8.2 Installing to Windows and Configuring the Default Settings
This section describes how to install PacketiX VPN Client to an
operating system with Windows 2000 or later. This assumes that in the
Windows operating system, no extra application software is installed
after performing a clean install of the system.
8.2.1 Installation Procedure Using the Installer
Preparing the Installer File
The installation of the Windows version of PacketiX VPN
Client is very easy as it is almost completely performed
automatically. To install VPN Client, use any of the following
methods to obtain the Windows installer file.
- When PacketiX VPN Client 2.0 is purchased as a product,
the installer file is distributed on a CD-ROM. Place the
CD-ROM on the CD-ROM drive of the computer and select the
executable file to install the Windows version of VPN
Client.
- You can also download the latest VPN Client installer
file from the SoftEther Corporation website (http://www.softether.com/).
We recommend checking the above website for the latest
version of VPN Server even if you have the CD-ROM with the
installer file. If you signed a maintenance contract with a
partner using PacketiX VPN 2.0, please contact your partner
representative in advance and check whether the latest
version can be installed.
- If you received the latest version of VPN Client on a
CD-ROM or as electronic files from your partner using
PacketiX VPN 2.0, install the software using those files.
The VPN client Windows version installer file is an
executable file with the name
vpnclient-build-number-win32-x86.exe. At the time of writing
this manual, the installer file of the latest build is
vpnclient-5070-rtm-win32-x86.exe.
Figure 8-2-1 VPN Client Installer |
Starting the Installer
Start the installer by double-clicking the VPN client
installer file. The Windows Installer-based installer starts
automatically. Using the installation wizard, you can select the
name of the installation directory. (By default, the program is
installed to Program Files\PacketiX VPN client on the
system drive.) The VPN Server process writes large log files to
the installation directory, so we recommend selecting an area on
the hard drive that has a large amount of disk space and is
quickly accessible.
Figure 8-2-2 Specifying the VPN Client
Installation Directory |
During the installation, the end-user license
agreement may be displayed. Please thoroughly read the
agreement. If you agree to the terms and conditions, the
installation continues.
Figure 8-2-3 VPN Client End-User License
Agreement |
The installer automatically registers the
PacketiX VPN Client system service and sets the program to
automatically start in background mode at Windows startup.
8.2.2 Optimizing the TCP/IP Communication Settings
The window for optimizing the TCP/IP communication settings
may be displayed during installation of VPN Client.
Figure 8-2-4 Changing the TCP/IP Communication
Settings |
The TCP/IP communication settings optimization function can
be used to perform the following.
- Using a TCP/IP send/receive window buffer size of 64 KB
or more by means of the window scaling option can improve
the communication speed over a broadband line.
- The buffer size of the Windows AFD service can be
rewritten to a value for high-speed communication.
However, there are reports that enabling the TCP/IP window
scaling option can create unstable communication or completely
block communication through a firewall device, such as some
transparent proxies. These problems seem to occur with older
versions of firewall devices on a network that do not support
the window scaling option. If, after optimizing the TCP/IP
communication settings, TCP/IP communication becomes unstable,
you can restore the optimized TCP/IP communication settings to
their original settings. To restore the optimized TCP/IP
communication settings (and use the default values of the
operating system), we recommend clicking [Start] > [PacketiX VPN
Server] > [TCP Communication Optimization Utility], and then
changing the [TCP Incoming Window Size] and [TCP Outgoing Window
Size] values to [Use OS Default Value].
Figure 8-2-5 Restoring the TCP/IP Communication
Settings to the Default Values of the Operating
System |
8.2.3 Precautions After Installation
When installation of the Windows version of VPN Client is
completed, the PacketiX VPN Client service is already running in
the background on the Windows system. Normally, the computer
does not have to be restarted after installation of the program.
However, if you expect to use the local bridge function while
using a network adapter that supports hardware offloading, as
described in 「3.6.10 Points to Note when Local Bridging in Windows」, we recommend that you restart the
computer.
To check whether the VPN Client installer properly installed
the PacketiX VPN Client service to the Windows system, click
[Control Panel] > [Administrative Tools] > [Services], and check
that [PacketiX VPN Client] is displayed on the list of services.
Figure 8-2-6 Completion of VPN Client Installer |
8.2.4 VPN Client Manager Operations
After VPN Client is installed, use PacketiX VPN Client Manager to
perform all VPN Client operations. For detailed operations of VPN Client
using VPN Client Manager, please refer to 「Chapter 4 PacketiX VPN Client 2.0 Manual」.
8.2.5 Operating with vpncmd
You can also use the command line-based vpncmd software to control
VPN Client. For information about detailed vpncmd operations, please
refer to 「Chapter 6 Command Line Management Utility Manual」. For example, you can combine vpncmd and an existing
schedule software program to initiate a connection to a specific
connection setting at a specified time and, later, automatically
terminate the connection of the connection setting.
SoftEther Corporation recommends using VPN Client Manager to control
VPN Client and using vpncmd as a supplemental management utility for
automating simple repetitive tasks.
8.2.6 Creating a Virtual Network Adapter
The first operation that must be performed to use VPN Client is to
create a Virtual Network Adapter. For more information about creating a
Virtual Network Adapter, please refer to 「4.3.2 Virtual Network Adapter Creation and Setup」. You cannot define a
connection setting if a Virtual Network Adapter is not registered.
8.2.7 Configuring a Virtual Network Adapter
After you create a Virtual Network Adapter, you must properly
configure the Virtual Network Adapter. The administrator of the
destination VPN Server should have already provided instructions for
configuring the Virtual Network Adapter. Configure the Virtual Network
Adapter using these instructions.
In particular, if the DHCP server does not seem to be operating on
the Layer 2 segment of the destination Virtual HUB, the IP address of
the Virtual Network Adapter must be manually configured on the client
computer.
8.2.8 Creating a Connection Setting
After creating a Virtual Network Adapter, create a connection setting
for connecting to a Virtual HUB on the destination VPN Server, and try
establishing a VPN connection. Follow the instructions from the VPN
Server administrator for entering the required settings. In addition,
adjust the connection method according to the configuration of the local
network to which the client computer running VPN Client is connected.
For more information about operating VPN Client, please refer to 「Chapter 4 PacketiX VPN Client 2.0 Manual」.
After configuring all the settings, connect to the connection setting
and establish VPN communication.
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