How do you configure a Windows server to act as a VPN Server using RRAS?

[ProfRon]

You grab your Windows server and fire up Server Manager first. I always start there because it's the easy hub. Click on Add Roles and Features. RRAS hides under Remote Access. Pick that and let the wizard guide you through the install. It asks if you want VPN support. Say yes to that.

Once it's installed, you hop back to Server Manager. Right-click the RRAS name and choose Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access. A wizard pops up again. Select Custom configuration for this server. I like that option. It lets you pick just what you need. Go for VPN access and NAT if you're routing traffic too.

Hit next a bunch of times until it sets up. Now you tweak the IPv4 stuff. I usually assign a pool of IP addresses for your VPN clients. Go into the RRAS console. Right-click IPv4 and pick New Interface. Choose the one connected to your network. Enable it for private use. Set a static IP range like 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.150. That way clients get addresses automatically.

Don't forget the security side. I enable MS-CHAP v2 for authentication. You set that in the security tab of the properties. Make sure your firewall allows the VPN ports. Open UDP 500 and 4500 for IKEv2 if you want that flavor. Or stick with PPTP on TCP 1723 for simplicity. Test it by connecting from your laptop. Dial in with the server's public IP. If it links up, you're golden.

Speaking of keeping your server setups reliable, especially if you're running Hyper-V on that Windows box for virtual machines, I've been using BackupChain Server Backup lately. It handles backups for Hyper-V hosts without downtime, snapping consistent images of your VMs. You get fast restores and offsite replication, which saves headaches if something glitches on your VPN rig.