How to Setup L2TP/IPsec VPN on Windows 8

To configure the L2TP/IPsec VPN connection:

Click Control Panel in the side pane that appears on the right
Click on Network and Internet
Click on Network and Sharing Center
Click Setup a new connection or network
Choose Connect to a workplace then click Next
Click Use my Internet Connection (VPN)
In the Internet address field, type one of the following names:
- Los Angles, California, US: us5-vpn.servstrong.net
- Dallas, Texas, US: us1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Miami, Florida, US: us4-vpn.servstrong.net
- Seattle, Washington, US: us6-vpn.servstrong.net
- New York, New York, US: us2-vpn.servstrong.net
- Chicago, Illinois, US: us3-vpn.servstrong.net
- London, UK: uk1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Montreal, Canada: ca1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Sydney, Australia: au1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Amsterdam, Netherlands: nl1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Paris, France: fr1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Frankfort, Germany: de1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Saint Petersburg, Russia: ru1-vpn.servstrong.net
- Tokyo, Japan: jp1-vpn.servstrong.net
In the Destination name field, type ServStrong L2TP.
Check Don't connect now then click Next
Type in your VPN Username and Password in their respective fields; leave Domain field blank
Check Remember this password
Click Create and then Close
In Network and Sharing Center, click Change adapter settings
Right-click your new connection and click Properties
On the Security tab, change the dropdown box from Automatic to Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPsec)
Click Advanced and confirm that the Use presharedkey for authentication and enter "thisismykey" without quotes in key field
On the security tab, change the Data Encryption to Maximum strength encryption to enable 256-bit encryption.

To Connect

Click the Network Icon at the bottom of the side pane that appears on the right
Click on your new connection, and then click on the Connect button
Type in your VPN Username and Password in their respective fields and click Ok

To Disconnect: