Setting up a VPN in Windows 7 Professional is fairly simple. First, open the Control Panel and click on the Network and Internet category. Next, double-click on the Network and Sharing Center icon. Click on the Change adapter settings link in the left-hand column. Right-click on the network interface that you want to use for your VPN connection and select Properties. Under the General tab, click on the Properties button. Under the VPN tab, click on the Add button. In the VPN connection type window, select the Connect to a VPN server using an L2TP/IPSec connection radio button. In the VPN server address field, type the IP address of the VPN server that you want to connect to. In the VPN server name field, type the name of the VPN server. Click on the Connect button.
Under the Authentication tab, select the Use strong authentication radio button. In the User name and password fields, type the username and password of the user account that you want to use for your VPN connection. Click on the OK button. Under the Security tab, click on the Use the following security settings for this connection radio button. In the VPN type field, select the L2TP/IPSec connection radio button. In the Remote user field, type the username of the user account that you want to use for your VPN connection. In the Local user field, type the username of the user account that you want to use for your VPN connection. Under the General tab, click on the OK button. Click on the Close button.
Now that you have set up your VPN connection, you need to start the VPN connection. To do this, open the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window. Click on the Firewall with Advanced Security icon in the system tray. Next, click on the Rules tab. Under the Inbound rules category, click on the Add rule button. In the Add Inbound Rule window, click on the Remote network connection (TCP) check box.
In the Protocol field, type the protocol type of the VPN connection that you want to use. In the Address field, type the IP address of the VPN server that you want to connect to. In the Port field, type the port number of the VPN connection that you want to use. In the Remote network name field, type the name of the VPN server that you want to connect to. In the Firewall with Advanced Security dialog box, click on the OK button.
Now that you have added the rule, Windows Firewall will start to protect your computer. To test your VPN connection, click on the Connect Now button in the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window.
