Help with VPN Setup

[Tyree]

I just set up my first VPN server on a Windows 7 machine (I've set them up on Windows 2003 and 2008 server before). However, it's NOT behaving and I'm wondering what in the world is going on.

There aren't a ton of options when setting up the server. So, I don't THINK I have missed some checkbox that makes everything magically work. Here's what's happened so far:

I set up the VPN server. Easy enough.
I tried to sign on to it from a remote machine. Since I was with the server machine, I VNC'ed into a remote PC and gave it a shot. Well, the first thing that happened was the VNC connection nuked my VNC connection. I guess the VNC IP/connection overrides the PC's LAN connection???
Anyway, I assumed this was because I needed to do something with split-tunneling. So, I unchecked the "Use remote gateway" options for both IPv4 and IPv6. I still get the same behavior. Still can't stay connected via VNC once the VPN is active.

However, from the client side, I am able to browse the internet and local network. But, short of getting a message saying I'm connected to the VPN, and getting an IP address from the VPN, there is no other evidence of being connected at all. I can't browse shares or ping any IP on the remote network. In effect, the VPN is doing nothing at all. I can't even see the PC hosting the VPN connection!

I have opened up ports TCP 1723, TCP 47, and UDP 500 on my router firewall and on the VPN server PC. I guess that much is obviously working since it will at least connect, albeit no more than that.

Is there a step-by-step guide to this stuff somewhere? I mean REALLY step-by-step. Not just setting up the VPN server, or setting up just the client. I mean the whole enchilada.
Or do one of you guys know what's going on here? I am so confused!
Does VPN even work on Windows 7??? Has anyone been successful with it?

Thanks!
Matt

 

[Tyree]

Turns out I finally found a really good guide for Vista. Once I followed that to the letter it worked.
Here's the guide for other's reference:
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.or...P/PPTPVPN.html
It's actually for Vista, but it worked fine for Windows 7

Now the only problem I have left is name resolution.
I can access remote computers/shares via \\IPAddress, but I'd like to be able to access computers/shares via \\ComputerName...obviously, that's easier to remember than the IP.

I set up an lmhosts file, and that sorta does the trick. But, I thought there was a better way to do this. Any ideas?

Thanks!