VPN Help

[Cook1]

I work in a very small office (3 people, most times just 2) and was told for the summer I can work from home on Fridays if I can get a VPN going. Awesome and exciting however I'm not the best networking person.

Work has a static IP and my work PC is running XP Pro - home PC has Win7 HP.

The problem is that I'm getting the 800 error at home - I'm able to log in just fine but it won't connect. I did some searching and it seems that error 800 can be just about anything. After reading an article I opened the following ports on my work PC: 47, 443, 500, 1701 and 1723.

I have never setup a VPN before but I 'believe' I set it up correctly (setting it up seems rather straight forward).

Any ideas on what I'm missing or what to try next?

 

[Danimal1209]

Do you have some type of vpn software on your work pc?

 

[cubby1223]

You'll have an easier time setting up remote desktop than vpn, which I'm near positive is what you want anyways. If you do vpn, it would just be an extra level of security to get you to remote desktop.

 

[Cook1]

No VPN software. I thought since we have a static IP at work that I could use that to connect?

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Remote desktop would be fine, but VPN would be more secure. You just need to set it up properly first, then make sure the correct ports are opened in the router and/or firewall.

 

[paul878]

Make sure vpn pass through is enable on your home router, turn off firewall on both computer.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

You might find Google chrome remote desktop a lot easier and safer than guessing how to use the vpn.

 

[Cook1]

I would like to get this setup without using any software. That way I get to learn how to do it - which is part of the fun for me .

Alright, so turn off the firewall on both PCs

Home PC: Make sure VPN Pass Through is enabled

I opened the ports on my work PC - do I need to open any ports on my home PC?

 

[Cook1]

Firewall turned off at work and at home. At home VPN Pass Through was already enabled.

Still getting the same error.

 

[brshoemak]

First, I wouldn't turn off the firewall at home or work for long. Regardless, when you have everything working be sure to enable them again.

1) Is the VPN being setup on a firewall/router where the static IP is assigned? or directly to your computer?
2) If being setup directly on your computer, do you have port forwarding setup so VPN traffic that hits the static IP will be forwarded to your computer?

Also, I guess I'm a little hazy on what " I'm able to log in just fine but it won't connect" means - could you clarify where you are successfully logging into and what will not connect?

 

[cubby1223]

Would like to explain all the steps, but seriously, my advice to you is spend the $10/month and use gotomypc. Quick, easy, done. Then as the months go buy you can learn other ways to connect.

 

[Cook1]

First, I wouldn't turn off the firewall at home or work for long. Regardless, when you have everything working be sure to enable them again.

I turned them both back on - as you mentioned turned them off just to try to connect.

1) Is the VPN being setup on a firewall/router where the static IP is assigned? or directly to your computer?

I set the VPN up directly on my work PC

2) If being setup directly on your computer, do you have port forwarding setup so VPN traffic that hits the static IP will be forwarded to your computer?

I do not

Also, I guess I'm a little hazy on what " I'm able to log in just fine but it won't connect" means - could you clarify where you are successfully logging into and what will not connect?

When I try to connect to the VPN it will say something like logging in using the username/password, gets past that and then tries to connect then fails. I'll take screen shots tonight.

Here is the guide I used to set it up, seemed simple enough in the guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Virtual-Private-Network-with-Windows

 

[Cook1]

Anyone have an idea of what I should be doing next?