Guidance on usage: SoftEther VPN on Minimal Windows Server 2022 DC Azure Edition

Combining the advanced features of SoftEther VPN with the lightweight, efficient architecture of Minimal Windows Server 2022, optimized for Azure, this solution ensures top-tier security with encryption and multi-protocol support.

Effortless installation. Ready-to-run with easy maintenance. Explore now for a smooth experience!

Configuring and Connecting to SoftEther VPN on Minimal Windows Server 2022 DC Azure Edition

Preparing the Server

Open the Required Firewall Port

To allow connections to SoftEther VPN, open UDP port 1194 in the Azure Firewall settings.

Connecting to the Virtual Machine

  1. Press Win + R.
  1. In the window that appears, enter “mstsc” and click “OK” to open Remote Desktop Connection.
  1. Enter the VM’s IP address and click Connect.
  1. When prompted, enter your username and password, then click OK.
  1. Accept the security warning by checking the box and clicking Yes.

Configuring the VPN Server

  1. Open SoftEther VPN Server Manager from the desktop.
  1. In the application window, click Connect.
  1. Set a new administrator password during first-time authorization.
  1. In the SoftEther VPN Server / Bridge Easy Setup window, select Remote Access VPN Server and click Next.
  1. Enter a name for the Virtual Hub and click OK.
  1. In the Dynamic DNS Function window, click Exit.
  1. In the IP / L2TP / EtherIP / L2TPv3 Settings window, click OK.
  1. Disable VPN Azure by selecting Disable VPN Azure and clicking OK.
  1. Close the VPN Easy Setup Tasks window.
  1. To ensure proper network routing, enable Virtual NAT:

Click Manage Virtual Hub.

  1. Open Virtual NAT and Virtual DHCP Server (SecureNAT):
  1. Click Enable SecureNAT:

Creating VPN Users

  1. To use the VPN, you need to add a user. Click the Manage Virtual Hub button.
  1. Then click the Manage Users button.
  1. Click New to create a new user.
  1. You must insert the user’s name into the User Name field, type the password into the Password field, and verify it by re-entering the password into the Confirm Password field. After you have entered the data, click OK.
  1. To modify user credentials later, select the user and click Edit.

Creating a VPN Configuration File

  1. To create configuration files, click the OpenVPN / MS-SSTP Settings button.
  1. Click the Generate a Sample Configuration File for OpenVPN Clients button.
  1. Choose a save location when the Windows Explorer window appears.
  1. There are the following files in the saved archive:
  1. You should save the file named “…_openvpn_remote_access_l3.ovpn” on your device. 

Setting Up the VPN Client

  1. To connect using OpenVPN:

Download and install the OpenVPN Client from the official website.

  1. Launch OpenVPN, then add the previously saved .ovpn configuration file.
  1. Then enter Username (1), Select checkbox Save password (2) for your comfort, enter Password (3), and click Connect (4)
  1. Click Continue to confirm use without a certificate

Your SoftEther VPN Server is now fully configured, and you can securely connect using your VPN client. SoftEther offers high-performance, multi-protocol VPN support, allowing you to establish remote connections with enhanced security and flexibility.

For more details, refer to the official SoftEther Documentation.