How to install a VPN on Windows Server 2012 R2

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a technology that allows to extend a local network on a public network like the Internet. Using a VPN, a computer connected to the Internet can send and receive data from the computers inside the network as if it was directly connected.

A very powerful tool for today’s companies.

A VPN is easy to set up on Windows Server 2012 R2, just follow these steps and you’ll be ready (server side, we’ll talk about client configuration in the future).

1. Install the Remote Access role

Open the Server Manager and click on Manage. Select Add Roles and Features:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Click on Next until you reach the Roles tab:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Now select Remote Access and click on Next:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

You don’t need to select anything from the Features tab, click on Next:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Just click on Next:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Select Direct Access and VPN (RAS):

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

A dialog showing the missing dependencies will appear. Click on Add Features:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Install the Remote Access role. It will take some minutes:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

2. Install and configure your VPN

Go back to the Server Manager dashboard and click on Remote Access. Select your server and right-click on it, then click on Remote Access Management:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Run the Getting Started Wizard:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Press Deploy VPN only and it will be installed:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Select your server and right-click on it, choose Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

A new Wizard will start:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Select Custom configuration and click on Next:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Select only VPN access:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Complete the procedure and start the service:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

Note that router and firewall must be properly configured to support VPN functionalities. We’ll talk about that in another post.

3. Enable the users for the Remote Access

You can enable users for the Remote Access from the Active Directory properties:

How to install a VPN on Windows 2012 R2

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