Ubuntu VPN Connection for Dummies

Connecting to your Microsoft PPTP VPN server and using remote desktop at work can be critical for those who find themselves working from home from time to time.  Personally, this single issue kept me from getting rid on my dual-boot Ubuntu-Windows setup, until I found a solution.

Yes, configuring your Ubuntu VPN could be a pretty frustrating task. For once Linux does not have a VPN Client configuration wizard like Windows does. In addition Linux is not able to detect and add routes automatically as Windows does and inexplicably practically all Ubuntu VPN tutorials on the web do not explain this. That is why I have written this walk-through.

STEP 1:

You need to install 2 packages, use Synaptic or the Command line if you prefer (If you do the first, it will install the second as a dependency):

network-manager-pptp
pptp-linux

Click on:

Network Connection icon –> VPN Connections –> Configure VPN

At the Network Connections window click on: Add

Click on: Create

STEP 2:

Once you click on “Create” you to get the edit window, these are its sections explained:

1) Connection Name: This is just a name for you to identify the VPN connection you can name it whatever you prefer.

2) Gateway: This is the external IP address of the VPN you are connecting to. (e.g. your workplace, etc.)

3) Username and Password: Enter Username and password of the VPN network you are connecting to.

4) NT Domain: This is the domain name of the network you are connecting to. Some NT domains require you to enter .local following the domain name. Make sure you try this if you connection does not work. Meaning if your domain name is ntdomain try it as both ntdomain and as ntdomain.local

STEP 3:

Click on the “Avanced” button

Under the “Authentication” section

- Uncheck PAP and EAP 
- Check CHAP, MSCHAP, MSCHAPv2
- Check “Use Point-to-Point encryption (MPPE)”
- Select the type of encryption used on you network. Usually “128-bit (most secure)”
- Uncheck all other settings except “Send PPP echo packets”
- Click “OK”

STEP 4:

**optional**

Entering routes:

Back on the Ubuntu VPN client editing window…

- Click on the IPv4 settings tab

1) Leave Method on “Automatic VPN”
2) Click on Routes

1) Address: Enter the internal IP address of the machine you want to connect to
2) Netmask: Netmask of the remote network
3) Gateway: Gateway of the remote network (Usually internal IP address of remote router)
4) Metric: Set Metric to 1

Once you finish reboot your computer and you are done!

Next step, if you are connecting to a Windows based network, will be to connect from your Ubuntu machine to your Windows based machine at work.

Hope this article was helpful in getting your Ubuntu VPN client working as it should. If you have any questions feel free to add a comment to this article.