Managing User Access With MikroTik Router VPN Policies

If you are looking to increase your network security, then setting up a VPN on your Mikrotik router can be an excellent option. A VPN creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet, which can protect your sensitive data from prying eyes.

In this guide, we will show you step-by-step how to set up a PPTP VPN server on your Mikrotik router. PPTP is a known and trusted VPN protocol that is widely used across the globe. It is easy to set up and offers excellent performance.

Step 1 - Access your Mikrotik router's settings

The first step in setting up a PPTP VPN server on your Mikrotik router is to access your router's settings. You can do this by opening a web browser and typing your router's IP address in the address bar. If you have not changed the default settings, the default IP address should be 192.168.88.1. You will then be prompted to enter your router's admin username and password.

Step 2 - Create a PPTP VPN server

Once you have logged in to your router's settings, you will need to create a new PPTP VPN server. To do this, click on the "PPP" tab in the left-hand menu and then click on "PPTP Server". Click on the "Enabled" checkbox to enable the PPTP server and then enter a name for your VPN server in the "Server Name" field.

Next, you will need to set up the IP address range for the VPN clients. To do this, enter the starting IP address and the ending IP address in the "Remote Address" field. It is recommended to use a different IP address range than your local network to avoid any potential conflicts.

Finally, enter a username and password for the PPTP server. These will be the credentials that your VPN clients will use to connect to the server.

Step 3 - Configure NAT

Once you have created your PPTP VPN server, you will need to configure NAT to allow the VPN clients to access the internet. To do this, click on the "IP" tab in the left-hand menu and then click on "Firewall". Click on the "NAT" tab and then click on "Add New" to create a new NAT rule.

In the "General" tab of the new NAT rule, set the "Chain" field to "srcnat" and the "Out. Interface" field to your internet-facing interface.

In the "Action" tab, set the "Action" field to "masquerade". This will allow the VPN clients to access the internet using your router's public IP address.

Step 4 - Configure your VPN client

Now that you have set up your PPTP VPN server on your Mikrotik router, you will need to configure your VPN client to connect to the server. The exact steps for configuring your client will vary depending on the operating system or device you are using. However, the general process is as follows:

Open the VPN client on your device and select "PPTP" as the VPN protocol.
Enter the IP address of your Mikrotik router in the "Server IP/Name" field.
Enter the username and password that you set up in Step 2.
Click on "Connect" to establish the VPN connection.

Conclusion

Setting up a PPTP VPN server on your Mikrotik router is an excellent way to enhance your network security. With a VPN, you can create a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet, which can protect your sensitive data from prying eyes. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up your own PPTP VPN server in no time.

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