Setting up Cienen PPTP VPN access under Windows 7 is Easy. For L2TP check step number 14. The following instructions go step by step through the creation process. These instructions work under all the client side variations of Windows 7, namely Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, and Ultimate.

1. Open up the Control Panel
First, click on the Start button and click "Control Panel". This opens up the "Control Panel window".

2. Go to the "Network and Internet" panel
Next, click on the "Network and Internet" control panel.

3. Connect To A Network
Next, click on "Network and Sharing center".

4. Set up the VPN connection
Click on "Set up a new connection or Network".

5. Choose the Connection Type
On the next screen, click on "Connect to a workplace" then click "Next".

6. Not using an Existing Connection (If it appears)
Choose 'No, create a new connection' and click "Next".
Then click on "Use My Internet Connection (VPN)".

7. Enter the Internet Address and Destination Name

On this screen in the text box labeled "Internet address" enter the server IP Addres that was sent to you in the welcome email. In the text box labeled "Destination name" type "Cienen.com VPN". This is the name of the connection, and will show up in the "Connect to a network" screen when you’re done. Lastly, make sure that the checkbox labeled "Don't connect now; just set it up so I can connect later" is checked. Then click the "Next" button.

8. Enter your username and password

In this screen, enter your Cienen account username and password. In the text box labeled "User name", enter your Cienen account username. In the text box labeled "Password", enter your Cienen account password. Optionally, check the "Remember this password" checkbox and you won't have to enter your password every time you connect. Then, click the "Create" button.

9. Connection Ready
Click the "Close" button to return to the "Network and Internet" screen.

10. Go to the Connection Properties
Click on the active connection in the Taskbar and a "Currently connect to" dialog box will appear. Or , Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter settings then right click on Cienen.com connection and go to the properties.

11. Select Options - Disable Windows Domain
In the properties window, you should see the server you setup earlier. Click on the "Options" tab. Then remove the tick from the "Include Windows logon domain" dialing options and click on the "Security" tab.

12. Choose The "Type of VPN"
From the dropdown menu choose the "Point to Point Tunneling Protocol(PPTP)" option.

13. Go to Networking
Click on the "Networking" tab and uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" from the connection items and click the "OK" button.

Manual setup for PPTP connecting ends here.

14. Connection using L2TP/IPsec
Perform the steps from 1 to 12 , then Choose "layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (l2TP/IP)" under "Type of VPN".

15. Advanced Settings
Click on the "Advanced Settings" button.

16. Enter the Pre-Shared Key
In the "IPsec Settings" dialog, click the radio button labeled "Use pre-shared key for authentication". Then type the pre-shared key that you received with your account details into the text box labeled "Key". Then click the "OK" button.

17. Go to Networking
Click on the "Networking" tab and uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" from the connection items and click the "OK" button.

Connecting to Cienen Servers:

Go to the connection Properties. Click on the active connection in the Taskbar and a "Currently connect to" dialog box will appear. Select Cienen.com connection and click connect. Or , Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter settings then double click on Cienen.com connection and click "connect".

Now you have successfully connected. To disconnect, select the connection and click "Disconnect" option.