We use Internet for almost everything now. That’s the prime reason why we need Internet everywhere. But the problem is, we cannot be on a reliable connection all the time, if we always want to be online. That’s the reason why we need an extra layer of protection. Virtual Private Networks give that extra layer of security. Those of us, who use Internet from many devices and are frequently using it in mobile devices, VPN connections are of prime importance. In this tutorial, we will discuss how to setup L2TP/IPSec VPN connection for Windows Vista.
Step 1: Create a new Connection
The first step would be to create a new connection. In Windows Vista, you can create new connection, by going to ‘Connect to’ in the start menu. All the available connections for your PC are shown here. In this page, you have to click ‘setup or create a new connection’. This starts the connection setup wizard. In the page that comes next, choose ‘Connect to a workplace’. This is how Windows sees VPN, as a connection to a Workplace. Click ‘Next’. In the next page, choose, ‘Use my Internet Connection’ instead of directly dialing.
Step 2: Enter the details of your VPN service
After you have started the setting up of the connection, your next step would be to enter the details of the VPN server that you want to connect to. The details of the connection can be found in the email that’s sent to your after you have completed the registration with your VPN service. The first important thing you would need is the address of the VPN server. Enter this in the ‘Internet address’ field. Then you can give any desirable name to the VPN service, using which you would like to connect. In the next page, you would be asked the username and password. Enter these, and click ‘Create’.
Now you have created the VPN connection, however, you shouldn’t connect now, because the security protocol hasn’t been decided yet.
Step 3: Choose the connection protocol
Close the wizard, and you would now see the VPN connection which you just made, in the ‘Connect to’ column. Right click the VPN connection, and go to the properties. Here, in the Networking tab, you would find a drop down menu, from which you can choose the type of protocol to be used. Choose, ‘Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPSec’ (in short L2TP/IPSec). You are done!
To connect to the VPN serve, just double click the connection, and you would be connected. You can check you IP address to confirm that you are no longer using your own IP (your location would be different).
