Never able to set up VPN after much effort - SOLVED

[1howmanyunamesaretaken?]

Hi network guys

I have tried many alternatives to get a VPN happening on one of my computers.

For simplicity, I'll name the computer I want to connect to remote comp and the one I'm connecting from, local comp.

1st try - Direct cable connection:

. disabled the software firewalls on both comps.

. connected both comps via crossover cabling.

. set static IP address to both comps over LAN.

. On local computer, set same static ip over VPN connection.

. Initiated PPTP connection to remote computer through VPN. Got error 678

2nd try - Through router (static IP addresses):

. same as first try, but connected both comps via router.

. set router to assign static ip addresses to both comps.

. initiated PPTP connection through VPN. Got error 678.

(Note: Network files are accessible, but unable to connect to the web)

3rd try - Through router (dynamic & static IP addresses + domain name):

. software firewalls disabled.

. comps connected via router. Local comp has dynamic IP (over lan and VPN), remote comp has static IP over LAN.

. router set to redirect incomming PPTP requests to remote comp's static IP.

. TCP port 47 (GRE) opened.

. assigned domain name to router's WAN IP address.

. on local computer, initiated PPTP connection to domain name through VPN. Got error 678.

Any help?

Edited July 19, 2006 by 1howmanyunamesaretaken?

[gamehead200]

Have you tried using Hamachi? It's an easy-to-setup 256-bit secured UDP-based VPN, which means that you don't have to open any ports! I've got it running on all of my machines at the moment!

[tain]

Hamachi looks cool...it must use some neat NAT traversal trickery to get around port issues...

@names: what client software are you using? The VPN in Windows? What version of Windows? XP?

What server software are you using?

From http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314076/en-us :

678: The remote computer did not respond.

Did you verify basic connectivity between hosts before attempting the VPN connection? Can you verify that the VPN server is running?

[Tarun]

Misread VPN as VNC. :\

[RogueSpear]

Have you tried using Hamachi? It's an easy-to-setup 256-bit secured UDP-based VPN, which means that you don't have to open any ports! I've got it running on all of my machines at the moment!

This has seriously become one of my all time favorites. So much so that I find myself using it rather the Cisco VPN client as a way into the office. It's not always necessary to VPN client to network, and in those cases where client to client will suffice, Hamachi can't be beat.

[1howmanyunamesaretaken?]

Hamachi looks very promising. Haven't been able to test it properly yet, i.e. on machines plugged into different networks. But it looks very good.

Thanks alot guys.

It a bummer though that VPN won't work.

@TAiN:

What client software are you using? The VPN in Windows? Yes

What version of Windows? XP? Yes

What server software are you using? none

Did you verify basic connectivity between hosts before attempting the VPN connection?

I think that direct cable connection is the most basic connection to check. Not only that, but I also tried other configurations. No doubts here.

Can you verify that the VPN server is running?

How? Should it appear in TCPView? In task manager? It doesn't for me.

Thanks.

[tain]

Tough to connect to a VPN server when you aren't running one. On Windows Server, you install the server via Add/Remove Programs and choosing Windows Components.

Sounds like you need hamachi. I've recently started using it and I agree with the posts above: it is awesome!

[1howmanyunamesaretaken?]

I guess that answers it. In winXP Pro w/ SP2, I don't have the option to install such a component. I guess I'll have to wait till we get SBS 2003 installed on the server. Anyways, Hamachi is very good (I've already installed it).

I guess this thread is solved.

Thanks guys, helpful as usual.