add the following to your /etc/apt/sources.list:
# James Cameron's PPTP GUI packaging
deb http://quozl.netrek.org/pptp/pptpconfig ./
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install pptpconfig
pptpconfig must be run as root, therefore:
sudo pptpconfig
-- taken from http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=91249
server tab: put vpn server into "server" field, supply username and password
routing tab: use "client to LAN" (which is the default)
add an additional route to use when the vpn is turned on: we need to route all traffic to destinations within the vpn via the network device "ppp0". click "edit network routes" and add "
note: when using rdesktop for rdp, you can toggle between fullscreen and window mode with "crtl + alt + enter"