As well as web development, I also look after the local network and PCs at work, although I don't have much experience in setting this up. I just get by on what I know and call somebody in to do the more advanced tasks when required. However, I'd like to learn more and our external IT consultant is unavailable for a while now, leaving me to work stuff out myself.

I'm relishing the task, but am struggling with setting up a VPN to allow users to log in to the network from home.

This is what I would like to occur.

1. Setup a VPN server on the network.

2. Setup a VPN connection to this VPN server on the remote users' laptops.

3. Users authenticate themselves to the VPN server using their domain username and password I have setup for them.

4. Setup Outlook on their laptops to receive their e-mail from the exchange server on the network when they are connected to the VPN.

5. I'd also like them to have access to a mapped drive that exists on the network.

Is this possible? And if so, how easy/difficult is it to set up?

I've tried searching the internet for tutorials on setting up a VPN server and client connection, but they all refer to dialup.

Maybe I'm not understanding the concept correctly.

Our network is protected by our router firewall.

Is anybody able to assist or to give me some "will definitely work" tutorial link?

Many thanks

Steve

Hi, I found lots of links through google. I have never tried to do this but have a read http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308208

Just to add hamachi https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/vpn.asp?lang=en I think it can do most of your requirements.

1. Setup a VPN server on the network.
Hamachi would host the network

2. Setup a VPN connection to this VPN server on the remote users' laptops.
If the client is on each laptop then they can connect to the network

3. Users authenticate themselves to the VPN server using their domain username and password I have setup for them.
If the network is password protected then users would need a password in order to connect. not sure about individual passwords.

4. Setup Outlook on their laptops to receive their e-mail from the exchange server on the network when they are connected to the VPN.
Not sure about this

5. I'd also like them to have access to a mapped drive that exists on the network.
If the drive is shared then the users can access it.

Thanks guys I'll give these a good look

Hamachi has done the job brilliantly. I've now got a laptop connecting to our server remotely through this. I've got e-mail working locally on the laptop, bringing down exchange server e-mails when connected. Also got a mapped drive working as well. Perfect. Many thanks nigglesnush85

No problem, glad to help.