How to Configure Cisco VPN Client in Windows 7

The Cisco VPN Client allows you to connect to a VPN network through a cable or DSL modem, or directly from your computer. The VPN client can be configured easily through the Cisco IP Network Configuration Tool (CCNA), which is available for download from Cisco‘s website. To launch it, press Windows Key+R, and then type CCNA into the search bar. The CCNA tool will then launch. Select Tools-> Cisco VPN Client (v2.0.0.7) from the drop-down menu, and then click OK. You will then see the configuration tool for the Cisco VPN client. From here, you can click on any item to View Details or Configure. This article will walk you through the process of configuring a Cisco VPN Server in Windows 7.

Step 1: Install The Cisco VPN Server

The first step is to install the Cisco VPN Server software. To do this, download the Microsoft Windows Installer from Microsoft‘s website. Once you have downloaded it, run the installer. You may be asked to run the installer in Admin mode, so please do so. Once the installer is finished, you will see a notice that you can verify the installation by clicking Yes. You then need to restart your computer.

Step 2: Create A Cisco VPN User

The next step is to create a user for the Cisco VPN Server. To do this, launch the Cisco VPN Server Configuration Tool by clicking on its icon on your desktop. You will then see the window shown in Figure 1.

In this window, you will see four panes – one for each of the configuration options. The top left pane is for general settings and specifies what protocols the Cisco VPN Server accepts. The next three panes are used to configure the VPN tunnel.

You will see a Login text box at the top of the window. You can use your Microsoft login (if you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer) to connect to the VPN Server or enter the username and password for a user you created previously. If you are using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari, you can use the login option located at the top of each of these browsers.

Step 3: Configure The Cisco VPN Server

This step will walk you through the process of configuring the Cisco VPN Server for your Windows 7 PC. To begin, click Configure on the menu bar (at the top of the window). Then, from the drop-down menu, choose RU/RU Matching, as seen in Figure 2. Next, enter a Gateway IP (IP Address) under the Subnet Mask field. This is the IP address that your router will use as its gateway (routing table) when you connect to the VPN. You can either enter the IP address manually or choose Use DHCP and click Enable to allow the VPN Server to automatically configure your computer’s network settings. 

The Destination field will be blank by default. If you are using a static IP address, you can enter its address here. You can also leave this field blank if you are using DHCP to configure your network settings. Finally, under the Type menu, choose PPTP for Protocol, as seen in Figure 3. This will make sure that your VPN connection is secured using Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP). To connect to a VPN, click Connect. You will then be prompted for a username and password. Type the same username and password you used to login to the VPN Server in the previous step, and then click OK.

Step 4: Test Your Configuration

Once you have connected to the VPN, you can test your configuration by clicking Test on the menu bar. You will then be prompted for the username and password you used in the previous step. Type the username and password you used and then click OK. You will then see a message that indicates whether or not your test connection was successful. If it was, click OK. If it wasn’t, click Test Again. Once you click OK on this screen, you will be back at the Configuration Tool window.

Step 5: Save And Exit

This last step will help you save and exit the configuration tool. To save your changes, click Save. You can also quit the tool by clicking Exit. You can then close the Configuration Tool window. You can use these steps to configure your Cisco VPN Server. Remember to exit the CCNA tool before continuing with the rest of the article.

With these steps, you will be able to configure a Cisco VPN Server in Windows 7. Remember to check back here for updates or if you have any questions. Thanks for reading! We hope this article has helped you in your endeavor to connect to a VPN. If you found it valuable, please consider subscribing to our newsletter for information on how to secure your privacy online.