Exploring MikroTik Router Wireless Features For VPN Deployment

Setting up a VPN server on a MikroTik router can provide many benefits for your network. With a VPN, you can securely connect remote clients to your network, allowing them to access resources as if they were on-site. However, configuring a MikroTik VPN server can seem daunting at first. In this post, we'll go through the steps required to configure a MikroTik VPN server with PPTP.

Step 1: Configure the MikroTik Router

The first step in setting up a MikroTik VPN server is to configure the router itself. This is accomplished by logging into the router and configuring the necessary settings. Here are the steps to do this:

Log into the MikroTik router using your web browser.
Click on "PPP" in the left-hand navigation menu.
Click on "Profiles" in the sub-menu.
Click on the "+" button to add a new profile.
Set the "Name" field to "pptp-profile".
Uncheck the "Use Compression" and "Use Encryption" checkboxes.
Click on "OK" to save the profile.

Next, we'll need to configure the PPP settings for the VPN. Here's how to do that:

Click on "Secrets" in the PPP sub-menu.
Click on the "+" button to add a new user.
Set the "Name" field to the username you want to use for the VPN connection.
Set the "Password" field to the password you want to use for the VPN connection.
Set the "Profile" field to "pptp-profile".
Click on "OK" to save the user account.

Step 2: Configure the Client

Now that we have the MikroTik router configured, we'll need to configure the client. This is done on the client machine, and will involve configuring the connection settings for the VPN. The exact steps will vary depending on the operating system you're using, but here's a general outline of what to do:

Open the network settings on the client machine.
Click on "Add a VPN connection".
Select "PPTP" as the VPN type.
Enter the IP address of the MikroTik router in the "Gateway" field.
Enter the username and password you created in Step 1.
Click on "Connect" to connect to the VPN.

Step 3: Test the Connection

Once you've configured both the MikroTik router and the client, it's time to test the connection. Here's how to do that:

Open a web browser on the client machine.
Visit a website that is only accessible from your local network.
If the website loads, congrats! You've successfully connected to the VPN.

Step 4: Troubleshooting

If you're having trouble connecting to the MikroTik VPN server, here are some things to check:

Make sure the PPP settings on the router are correct.
Make sure the client settings are correct.
Make sure the user account was created correctly.
Check the router logs for any errors.
Check the client logs for any errors.

In Conclusion

Configuring a MikroTik VPN server may seem daunting at first, but it's really not that difficult once you know what you're doing. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to set up a working VPN in no time. As always, make sure to test your connection thoroughly before relying on it for anything critical. Good luck!