WinXP VPN Client fails to Connect to Win2KServer VPN server

[nalwine]

I have a machine at home running Windows 2000 Server. I have this box set up as a VPN Server. I can VPN to this box from any other box in my home LAN, no matter what platform with no problems whatsoever. I have a LinkSys bfew11s4 Router between my server and the cablemodem. I have a static ip address assigned to my by my ISP.

From work I can VPN into my home server from any box running Windows 2000 with absolutely no problems. However, when I try vpn from a laptop with Windows XP on it, it works the first time fine. After that I disconnect and try to connect again. I get to the Verifying username and password and then just hang. Eventually I get a Error #721. If I wait about 20 minutes after a disconnect I can get back in--but its kind of hit and miss (about a 65% chance I will succeed.) Also, I can take this same laptop home and try to connect to the vpn server going straight to the server with absolutely no problems. (ie instead of going through my routers ip address I go to my servers 192.168.1.2 address assigned to it by my router).

What the heck is going on? I don't think its my laptop because the same problem occurs on every single pc running winXP. I don't think its entirely winXP because it works fine when on the LAN. I guess it must be my router, but why would it work most of the time? I could understand it either working or not working, but this is just strange...

any info would be appreciated. I couldn't sleep last night because of this!

 

[nalwine]

Also, my VPN server at my house actually has a static ip address. (ie its always 192.168.1.2)

 

[JBorecky]

Well I hate to hear that your not getting any sleep. Are you running XP home or pro? Here is a helpful thread that got me going with my XP clients.

thread463-440166

 

[nalwine]

Hey,

Thanks for responding. I have XP Pro. And my situation is a little stranger than before. Strange enough that I have to do some more homework before anyone can help me. At one point I unplugged my router and plugged it back in. I lost all of my settings on the Router so I reconfigured it. After that I could VPN to my W2KServer box from anywhere on the WAN that I tried except from my office. There I experienced the same issue. I am guessing that something I am going through to get to the WAN in my office is causing disconnects to fail, leaving the router confused about who is tunneling through it. Either I have a Netgear Wireless Acess Point and a Cisco Router between me and the main office in Green Bay. I am not sure what is between the main office and the WAN. But once I figure that out I think I'll figure out what the problem is.