Topic: The VPN is just not stable on 6.0 nor 6.03b.

[pistonpilot]

The VPN is just not stable on 6.0 nor 6.03b.

I just setup a client on 6.0 and got into the VPN for the past week. Now, I get the infamous 619 error using Windows 2000.

Error 619 - the specified port is disconnected.

Error 619 - Restart your computer to make sure that all recent configuration changes have taken effect.

I'm at the point where I guess Freeswan is a necessity but I still would like to know why I can't this to operate smoothly.

I've seen others complain of this but no one provides an answer nor does anyone really address this as an issue.

I have several 6.0 boxes out there and I get the same error from time to time.  It's really hit or miss when I try to get to a SME 6.0 box from either Verizon DSL or Comcast.  Yet, from the same laptop, I can VPN into a 6.0 server using my Sprint or Verizon Aircard - Sierra-Wireless PCMCIA card - 100 percent of the time.  I might get dropped once in a while, but I never get a 619 error.  Never.  On my network card it is very iffy.  Also, I have tried this from various desktops so it isn't confined to my laptop.

I'm not the only one -- check out http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=20729.0

[percheron]

I agree that 6.0 is hit or miss with the VPN. Most of the time for me it is "miss". I am looking for alternatives that will deliver what my clients have asked for - remote access to retrieve files and remote desktop management through their SME servers.

I have one 5.5 server that can keep a vpn active for weeks and not drop it. I do remote backup using an XP machine transferring several GB of data each night from that server. I would like very much to upgrade this server but it is working smoothly and I cannot risk breaking the backup operation. The 6.0 servers will typically hang the VPN session transferring a small text file using a mapped drive in Windows.

After dozens of hours researching and experimenting I've given up and am looking for some alternative to the VPN.

For the moment I am using SSH and it works very well for remote access to server-manager, and putty and WinSCP allow me to manage the server (but not through the VPN - WinSCP hangs when I use the VPN, so I have to add an ip address to the local server network). It would be nice if I could just run VNC over SSH to control remote desktops and map drives to the servers.

However, SSH is not something I want to turn over to non-technical clients unless I can come up with a way to restrict their access.

Judging by the silence on the forums other people must not be having these problems. I did a search on "VPN 6.0" and did not see much. While I can't prove this is a bug, it is still an issue with me and a few others.

jim

[pistonpilot]

I've been posting on this issue way back to the e-smith.org website.  No one would bite.  Look at my poll in the other section - we are not the only ones having trouble.

Freeswan might be the answer but it would be nice if the VPN was reliable that is already somewhat working.

[guest]

Any chance all of you are using Intel cards? I have several 6.0 out and can vpn in. I just did one this weekend, dual intel cards, and I am having the troubles you describe.

[pistonpilot]

Any chance all of you are using Intel cards? I have several 6.0 out and can vpn in. I just did one this weekend, dual intel cards, and I am having the troubles you describe.

Nope!  Garbage network cards.

[guest]

The only other thing I know is different on my install here, versus the other, is that the ISP in this case is a "managed" service, versus just standard in the other cases.
However, the 5.5 U6 I just took down, DID work at that location.

[darkforcess]

same problem here we installed a new 6.0 server and can't get a pptp connection, (Error 800 - the specified port is disconnected. using XP) with all the other servers mostly 5.6 goes everything well

[twan]

Hello everybody

  I tried with 3Com Intel and many config and let see the result

PII 200 96 MO no pptp vpn
PII 200 256 MO PPTP VPN ok access to files but no tcpip sock error if I try a VNC session (It ask for password but no way to get the screen)
XEON 550 256 MO everythink is ok with all cards

  I didn't try with higher config

Twan