How to use Windows Server 2012 as a router

Windows also has many network services and you probably already know that it can become a router or a VPN server. Let's see how to use Windows Server 2012 as a router by installing Remote Access for it!

Note : The server should have 2 network cards. One card for LAN and another for Internet.

Add Remote Access

To add Remote Access, follow the steps below:

Step 1 - Go to Server Manager > Manage > Add Roles and Features > Next > Select Role-based installation or Feature-based installation > Select Select a server from the server pool > Next.

After all the steps above are done, at the Roles list , find Remote Access and select it. A window will open.

How to use Windows Server 2012 as a router Picture 1

Step 2 - Click Add Features , and then click Next.

Step 3 - Click Next.

Step 4 - Choose DirectAccess and VPN (RAS) and Routing.

Step 5 - Click Install and wait until the installation is complete.

How to use Windows Server 2012 as a router Picture 5

Set up for the router

After installation is complete, now let's see the router's settings. For this, you need to follow the steps below.

Step 1 - Go to Server Manager> Tools> Routing and Remote Access .

How to use Windows Server 2012 as a router Picture 6

Step 2 - Right-click and then again click the Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access as shown in the figure below.

How to use Windows Server 2012 as a router Picture 7

Step 3 - Select Network address translation (NAT) option , and then click Next.

Step 4 - Now select the Ethernet card used for the website as shown in the image below and then click Next.

Step 5 - Select I will set up name and address services later after setting up DHCP and DNS, then click Next.

Step 6 - Click the Finish button .

Set up VPN for remote connection

Now let's see how to set up VPN to allow employees to connect from their home. To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1 - Go to Server Manager > Tools > Routing and Remote Access > Right-click and then click the Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access > Custom Configuration , then select Next.

Step 2 - Select VPN Access and then click Next.

Step 3 - Click the Finish button .

See more:

Configure Print Driver in Windows Server 2012
Learn about Easy Printing in Windows Server 2012
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Marvin Fry

Update 26 May 2019

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