Member Avatar for nishant52

Can we play LAN games using VPN on XP Pro ??
If so how??

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jbennet

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Short answer for : yes — you can run LAN-only games over the internet by putting all players on the same virtual LAN, but the details matter. is right to ask "how"; the practical difference between VPN types is that many game discovery features require an Ethernet‑level (layer 2) tunnel so broadcasts and multicast work. OpenVPN calls this TUN vs TAP; TAP (virtual Ethernet) is the mode that carries broadcasts used by many LAN games (OpenVPN TUN/TAP).

A compact, practical workflow:

  • Choose a tool that creates a virtual Ethernet adapter (examples include Hamachi or any VPN with TAP support) and verify Windows XP compatibility before installing (Hamachi).
  • Install the client on every PC, create/join the same virtual network, then check each machine's virtual IP with ipconfig.
  • Start the game on the host machine and have others connect using the host's virtual-IP (use direct IP if the game’s browser/discovery fails).
  • If players cannot see each other: allow the game through Windows Firewall, temporarily disable third‑party AV/network filters, ping the host virtual IP to verify basic connectivity, and confirm the VPN supports broadcast/multicast.
  • Security notes (echoing ): Windows XP is out of support and exposes risk. Limit file sharing on the VPN, use strong passwords, and prefer reputable VPN software or a dedicated hosted game server if security/privacy is a concern.

If broadcast discovery still fails, use a TAP-capable VPN or connect by host IP.

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Member Avatar for Frank Wallis

VPN is used to establish a secure connection to a private network via internet.

How can you play a game using VPN?

Member Avatar for jbennet

VPN across the internet to someones network so it appears you are all in one LAN, even although you are distributed across the globe. That way you can play LAN games which dont support internet play. but its kind of a security hole.

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