How to setup VPN on home network [closed]

I am a software developer. I travel and sometimes have a need to access my files at home and tweak other family members computers. I would like to connect to my home network via VPN and then RDP into whatever machine i need to. Currently i have a Windows Server 08 machine, which is my file server, database server, web server (for development work), source control repository, etc. (and also somewhat of a workstation when i need it to be). I want to use this same machine to run my VPN through. I have a linksys WRTG54 router. My ISP is AT&T DSL, with a dynamic IP address - so i'm assuming I'll either need to request a static IP or sign up with one of those static ip services.. where it keeps your dynamic ip synced up with a static one.

While I do understand software engineering I am no expert in networking. What do i need to do to setup my VPN?

Solution 1:

I would install openvpn. http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source.html

Here is a tutorial for using windows as a server and client http://www.runpcrun.com/howtoopenvpn

You'll need dynamic DNS on your server and forward the openvpn port on your linksys to your server. Once openvpn is configured, you'll be able to connect to your dynamic DNS host name from where ever you are and get full access to your home network.

Solution 2:

If you already have a Windows 2008 server you can just set up RRAS and forward PPTP/GRE traffic to it from your router. It's simple and should do the job.

Solution 3:

Keep it simply - use RRAS (Routing & Remote Access Service), which is built-in to Windows Server. It even runs through a wizard which has the option to set the server up for VPN/routing. It's simplest if you use the box as a NAT router, which means assigning it a public IP (behind your firewall, obviously).