all.).

this is really driiving me crazy... some people say XP home can HOST and
some say no? I know it can be a client...but can it host?
thanks!!!!
Click to expand...

What error message(s) do you get when you try to connect to the XP Home VPN
server PC?

Note that if the VPN server PC is behind a firewall or router you need to
open TCP Port 1723 and the firewall/router must be able to pass GRE Protocol
47 traffic. Some routers call the latter "PPTP Pass Through" or "VPN Pass
Through". Check the documentation for help with that. GRE Protocol 47
traffic can be problematic with some consumer grade routers.

You can run the test detailed on this page to test VPN connectivity. See the
"PPTP Ping" and "VPN Traffic" sections...

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0105.mspx

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
thank you for the reply.

yes...all necessary ports open etc..all passthrus enabled... pretty much
crossed my t's and dotted my i's on this. been round and round with Linksys
about it...and FINALLY got it working with XP Pro (server/host) and XP Home
(client) setup ONLY. Replicated all the exact same necessary settings for a
XP Home and XP Home setup.... only difference, it won't work for the life of
me... i get all the typical errors, can't remember all of them any more...
something like: connection can't be established, so ports closed etc....
basically all the SAME errors I was getting trying to set up the XP Pro and
XP Home setup until I finally set the IP to the server STATIC...then all
worked...did same for this new setup....identical settings as the working
test setup...so.... ALL I CAN FIGURE.... is XP Home CANNOT funtion as a
SERVER/HOST??????? : \

this faq says XP Home cannot be a server/host?
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/vpn/vpnfaq.mspx

under question:
Q. For which operating systems and with which protocols does Microsoft
provide remote access VPN servers?

A. Microsoft supports a fully-featured PPTP-based remote access server in
Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003.
Microsoft supports a fully-featured L2TP/IPSec-based remote access server in
Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003.

Microsoft also supports a single-connection PPTP and L2TP/IPsec-based remote
access server in Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server (standalone),
Windows XP Professional, and Windows Vista (all versions) through the
Incoming Connections feature of the Network Connections folder. For
information about Incoming Connections for Windows XP, see Incoming
connections. For information about Incoming Connections for Windows Vista,
see Set up an incoming VPN or dial-up connection.

Microsoft supports a Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) remote access
server in Windows Server 2008. For more information about SSTP, see The
Secure Socket Tunneling Protocoland the Routing and Remote Access Blog.


so confused... maybe somebody can verify if XP Home can act as a aserver or
not?

thx!!!!!

Tim
 
XP Home CANNOT be set up as a Home VPN Server...ONLY XP Pro can be set up as
the VPN Server. As you have already tested, an XP Pro Home VPN Server to XP
Home client works perfectly.
 
Tim said:
thank you for the reply.

yes...all necessary ports open etc..all passthrus enabled... pretty much
crossed my t's and dotted my i's on this. been round and round with
Linksys
about it...and FINALLY got it working with XP Pro (server/host) and XP
Home
(client) setup ONLY. Replicated all the exact same necessary settings for
a
XP Home and XP Home setup.... only difference, it won't work for the life
of
me... i get all the typical errors, can't remember all of them any
more...
something like: connection can't be established, so ports closed etc....
basically all the SAME errors I was getting trying to set up the XP Pro
and
XP Home setup until I finally set the IP to the server STATIC...then all
worked...did same for this new setup....identical settings as the working
test setup...so.... ALL I CAN FIGURE.... is XP Home CANNOT funtion as a
SERVER/HOST??????? : \
Click to expand...

I don't know what "i get all the typical errors" means but without specifics
no one will be able to help. Also if you did not run the test detailed in
the URL I gave you its pretty hard for others to help...

If you can't get a VPN link to the PC then perhaps OpenVPN or Secure Shell
(SSH) are good alternatives for you.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/OpenVPN/OpenVPN.html

http://www.itefix.no/phpws/index.ph...er_op=view_page&PAGE_id=12&MMN_position=22:22
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/SecureYourcopSSHServer-Vista.html

The Tunnelier SSH client. Ignore the parts about Remote Desktop if your
connecting to an XP Home machine through the tunnel...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/Configure-Tunnelier.html

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
Sooner Al said:
I don't know what "i get all the typical errors" means but without
specifics no one will be able to help. Also if you did not run the test
detailed in the URL I gave you its pretty hard for others to help...

If you can't get a VPN link to the PC then perhaps OpenVPN or Secure Shell
(SSH) are good alternatives for you.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/OpenVPN/OpenVPN.html

http://www.itefix.no/phpws/index.ph...er_op=view_page&PAGE_id=12&MMN_position=22:22
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/SecureYourcopSSHServer-Vista.html

The Tunnelier SSH client. Ignore the parts about Remote Desktop if your
connecting to an XP Home machine through the tunnel...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/Configure-Tunnelier.html

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
Click to expand...

To add a bit, make sure you test over your local LAN first from another
local PC. Use the local LAN IP address of the server, *NOT* the public IP of
the router or a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). The public addresses are
only valid from a remote PC, ie. a PC not on the local LAN.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Vista/PPTP/BasicVPNTest.html

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
 
Thank you Darrell! I kinda figured this was the case...but thanks for also
verifying it for me! Seems I was confused by the first couple posts of this
thread that IT WAS POSSIBLE (using the built in XP VPN features, not
third-party stuff)...but OBVIOUSLY not.

I will upgrade the pc with Vista Business or Ultimate (instead of XP
Pro..want to move forward, I understand that I need to make sure devices and
programs work, etc. have done so...all good.).

Thanks again Darrell....since there are not a whole lot of answers about
this problem out there on the web...this will definately help a lot of people
with this same "XP Home as Server using built in VPN????" problem! : )

After multiple tries and covering all my bases, I have alos come to a
conclusion that it also will not work.

Tim
 
Darrell said:
XP Home CANNOT be set up as a Home VPN Server...ONLY XP Pro can be set up
as the VPN Server. As you have already tested, an XP Pro Home VPN Server
to XP Home client works perfectly.
Click to expand...
You may be interested in this thread from the
microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely news group...

http://tinyurl.com/2ok9z9

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
 
My hats off to him if he was able to setup XP home as a VPN server. I've
only had success with setting XP Pro as the server and everything I've read
from Microsoft states that XP Pro can be both the server and client and XP
Home will only work as the client but not the server.
 
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