CMAK Made Simple

Start CMAK by selecting Programs, Administrative Tools, Connection Manager Administration Kit from the Start menu.

Create a new profile, provide a name for the service, and name the executable that CMAK will create. You can merge an existing profile (if you have one) into the connection.

Create a new phone book or merge a phone book from an existing profile. The phone book contains the server's IP address or Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). If multiple RRAS servers are available, you must create a separate text file that contains all the servers' addresses or names.

Edit the network settings for the VPN connection, including the TCP/IP (WINS and DNS) and security (authentication) settings. Select either the PPTP or Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) connection.

If a dial-up connection will be used for the VPN, create the dial-up connection. (Skip this step if a broadband or another type of connection will be used.) Modify routing tables and proxy settings if necessary.

Add any desired custom actions. For example, I included an option to run a script that maps two network drives after a connection is established.

Select icons for the connection, and choose graphics for the logon box and phone book display.

Include the Help files and any essential support information. If necessary, CMAK installs Connection Manager 1.3 and includes a license agreement, which is a customizable text file. Add any other files you think are necessary.

Finish running the CMAK wizard. The CMAK wizard will create the connection and a folder that contains the executable, any files you included, and the graphics.

Copy the resulting folder to 3.5" disks or other media, such as CD-ROMs or USB memory sticks. Distribute the media to your users. When a user runs the executable, the connection installs and prompts the user to select a destination.