Set up a VPN Server (PPTP) on AWS and use it anywhere

gistfile1.md

Set up a VPN Server (PPTP) on AWS

1. Create a EC2 instance using Ubuntu 14.04.
2. In Secure Group Inbound Rules, add a SSH Rule(TCP, Port 22, 0.0.0.0/0) and a Custom TCP Rule(TCP, Port 1723, 0.0.0.0/0).
3. Optional: Associate a Elastic IP with the instance.
4. SSH into the instance.
5. sudo apt-get install pptpd.
6. sudo vim /etc/pptpd.conf. Uncomment localip 192.168.0.1 and remoteip 192.168.0.234-238,192.168.0.245.
7. sudo vim /etc/ppp/pptpd-options. Uncomment ms-dns and ms-wins. Change the IP to Google's DNS like this:

ms-dns 8.8.8.8
ms-dns 8.8.4.4

#...

ms-wins 8.8.8.8
ms-wins 8.8.4.4

8. sudo vim /etc/ppp/chap-secrets. Add VPN users in this format <username> pptpd <passwd> *.
9. sudo vim /etc/sysctl.conf. Uncomment net.ipv4.ip_forward=1.
10. sudo /sbin/sysctl -p.
11. sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE.
12. sudo vim /etc/rc.local. Add iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE before exit 0.
13. sudo /etc/init.d/pptpd restart.

OSX Usage

1. Go to System Preferences > Network.
2. Click the + button. Choose VPN as interface. PPTP as VPN Type. And enter a name you can understand. Click Create.
3. Enter your instance's Public IP in Server Address.
4. Enter your <username> in Account Name.
5. Click Authentication Settings. Choose Password and enter your <password>.
6. Click Advanced. Check Send all traffic over VPN connection. Click OK.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click Connect.
9. You are good to go.

iOS Usage

1. Go to Settings > General > VPN.
2. Touch Add VPN Configuration....
3. Choose PPTP.
4. Enter any name in Description.
5. Enter your instance's Public IP in Server.
6. Enter your <username> in Account.
7. Enter your <password> in Password.
8. Turn on Send All Traffic.
9. Save.
10. Switch on the VPN connection.
11. You are good to go.

Google's DNS is 8.8.8.8 and 8.8 .4.4
https://developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/

It seems iOs no longer supports PPTP.

Thanks so much!

can I use some other ports
or some other protocol e.g, UDP?

Ubuntu 14.04 is no longer supported on AWS. After following these steps on Ubuntu 20.04 the PPTP VPN didn't work and after exiting the SSH session I wasn't able to log back in.

I'm trying to set this up to bypass a carrier NAT, though I still get NAT type C using this vpn (the IP is different so the VPN is definitely working). Any help?

Any help?