[pptp-server] pptpd questions/info newbie...

[Dean Roman]

Hello all,
  
   I've been using Linux for many years now, and have been tasked to setup a vpn that will have linux on the server side, and win2k clients(behind NAT'd firewalls...like cable modem running NAT) on the client side.

   Sounds to me like PPTP is the best solution?  However, I'm a bit lost about PPTPD as it seems the docs that I have are outdated as are the patches. 

My setup is:
   DISTRIBUTION:  Debian/GNU Linux(woody/testing)
   SETUP: Gateway(firewall) running iptables+bridging
   KERNEL:  2.4.9
   PPP: 2.4.1
   PPTPD:  1.0.0


I have some questions that hopefully you all can help me out with:
 
Here are my questions:
=====================
1) Will PPTP work with the win2k clients behind NAT'd firewalls (like a cable modem running NAT)?
2) Does the basic package found in woody WITHOUT any patches support any kind of encryption mechanism?
3) If NO on 2, where can I find good docs/patches on how to add the MPPE/chap to kernel 2.4.9 and any other patches I need.
4) Do I need to patch the ppp daemon in Debian woody for this to work?
5) Is the concept the same as that for a regular dialup connection using ppp?
6) Could somebody explain exactly what needs to be patched in order to achieve some type of security(link encryption)?
7) If I downgraded to kernel 2.2.19 would this help things out?

Any other info. would be really helpful in my learning how pptpd works.

Thanks for help...

   ---Dean Roman.