Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

I'm using Windows 7's "Allow incomming connections" to setup a VPN "server".

My laptop connects to the VPN server and I can access the LAN inside the VPN. But no traffic is routed to the internet, the result I want is this:

Laptop -> VPN tunnel over (insecure) Internet -> LAN -> Internet. Currently I have setup a HTTP proxy on a LAN computer and set the laptop to use this proxy server to connect to the internet, like browsing. I had to setup the DNS for the laptop vpn to the DNS used on the LAN for resolving things, but doing a tracert on 8.8.8.8 or any other ip doesnt work. So all traffic is routed via the VPN but it's stopped somewhere. Status on the WAN Miniport PPTP says on IPv4 connectivity - Not Connected.

I'm not very experienced with VPN tech, but I'm traveling to a country I don't trust internet-wise. And I'm bringing a laptop with me. I just need an encrypted tunnel that transparently transmits data over the unsafe internet via an encrypted tunnel to my home network, and then back out unencrypted. This is what is not working without the proxy server (which is only a HTTP proxy).

The VPN server is a VM (Virtual Machine) with 2 NIC adapters, the host also has 2 NIC adapters, so NIC0 goes through LAN behind a router from ISP0 and NIC1 is on a router from ISP1 that gives a public IP (the other creates a LAN, with a single public IP).

That I can access my LAN using VPN is just a bonus. I do not want to purchase software to make this work.

Sorry if this question is confusing, it was difficult to find the proper terms.

share|improve this question
OpenVPN is free and open source, and is highly recommended because it doesn't use IPSec (which is more complicated) and it doesn't require any proxy servers -- no matter which VPN you set up for yourself, you will need to have at least some basic technical knowledge about VPNs, firewalls, Windows services (because you're using the Windows OS), and network routing: openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/overview.html – Randolf Richardson Nov 6 '11 at 19:39
If you are currently using a VPN (you seemed to be hinting that you'd like a suggestion, which is why I referenced OpenVPN), which one are you currently trying to use? – Randolf Richardson Nov 6 '11 at 19:40
Basically I followed this recipe: pcworld.com/article/210562/how_to_set_up_vpn_in_windows_7.html Which works, except I had to add the DNS server to the LAN router. It just doesnt forward internet traffic via the tunnel to the LAN and out on the internet again. I'm not sure how to describe this. I know firewalls, setting up NATs etc. It's just the VPN part I'm on rocky grounds. I'll look at OpenVPN. Thanks for the suggestion. – CS01 Nov 6 '11 at 19:43
That's the one the comes included with Windows. I've had to switch many clients over to OpenVPN (or Cisco's commercial offerings) to resolve weird routing problems like that. OpenVPN has a configuration option that does exactly what you need: openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/… – Randolf Richardson Nov 6 '11 at 19:49
1  
I'll try it out and see how it works. Do you have any experience about OpenVPN will work the same way with an iPhone (3GS)? The proxy-server I'm doing now works for basic surfing but not for Twitter or other apps that don't like VPN/Proxy. – CS01 Nov 6 '11 at 19:54

Know someone who can answer? Share a link to this question via email, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.