Today, Internet connections over a local or virtual network based on wireless technologies have become very popular among ordinary users and corporate clients. It is not surprising, because when you establish such a secure connection, the best protection is provided for the transmitted and received data, or, more simply, for outgoing and incoming traffic. One of the most common types is the use of the L2TP connection protocol. What is it and how to configure a connection based on it yourself, and then it is proposed to figure it out. Fundamentally there is nothing that would differ from creating a regular connection based on wireless technologies, however, many experts advise to observe several conditions and take into account some recommendations in order to avoid typical errors.
L2TP connection: what is it?
To begin, consider what this type of connection to the Internet or over the network is using exactly this type of access. In fact, the L2TP protocol is one of the varieties of the installation of Internet access based on VPN using the so-called tunneling.
When you connect computers to the Internet in this way, the highest possible privacy is ensured. And this is achieved not only because access to the tunnel is blocked, but also because all data at the input and output is encrypted. Plus, there are test keys on both sides. In other words, without knowing the automatically generated keys, no one can steal or view information. In addition, as is already clear, it is encrypted.
Prerequisites for the connection
But this was just brief theoretical information, so to speak, for general development. Now let's move on to practical steps and consider using an L2TP connection. What kind of technology it is, I think, is a little understandable, so the main steps to create such a connection from the standard VPN settings will be practically no different.
However, before engaging in such actions, pay attention to several mandatory points, without which the created connection will not work, it won’t even be created. The main criteria are:
- operating system not lower than Windows Vista (recommended), although configuration in XP is also possible;
- availability of the address of the corporate server to which it is supposed to make a connection;
- the presence of a login and password to enter the network.
The initial stage of creating a connection
So, first you need to enter the "Network and Sharing Center" (you can call this section either from the standard "Control Panel" or through the PCM menu on the network icon in the system tray (to the left of the clock and date).
Here you must use the hyperlink to create a new network connection and select a connection to the workstation. Further it will be offered to use either the existing connection via VPN or direct dialing.
Choose the first one, since the use of the second only makes sense if the connection is through a mobile operator using a modem.
Next, the question of how to configure the L2TP connection involves the choice of a delayed connection rather than an immediate connection (this action is recommended, but not mandatory, and there is no single solution to this).
At the next stage, be especially careful, since the accuracy of entering the server address plays a paramount role here. Enter the address, enter an arbitrary name for the new connection (type of destination), and then check the box to remember the entered data in the checkbox (this will save you from constantly entering information on subsequent entries). Next, just click the create connection button, after which it will appear in the network settings section and in the system tray.
Configure L2TP Connection: VPN Type Setup
Now the most important thing. A new connection seems to have been created, but without additional settings it may not work correctly.
Use the connection properties through the RMB menu, and then on the security tab for the L2TP connection type, select the protocol of the same name with IPsec (protection level). This is also a required parameter. All other settings proposed for use by default, in principle, can be left unchanged.
Sometimes, on some non-standard router models, it will be necessary to indicate the type of PPTP L2TP connection in the parameters of the web interface, however, when using conventional routers and ADSL modems, such actions are not required.
Possible errors and failures
As for the appearance of errors and failures when establishing an Internet connection through the created connection, there can be as many problems as you like. The most important thing is the usual carelessness of a user who simply incorrectly entered the server address or entered an invalid username and password.
The second point to consider is the properties of IPv4. In its parameters and settings, the automatic receipt of all addresses, including both IP and DNS, must be indicated without fail. In addition, proxy usage must be disabled for local addresses. Keep in mind that wireless technologies do not want to work with static IP. The only option is to connect several terminals connected to a local or virtual network through one L2TP server (in this case, logins and passwords are assigned to each machine).
Finally, if errors arise in this way of posing the question, try using free DNS addresses for the preferred and alternative servers provided, for example, by Google (a combination of fours and eights).
Instead of an afterword
That, in fact, is all about the L2TP connection. What kind of technology is it and how to establish the appropriate connection, I think, is already clear. If you look closely at the practical steps, they all represent the standard procedure for creating a VPN connection. The only difference is that you must specify the address of the corresponding server and choose a protocol with your preferred level of protection. The settings of routers in this article were not considered in principle, since in most cases you can do without changing them.