Setup VPN connection (Microsoft PPTP) for Ubuntu 12.04

Setting up VPN Client (PPTP) to connect to some VPN Server shocould be a fairly easy task nowadays-at least most of the online articles/tutorials/videos all suggest so. for example, https://www.youtube.com/watch? V = yugspkfhuqg,
Andhttp: // ashu-geek.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/vpn-virtual-private-network.html.

It is in fact very simple --- well, at least for Windows and Mac OS, least 5 minutes for both OSS. however for Ubuntu (not sure for other Linux variants), it's pain-in-the-ass business !!

Basically, the NetworkManager was disabled on all machines in the lab since network setup is handled in the old-fashion way of making use of/etc/Network/interfaces file. most tutorial are based on a working state of NetworkManager.

One solution is to put NetworkManager back into the control

Https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-nettool/+question/204377

Which didn't work for my case.

There is of course nice step-by-step instructions on how to configure VPN connection manually.

Https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VPNClient

The above link also explains the sort of 'conflicts'/Etc/Network/interfacesAnd NetworkManager.

Anyway, it took our network guru the whole morning to get the manual configuration working, although I have no idea how did he fix it.

The only extra bit I can figure is that the error seemed to be "Fatal: module ppp_mppe not found" and he seemed to have done 'modprobe ppp-compress-18 ', which also mentioned in the following trhead:

Http://www.linuxfly.org/post/642/

Gee! How can I assume you cocould remember everything for ever! It's bound to be forgot!

To start VPN now, run the following:

Sudo Pon albitavpn nodetach

Some other networking knowledge along the roadpptp client MPPE installation upgrades question

Sudo modprobe ppp-compress-18

If you don't see any message, you are OK.
Next, check that pppd program contains MPPE support by entering

Strings 'which pppd '| grep-I MPPE | WC -- lines

If you get a number, you are OK. I get 43.

Which also gives links:

PPTP client diagnosis howto

And

PPTP client Debian howtohow to route only specific subnet (Source IP) to a participant Interface

Policy Based Routing

A simple introduction (with a nice easy example) To Source Based Routing

Gateways and routes

From 'man pppd '-(Point-to-Point Protocol Daemon)

PPP is the protocol used for establishing Internet links over dial-up modems, DSL connections, and
Extends other types of point-to-point links. The pppd daemon works together with the kernel PPP driver
To establish and maintain a PPP link with another system (called the peer) and to negotiate Internet
Protocol (IP) addresses for each end of the link. pppd can also authenticate the peer and/or supply
Authentication information to the peer. PPP can be used with other network protocols besides IP,
But such use is becoming increasingly rare.

Some debugging strings

PPTP -- version

Lsmod | grep PPP

CAT/etc/PPP/options.ppt P

Pon VPN-name debug dump logfd 2 nodetach

Less/var/log/pppd. Log

Egrep '^ [^ #]'/etc/PPP/options.ppt PD

PPTP client routing howto

Creating VPN connection on Linux (UBUNTU) using command line (PPTP Client for Windows VPN Server)

To successfully configure pptp vpn Client we need :-

• /Etc/PPP/peers/myvpn (Suppose we have given name to tunnel or connection as myvpn for our identity purpose)
• /Etc/PPP/chap-secrets
• Server name or IP address of VPN Server.
• User name and password to connect VPN Server.
• Most important PPTP-linux package