Oh boy,
You know IPADs are making their way into the corporate environment when (multiple) customers start asking you how to configure the IPAD for VPN connectivity. Not that we support IPAD issues, but we do support and design VPN concentrators, so to help our here are some details.
this post has a follow up article here
First things first, if you are user in a corporate environment I doubt you will be able to get this to work just yet. However if you do have access to your VPN concentrator (in this case Avaya/Nortel Contivity) you will be able to get this up and running.
PLEASE NOTE: You will have to enable PPTP, and this may go against your corporate policy – I am not taking any responsibility for this! 
CONTIVITY PPTP CONFIGURATION
Creating a PPTP account on the VPN Router is similar to creating an IPSec account. The steps involved are pretty much the same, with fewer options.
Presuming that you have an operational VPN Router, supporting IPSec clients already, there is not much to adding PPTP support. (These shots are from a 1750 running V07_05.400)
- Under Services->Available, ensure that PPTP is enabled on the outside interface
- In your User Group Profile make sure that a method is configured to provide the client an IP address.
- Also in the User Group Profile configure the PPTP settings to match what is supported on the client.
- Then create a user in the above group that has a PPTP username and password.
IPAD VPN CONFIGURATION
Tap Settings > General > Network > VPN > Add VPN Configuration. Then use the VPN settings for your device.
- Server = your computer’s external IP or hostname.
- Account = your account login
- RSA SecurID = OFF
- Password = your account password
- Secret = computer’s secret, chosen during set-up.
- Send all traffic = ON
Turn VPN on or off
If you have created a VPN configuration, you would find the option to turn VPN on or off in the Settings.
First disable Wi-Fi on iPad, then start VPN in the settings. Wait until it finishes connecting and the status bar would has the VPN icon.
Note: iPad will drop VPN whenever changing the networks.
Ok, that should do it! Now Grab any RDP application for the IPAD you like, go home and use your IPAD to control you desktop, sever or any device with RDP capabilities!
Have fun.
About Adam DaCosta
I thoroughly enjoy technology and in particular communication technology. Unification of voice, video and data, and how technology can enable and provide users and organizations the ability to communicate more effectively. Connect with me through this blog, Twitter(@adamdacosta) or Check out my about.me profile!, I look forward to hearing from you!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
i can’t connect to my work vpn. i’ve tried almost everything to connect. my settings are the same as others using the same VPN settings. Do you have any further ideas? and if the WIFI is first disabled,how does the ipad connect to the VPN?
Bill, are the “others” using an IPAD to connect?
Adam,
In the instructions where you say “Also in the User Group Profile configure the PPTP settings to match what is supported on the client.” The client being the IPAD? There’s not Nortel client for IPADs right? What encryption method does the IPAD use? I’m reading up on Wikipedia and they say EAP-TLS is the superior authentication method. Does the IPAD do EAP-TLS? I’m trying to decide if I should let it on my network.
Dan, “group profile settings” are configured under the Nortel Contivity menu. There is no Nortel client for the IPAD, but you can use the IPADs inherent PPTP settings to connect to a Contivity. If you are looking at alternatives to remote access. f5 provides a solution that is very secure. We will actually have a post up on this topic (more of a full demo) very shortly. f5 provides an EDGE Client that we will be documenting as well as providing secure virtual desktop to the ipad itself. – stay tuned! (also check out the follow up IPAD article for more info: IPAD ARTICLE