Windows 7 / Networking

Configuring a VPN Connection

To configure the settings of a connection that you have already created, open its Properties dialog box by doing one of the following:

  • Click the networking icon in the system tray to display the View Available Networks (VAN) UI and then right-click the connection and select Properties.
  • Open Network And Sharing Center, click Change Adapter Settings, and then right-click the connection and select Properties.
  • At a command prompt or in the Search box on the Start menu, type ncpa.cpl, press Enter, and then right-click the connection and select Properties.

The properties sheet for configuring a VPN connection has five tabs:

  • General Specifies the host name or IP address (IPv4 or IPv6) of the remote VPN server and whether to use another connection first to establish Internet connectivity before initiating the VPN connection.
  • Options Specifies dialing options, redialing options, and PPP settings.
  • Security Specifies authentication and data encryption settings.
  • Networking Specifies the tunneling protocol(s) used (PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, or Automatic), IP address settings (static or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol [DHCP]), and IPsec settings (for L2TP/IPsec-based connections only).
  • Sharing Enables Internet Connection Sharing for the connection and specifies whether to dial another connection to establish Internet connectivity before initiating this connection.

For more information about configuring connection properties, use Help And Support. Some specific configuration options, focusing on differences with connection properties in Windows Vista, are discussed in the next section.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Connecting Remote Users and Networks
  2. Enhancements for Connecting Remote Users and Networks in Windows 7
  3. Understanding IKEv2
  4. Understanding MOBIKE
  5. Understanding VPN Reconnect
  6. Protocols and Features of VPN Reconnect
  7. How VPN Reconnect Works
  8. Understanding DirectAccess
  9. Benefits of DirectAccess
  10. How DirectAccess Works
  11. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
  12. Ipv6
  13. IPsec
  14. Perimeter Firewall Exceptions
  15. Implementing DirectAccess
  16. Understanding BranchCache
  17. Benefits of BranchCache
  18. How BranchCache Works
  19. Protocols Supported by BranchCache
  20. Implementing BranchCache
  21. Supported Connection Types
  22. Outgoing Connection Types
  23. Incoming Connection Types
  24. Deprecated Connection Types
  25. Supported Tunneling Protocols
  26. Comparing the Different Tunneling Protocols
  27. Understanding Cryptographic Enhancements
  28. Support for AES
  29. Weak Cryptography Removal from PP TP/L2TP
  30. Supported Authentication Protocols
  31. Understanding the VPN Connection Negotiation Process
  32. Creating and Configuring VPN Connection
  33. Creating a VPN Connection
  34. Initiating a Connection
  35. Terminating a Connection
  36. Viewing Connection Details
  37. Configuring a VPN Connection
  38. Configuring Security Settings for a VPN Connection
  39. Configuring the Tunneling Protocol (s) Used
  40. Configuring Advanced Connection Settings
  41. Configuring the Data Encryption Level
  42. Configuring the Authentication Method Used
  43. Configuring Authentication for IKEv2 connections
  44. Configuring Mobility for IKEv2 Connections
  45. Configuring Dial-Up Connections
  46. Creating a Dial-Up Connection
  47. Advanced Connection Settings
  48. Configuring Incoming Connections
  49. Managing Connections Using Group Policy
  50. Using Remote Desktop
  51. Understanding Remote Desktop
  52. Versions of RDP
  53. RDP 6.1 Features and Enhancements
  54. RDP 7.0 new features and enhancements
  55. RemoteApp and Desktop Connection
  56. Understanding RDC
  57. Understanding Remote Desktop Services Terminology
  58. Configuring and Using Remote Desktop
  59. Enabling Remote Desktop and Authorizing Users on a Single Computer
  60. Enabling Remote Desktop Using Group Policy
  61. Configuring and Deploying Remote Desktop Connection
  62. Configuring Remote Desktop Connection from the Command Line
  63. Configuring Remote Desktop Connection Using Notepad
  64. Configuring Remote Desktop Using Group Policy
  65. Establishing a Remote Desktop Session
  66. Improving Remote Desktop Performance
  67. Troubleshooting Remote Desktop Sessions
  68. Configuring and Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection