Re: follow-up: need advice for installing VPN on Windows Server 2003

You can setup VPN using just one NIC. However, the error message is some things to do with AD. I would run dcdiag or netdiag for troubleshooting. Also check this post.

"An invalid directory pathname was passed"
http://www.chicagotech.net/netforums/viewtopic.php?p=8657#8657

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"Richard Eagle" <richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:O0IKWfkUJHA.5860@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yesterday I took a look at the Windows Server 2003 server and started to set
up the VPN but quickly ran into problems, the biggest of which might be my
lack of knowledge. I'm competent with desktop PCs but the server environment
is obviously different than what I'm used to.

First, I tried the tutorial:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-5034703.html?tag=rbxccnbtr1
...from the link in the reply that Masterplan posted. I should have written
down the exact message but basically it said that I needed 2 devices for the
VPN and only had one, so instead under the "Routing and Remote Access
Server Setup Wizard", I selected the "Custom Configuration" option.

I was thinking that maybe I saw the "Custom Configuration" option in one of
the links from the link in the reply that Robert posted but I'm not sure and
can't find it now. Needless to say, I'm confused.

Also, after I did the "Custom Configuration" for VPN and then when I tried
to access "Active Directory", I got this error message:

Active Directory
-----------------
X The directory schema is not accessable because:
An invalid directory pathname was passed
For this reason, the New menu may be inaccurate, and extension snap-ins may
not work properly.
OK

When I clicked OK, I got another error message:

Active Directory
-----------------
X Data from the Active Directory Users and Computers is not available from
domain controller (null) because:
Unspecified error
Try again later, or choose another domain controller by selecting Connect to
Domain Controller on the Domain.
OK

Well, I'm clueless about the Domain Controller and what to do about it. As
far as I know there is no domain on the server. The clients on the LAN are
on a group named "WORKGROUP".

The server is on a LAN with only a few clients and will probably never have
more than maybe 6 clients. The ISP is DSL and the cable comes into the DSL
modem and from there to a wireless router and then to the server....I think.
I need to take a good look and draw myself a diagram of exactly how it's
connected. I don't think the connection from the ISP uses a fixed IP. I will
see if I can find out for sure. Also, the server IP is 192.168.0.200 and the
Router (default gateway) IP is 192.168.0.1 for what it's worth. The server
does not use wireless and there's one Win2K Pro desktop PC in an adjacent
office at the location that is connected to the LAN via a network cable and
does not have wireless. The 3 other clients (laptops, all running XP) use
wireless only at this location. Also, I think the server has a modem and is
connected to a phone line but I will check to be sure. I guess the VPN
should be able to use the internet to tunnel from a remote location to the
server and maybe also work with dial-up if there is in fact a modem in the
server?

Anyway, If someone could decifer the Active Directory error messages and
advise me on what to do next, I would be very grateful.

Thanks,
Richard


"Richard Eagle" <r@xxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23DcJ7MCUJHA.2468@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi. I'm posting this message to see if anyone can advise me on the easiest
way to set up a VPN on a server running Windows Server 2003 R2. I was given
the administrator login user and password. The VPN will be needed for use
with ACT! contact manager software to be able to sync to the ACT! database
on this server from a remote client, actually 2. Both client laptops have
ACT! version 6 installed on them. I was loaned one of the laptops to try to
get this set up.

Thanks,
Richard Eagle









.

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