Moskie

I'm having the hardest time getting Cisco's VPN client to work on my Windows XP (home ed.) system.

I'm using version 3.6.3 of the client, as my university (who I'm trying to connect to) instructs me to. Installation goes fine, but the dialer hangs on me. It croaks while it tries to authenticate my user name and password.

What's even worse, is that the process locks up. I'm able to hit cancel and stop the app from trying to connect, but from that point forward, the cvpnd.exe process runs indefinately, and Task Manager can't kill it. The result is that my network connection appears to be fully locked and unusable. I try to disable my LAN connection, but nothing happens when I tell it to disable itself, and no application can get online. I'm forced to reboot to get my connection back.

Some other possibly important info:
Have the latest service packs.
Tried to find a patch for the dialer, but Cisco's website doesn't seem to have *any* patches whatsoever.
I use outpost firewall, but disabling it beforehand doesnt seem to make a difference.

I realize this is a pretty specfic question, but if anyone has some insight, it would be appreciated. My knowledge of how VPN works is pretty superficial, so if I'm leaving some important info out, let me know.

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Pragma

I know it's not a lot of help, but have you tried contacting your university for assistance? Since they provide the VPN client for you to use, they must have some experience with other people encountering similar difficulties.

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Mephisto2

Moskie,

I can provide you a link to the latest VPN client from Cisco if you want.

However, it sounds like you're experiencing an MTU issue. Have you tried changing your MTU? There should be an icon for Set MTU in the [i]Cisco Systems VPN Client[/b] menu under Programs. Try setting it to 1300.

Let me know if this helps, or IM me. I can offer more assistance if required.

Mr Mephisto

Boner

My cable ISP does not allow IPSEC VPNs, and in fact blocks them unless you have a business or "special" account offered through the local university.

I'm wondering if your ISP is blocking IPSEC, and the VPN client doesn't handle it gracefully.

If you are on dialup, I'd doubt that they'd be blocking IPSEC.

diergray

Do you have any software firewalls installed? Are you using a packet filter or firewall before your cable modem? If so, try to enable IPSEC passthrough.

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Moskie

Thanks for the help guys.

Pragma, I'm waiting on the IT office of my university to get back to me. Thought I'd give a challenge to Tilted Computers in the meantime.

Mephisto, my MTU was already set at 1300. I'm able to customize it... would setting it to anything higher be worth a shot? And about getting a new client: I think that's be best solution, but there might be a problem. Poking around in the settings, I noticed that there's information in the Group Access Information part, including a password (shown as asterisks, and I have no idea what it is). I assume that this info came with the particular install of the client that my university provides. And I would guess I'd have to uninstall this client, then install the new one, correct? I guess that means I'd lose that info then.... You wouldn't happen to have link to an upgrade for v3.6 would ya?

Boner, you could be right. I'm using a cable modem service from a different university (i'm in the middle of an student exchange program), and they're pretty stingy about bandwidth, so I wouldn't be surprised if what you say is the case...

diergray, I do use Outpost Firewall, but I haven't noticed a difference when I disable it. I've gone as far as setting the firewall to not start up at boot up, then rebooting, to make sure it was completely gone. Could merely having a software firewall installed cause issues? And no, I don't have a physical router/firewall between my computer on the cable modem.


Arg, it's such a pain that this problem makes my internet connection kaput. I'd be messing around with it a lot more if I didn't have to reboot to get back online for more ideas.

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Greetings and salutations.