Topic: VPN Issues

[RobRoye]

I'm having some odd issues with the VPN. I have two SME boxes, one running 6.0 and the other running 6.0.1. Let me see if I can explain it:

I set the VPN up and it connects very nicely from XP (Home or Pro). On my WinXP clients, however, it then tries to send ALL traffic through the VPN tunnel, which nets no results for internet browsing, effectively taking the client off the internet. This is most likely an XP issue, but I have no idea how to tell it to use the network information that is statically entered.

Also, on the 6.0 box I have to see the webpage of the box using only the internet domain name - but the 6.0.1 box only works by typing the internal IP address of the server. Is this part of the XP issue?

I cannot get either of my Macs (OS X.3. to connect to either VPN. I have also tried getting several Linux boxes (SuSE 9.1 and 9.2 Pro) to connect to it - to no avail.

What am I doing wrong?? The servers are directly connected to the internet and the client machines have been: A) behind a Win2003 NAT Server B) Behind an SME Server running NAT, and C) Directly conneced to the internet.

[paulmancan2]

Please indicate what type of VPN setup you are using. Are you using IPSEC between the two SME boxes? Are you trying to use PPTP connections from the workstations (if so, then you likely have the option set to use the default gateway on the remote network which you may want to disable.)

[RobRoye]

PPTP client/server

Where is the option to use the gateway from the VPN? I'd love to turn that off.

[paulmancan2]

LOL when I first read your SQL signature I was thinking OK what is this guy smoking this has nothing to do with VPN.

Anyway. In XP right click My Network Places, choose properties. Right click the PPTP connectoid, choose properties, click Networking, click TCP/IP, click properties, click advanced and there is your option under general. Uncheck it

Hope this helps... if you have any other questions I use both IPSEC and PPTP frequently.

[RobRoye]

You are a wonderful human being, I'll dance at your next wedding!

Did I mention that I love you?

Works perfectly now!

[RobRoye]

I hate to bring this up, since I'm so very happy right about now, but any idea why Mac and Linux won't connect to the VPN at all?

[paulmancan2]

I think this is the wrong forum for such expressions

Anyhow I am not familiar with the linux or MAC PPTP clients sorry. There are probably options to play with. I think you have to have MS CHAP V2 for authentication. It may be a question of trial and error with the settings, perhaps someone else knows.

[Franco]

I use both the mac and linuxes clients and have no problems with them, what types of errors are you getting from these systems?
 Hint: when you about to test these, open a shell on the server side and

tail -f /var/log/messages

So you can see the reaction from the server

[Tib]

I just setup openvpn on my Mepis box yesterday and got it running fine ... but you have to setup openvpn on the server as well.

I find openvpn a lot better then the normal vpn that XP has ... there is openvpn for XP as well.

Do a search on openvpn here (contribs.org) and you will find all the relavent doc's and files to set it up.

To setup a linux desktop I found a bit more tricky but if you read the docs you'll get through it no probs.

Tib

[RobRoye]

XP actually handles the VPN just fine now - it's Mac and Linux that won't connect to it. I might try Open VPN for them and see how it works. I even tried configuring it using Webmin to no avail.

[hardijs]

XP actually handles the VPN just fine now - it's Mac and Linux that won't connect to it.

how do you connect from Mac - ie Macosx built in VPN connection (there is a log on the client that can give you clue)
or some addon
or Macos 9?

[RobRoye]

I use the built in VPN in the Internet Connect app for OSX.

[hardijs]

I use the built in VPN in the Internet Connect app for OSX.

I am doing just that regularly - what does the internet connect util log say?