Virtual Private Network client is included with Windows 2000 and XP. We can use this built in client to connect to our Windows 2003 VPN. If you missed the VPN Server Configuration, you may want to read up on what was done on the server end first.

In the previous article we created a security group called Copperhat VPN Users. This group contains the users who are allowed VPN access. By assining VPN users to a group it is easier to manage who has permissions to connect to your VPN. We have to options to configure the VPN client, we can do it manually or we can use Connection Manager Administrator Kit (CMAK). Open the Control Panel and start the Network Connections applet. Click on Create New Network Connection and click next to skip the Welcome screen. Select the option to Connect to the network at my workplace and click Next.

Select Virtual Private Network connection and click Next.

Enter a name for the VPN Connection.......

...... and enter the IP of the VPN NIC on the VPN server.

 Check the box to create a shortcut on your desktop and click Finish.

Double-click the icon on your desktop, enter your username and password and click Connect.

You will connect to the server, your username and password will be authenticated and if all goes well you will be connected to your VPN. To test it out, run the following command from the Run box: \\servername\sharename You should see the contents of the share, if you have permissions :)