PPTP Server
The PPTP Server app is a secure and cost effective way to provide road warrior VPN connectivity. The PPTP VPN client is built-in to Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7. No extra software is required and ClearOS provides full password and data encryption.
Installation
If your system does not have this app available, you can install it via the Marketplace.
Menu
You can find this feature in the menu system at the following location:
Configuration
Configuring the PPTP Server
Local IP and Remote IP
You must select a range of LAN IP addresses for the PPTP VPN connections. This range should be on the same network as your local area network. By default, the DHCP Server on ClearOS only uses IP addresses above x.x.x.100. All addresses below this number are reserved for static use. We strongly suggest you use this sub-100 static range for PPTP.
Encryption Key Size
Most PPTP VPN clients support the stronger 128-bit encryption key. However, some VPN clients (notably handheld computers and mobile phones) may only support 40-bit encryption. Change the encryption key size to meet your needs.
WINS Server
The Microsoft Networking WINS server used by the PPTP client. Depending on your network configuration, you may need to specify the WINS settings in VPN client configuration.
DNS Server
The DNS server used by the PPTP client.
Usernames and Passwords
PPTP users must have a valid account with the PPTP option enabled. See the User Manager for more information.
Configuring Microsoft Windows
Configuring Windows XP
The PPTP client is built-in to Windows XP.
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Network Internet Connections (this step may not be necessary).
- Click on Network Connections.
- Click on Create a New Connection to start the configuration wizard
- Select connect to the network at my workplace.
- Select Virtual Private Network connection.
- Add a connection name, and dial settings, and hostname.
- Click on the Properties button (or right-click on the new connection, and select Properties from the menu.
- Select the Security
- Make sure Require data encryption is selected.
- Select the Networking tab.
- From the Type of VPN drop box, select PPTP VPN.
PPTP Passthrough
PPTP requires special software when passing through firewalls. This feature is included with ClearOS. However, there is one important restriction for PPTP pass-through mode: a PPTP server must not be running on the same gateway that has PPTP connections crossing it.
If you run a PPTP server on a ClearOS gateway, you will not be able to have people from behind the same gateway make reliable outbound PPTP connections to other servers. By default, the firewall will automatically disable PPTP pass-through when the firewall already allows connections to a PPTP server. You will see warning messages in the web-based configuration about these configuration issues.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to have both PPTP pass-through and a PPTP server running at the same time. To do this, you need to override the firewall behavior noted in the previous paragraph. In the /etc/clearos/firewall.conf file, add the following line:
PPTP_PASSTHROUGH_FORCE=“yes”
Then restart the firewall with the following command:
/sbin/service firewall restart
Troubleshooting
Error 619, PPTP and Firewalls
PPTP requires special software when passing through gateways/firewalls. If you are having trouble connecting to a PPTP server, make sure any gateways/firewalls between your desktop and the ClearOS server support PPTP passthrough mode. If you see the following in the /var/log/messages log file on the ClearOS system, then it is likely a PPTP passthrough issue on the client side of the connection:
PTY read or GRE write failed
You can view log files via the web-based administration tool – go to
Another quick way to diagnose the issue is by connecting to the PPTP server while connected directly to the local network. With a direct connection to the ClearOS PPTP server, you can eliminate the potential for the PPTP passthrough issue.
Two PPTP Connections to the Same Server
The PPTP protocol does not allow two VPN connections from the same remote IP address. In other words, if you have two people behind a gateway (for example, ClearOS) connecting to the same PPTP server, then the connection should fail. Note: it is fine to have two people behind a gateway connecting to different PPTP servers.
Some PPTP servers and gateways (including ClearOS) do make an exception for this shortcoming. However, some PPTP servers may strictly follow the standard below: