Setting up SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) VPN connections on older Ubuntu versions like 10.10 Maverick Meerkat presents unique challenges since Microsoft's proprietary protocol wasn't natively supported in Linux until later distributions. Here's the most reliable method I've found through extensive testing.

First, ensure you have these essential packages installed:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sstp-client network-manager-sstp network-manager-sstp-gnome

If these aren't available in Maverick's default repositories, you'll need to add the PPAs:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:eivnaes/network-manager-sstp
sudo apt-get update

The most stable approach uses Network Manager's SSTP plugin:

1. Click the network icon in the top panel
2. Select VPN Connections → Configure VPN
3. Click Add and choose "Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (SSTP)"
4. Enter your connection details:

Gateway: vpn.yourdomain.com
Username: your_username
Password: your_password

For servers or minimal installations, use sstp-client directly:

sudo sstpc --cert-warn --user your_username --password your_password vpn.yourdomain.com usepeerdns require-mschap-v2 noauth noipdefault defaultroute

If you encounter certificate errors, add this flag:

--cert-warn

For connection timeouts, verify your firewall allows TCP port 443 (SSTP runs over HTTPS). Test basic connectivity with:

telnet vpn.yourdomain.com 443

To route only specific traffic through the VPN:

ip route add 192.168.1.0/24 dev ppp0

SSTP's SSL overhead can impact throughput. For better performance on Ubuntu 10.10:

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling=1
sudo sysctl -w net.core.rmem_max=16777216
sudo sysctl -w net.core.wmem_max=16777216

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SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol) is a VPN protocol primarily used with Windows servers, but Linux users can also connect using third-party tools. Ubuntu doesn't natively support SSTP, but with some configuration, you can establish a secure connection.

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Ubuntu 10.10 or later (though newer versions are recommended)
• sudo privileges
• SSTP VPN server details (address, username, password)
• Basic terminal knowledge

First, install the necessary packages:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y sstp-client network-manager-sstp

Create a new connection file:

sudo nano /etc/ppp/peers/sstpvpn

Add these configuration parameters:

remotename sstpvpn
linkname sstpvpn
ipparam sstpvpn
pty "sstpc --save-server-route --cert-warn --nolaunchpppd SERVER_ADDRESS"
name USERNAME
usepeerdns
require-mschap-v2
nobsdcomp
nodeflate
persist
noauth

Create or edit the chap-secrets file:

sudo nano /etc/ppp/chap-secrets

Add your credentials in this format:

# Secrets for authentication using CHAP
# client    server    secret    IP addresses
USERNAME    *    PASSWORD    *

Start the connection with:

sudo pon sstpvpn

To disconnect:

sudo poff sstpvpn

If you encounter certificate errors, try adding --cert-warn to bypass them. For connection timeouts, verify your server address and firewall settings.

For those preferring a graphical interface:

1. Open Network Connections
2. Click Add and select VPN
3. Choose "Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)"
4. Enter your connection details
5. In Advanced settings, change the Gateway port to 443

While SSTP is secure, consider these best practices:

• Always verify the server certificate
• Use strong passwords
• Keep your system updated
• Consider alternative VPN protocols if possible