Setting Up a VPN on a Mac - Setting Up the Desktops and Laptops
(Page 4 of 4 )
Setting up the individual desktop and laptop computers is a lot easier than setting up the server above. You can take a deep breath and sigh with relief as you boot the first machine. These instructions will work for a desktop or a laptop interchangeably, so feel free to use them for either. The instructions for Mac OS X 10.4
1. Open your “system preferences” either from your menu bar or via spotlight.
2. Click on “Network.” This will open the configuration menu.
3. Find the word “VPN” and click on it. You will now be in the VPN configuration screen.
4. Enter the address for the server and your username into this screen. Then you can go ahead and click on the “connect” button.
5. A screen should pop up asking for the password. Put in your password and click on “ok.”
6. The rest should happen automatically. You will know that you have connected when the configuration screen tells you that the connection has been successful.
Setting up the VPN on a Mac OSX 10.5
1. Open your system preferences either via the Apple menu or via spotlight.
2. The network configuration window will open in short form, and you will need to expand it using the plus (+) sign.
3. Find the word "VPN" from the list that appears on the left side of the window. Click on it.
4. Click on the word “create.”
5. Find the field that is labeled “server address” and put in the address.
6. Find “Account Name” and put in your username.
7. Fill in the “password” and “shared secret” fields with the proper data. Then click on “ok.”
8. Click on “connect.”
9. You will know things are connected when the message changes.
Setting up the VPN on iPhones or iPod Touches
Before we begin, it is worth noting that this will work for any iPhone or iPod touch that has the firmware version 1.1.3 or later. That should encompass most iPhones and iPod touches. Also, be aware that you will only be able to connect to one VPN at a time. Storing multiple network setups is not an option.
1. Open your “settings” application.
2. Tap on “General.”
3. Tap on “Network.”
4. Tap on “VPN.”
5. Tap on “settings.”
6. You will now have to choose between a L2TP and a PPTP type of network connection. If you used the instructions above, you may use either.
7. Input your username, password and encryption level. If it asks about directing all traffic the answer will usually be “yes.”
8. Press “save.”
9. Your device should now connect to the VPN as it would to any other network.
Now you have everything connected. That was not so bad, was it? Enjoy your new, secure connections. You should never have to input the data for those connections again. Unless, of course, the VPN’s settings or IP address change, and yes, that includes the scenario where a system admin changes your password for you.
Are any of those instructions universal or will some of them work with a VPN that has not been set up on an all-Mac network?
Good question! The instructions are universal to any Mac device with the listed operating system or firmware. As to the second part, the instructions for the Mac desktop/laptop and the iPhone/iPod touch do work when you connect to any VPN, be it Mac-based, Windows-based, or Linux-based. For obvious reasons, the server instructions only work for Mac servers.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
/ 2 
