🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi guys,

I'm looking at implementing a VPN server on my Linux box so my friends and 
I can use our cable Internet connections to play LAN games as if we were 
on the one network.

We all use Win2K/XP for the gaming boxes so the VPN must support that.  I 
also want to be able to interact with the VPNed PCs as if they were 
locally on the network (but I don't want them to use my Internet 
connection so it doesn't get bogged down).

My current setup is pretty basic, the Linux box Masq/NATs the 3 or 4 PCs 
sitting behind it, and runs a DHCPd so people can bring their 
PCs/notebooks around if they desire and immediately access the network.  
This is all running fine as far as I can tell.

The server (Slackware 8, kernel is 2.4.18 using iptables) denies all 
incoming connections (on all ports), and only allows incoming connections 
if they're replies to requests which originated from within the network.

I tried downloading PoPToP's pptpd and installing that, but I was told the 
connections are currently in use or something when trying to start the 
daemon.  A friend has since told me I'll need to recompile the kernel with 
GRE, Tunnel and PPP support, but since I have quite a few problems 
recompiling the kernel (lots of symbolic links and usually spits out error 
1 or 2 and I give up and do something else) I would prefer an easier way 
out.

If PoPToP pptpd is not the best (read: easiest) solution for me, can you 
guys please suggest one that is?  Note that I usually telnet into the 
server to administer it rather than sitting locally at it using X.  So 
something terminal (or even web-based if possible) would be nice.

Most of the tutorials I've been able to find haven't been very helpful 
(IMO), either that or they weren't quite what I was after.

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

-- 
- Cods
(crossposted to alt.os.linux.slackware, aus.computers.linux, 
comp.os.linux.networking, apologies if the post is not appropriate for any 
or all of these groups)