Windows 8 VPN Setup

Windows 8 VPN Get Connected

The VPN client in Windows 8, like the operating system itself, has been optimized for touch devices. This optimization makes creating a VPN connection, and connecting to corporate networks, faster and easier. The VPN connection icon now appears in View Available Networks, along with other network connections. Creating a VPN profile requires only the server information. Windows auto-discovers authentication methods and tunnels while connecting, making the VPN experience seamless.

The following sections describe how to set up and edit VPN connections using Windows 8:

  • Creating a new VPN connection
  • Connecting to a corporate network using an existing VPN Connection
  • Editing connection properties
  • Deleting a connection

In Windows 8 you can use the Get Connected Wizard to create a VPN profile. To launch the wizard, type vpn inSettings, and then click Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection.

Launch GCWFigure 1: Launch the Get Connected Wizard

In the wizard, you will provide the internet address of the Remote Access VPN server to which you will connect, and a name for the new connection. You can use an IP address or the fully qualified domain name of the Remote Access server. If you have a computer running Windows 8 with VPN already configured, you can view the server settings by viewing the connection properties, as shown in Figure 8. The destination name is the text that will be used for the VPN connection name (profile name), as shown in Figure 2. Note that you can click Remember Credentials which saves your credentials on the first successful connection attempt. This creates a new Discovery Profile which the client can use to connect to VPN.

Get Connected WizardFigure 2: Get Connected Wizard Screen 1

Figure 2 shows the only information needed to create a VPN profile. Authentication and tunneling protocols are negotiated and configured during the first successful connection attempt for username/password based VPN deployments. Once these protocols are negotiated, you can edit these settings in Connection Properties.

  1. Open Charms by moving the cursor to the top or bottom right corner of your computer screen. It can also be accessed by using the Win+C hotkey.Get Connected WizardFigure 3: Charms Bar
  2. Click Settings and then click the network icon displayed in the right-hand corner of the screen, as in Figure 4 below.Get Connected WizardFigure 4: Network icon location
  3. In Networks click the VPN connection that you want to use and then click Connect.Get Connected WizardFigure 5: Connect to VPN

Once you click Connect, a new connection is negotiated with the server using the saved credentials. If you have not previously checked Remember Credentials while creating the connection, you will be asked to provide credentials.

Get Connected WizardFigure 6: Specify VPN connection credentials

When you select Remember my credentials while creating your connection, you won’t be asked for the credentials in further connection attempts. You can clear the cached credentials by right-clicking the connection and selecting Clear Cached Credentials, as shown in the following figure.

Get Connected WizardFigure 7: Clear cached credentials

You can edit a connection that you have already configured by right-clicking the connection and then selectingConnection Properties.

Connection Properties has four tabs described below. You can access Connection Properties by clicking View Connection Properties in Networks.

Get Connected WizardGet Connected WizardFigure 8: Connection Properties

Connection Properties Tabs:

  1. General – Change the VPN server hostname or IP address. Additionally, configure an interface to public network.
  2. Options – Configure PPP Settings and enable/disable caching of credentials.
  3. Security – Configure tunnels, authentication, and encryption settings.
  4. Networking – Configure transports (or protocols). The most common protocols are TCP/IPv4 and TCP/IPv6.

In the Start screen, click Search in Charms, type vpn and then click View Network Connections under Settings.

Get Connected WizardFigure 9: View Network Connections

Right-click a VPN connection and then click Delete, as in Figure 10 below:

Get Connected WizardFigure 10: Deleting a connection

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