VPN Problem - Vonage Linksys wrtp54g router

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 7

Hi,
wrtp54g (vonage router with 2 phone ports.

firmware Version: 1.00.55

I can't connect to my work vpn. I can bypass the router and connect without a problem which places the problem in the router. I had a friend from an IT dept working on this. see below:

Hi, my name is Lisette O(16876). How may I help you?
Frank: Hi Lisette
Frank: I am trying to connect to my job from home via vpn
Frank: through port 1723
Lisette O(16876): okay
Frank: the router is blocking it
Frank: I bypassed the router and connected
Frank: the router is assigning it various ports not just one port
Lisette O(16876): Try to open the ports on the router.
Frank: how do I get there on the router?
Frank: I'm dialed into the admin interface now via the web browser
Lisette O(16876): You logged-in using the IP address?
Lisette O(16876): 192.168.15.1
Frank: I know how to get to the admin program; where do I configure ports on the router?
Frank: I'm connected now.
Lisette O(16876): Click on Applications and Gamings Tab
Frank: what should I use as the port range?
Lisette O(16876): On the first port-range, enter 50 - 50
Lisette O(16876): Second sets of ports is 47 - 47
Frank: will the application be vpn?
Lisette O(16876): Third, 500 - 500 and fourth is 1723 - 1723
Lisette O(16876): Yes
Lisette O(16876): Actually, the application could be anything. This is just to label the ports on the page.
Lisette O(16876): Enter the IP address of the computer.
Frank: OK, the ip address is the assgn dhcp address?
Lisette O(16876): yes
Lisette O(16876): You can check that on the computer itself.
Lisette O(16876): Go to start>run and then type cmd
On the command prompt type there "ipconfig/all", hit Enter. Check the IP address there.
Frank: I know thanks very much
Lisette O(16876): Okay
Lisette O(16876): And check the enable box and click on Save settings.
Frank: I'm trying to connect now
Lisette O(16876): okay
Frank: TCP smxx:1170 vpn.vahnvent.com:pptp ESTABLISHED
Frank: TCP smxx:1170 vpn.vahnvent.com:pptp ESTABLISHED

Frank: I still can't connect error 638
Frank: any ideas?
Frank: netstat -a gives me this TCP smxx:1170 vpn.vahnvent.com:pptp ESTABLISHED
Lisette O(16876): So 1170 is the port?
Frank: It changes, I can add this one too; but I don't think thats what it is
Frank: I troed again and got an error 721
Lisette O(16876): Okay
Lisette O(16876): For this, you may want to back to the setup page of the router.
Lisette O(16876): Go to the Applications and gamings tab again
Frank: Ok I'm there
Frank: config file is backed up
Lisette O(16876): disable the Port range Forwarding.
Lisette O(16876): And click on Port Triggering.
Frank: I'm there
Frank: what next
Lisette O(16876): Enter the same ports on that page,
Frank: Ok try again to connect?
Lisette O(16876): Yes
Lisette O(16876): Make sure the enable button from the port forwarding is not checked.
Frank: I did; thanks
Frank: Still nothing; I entered the ports it was listening on before and it times out with an error message 721
Frank: netstat -a gives me this TCP smxx:1196 vpn.vahnvent.com:pptp TIME_WAIT
TCP smxx:1198 vpn.vahnvent.com:pptp ESTABLISHED
Lisette O(16876): Okay
Frank: what next?
Lisette O(16876): Hold on
Lisette O(16876): Thank you for waiting. You may want to go back to the Port Triggering page and take out all the ports and click on save settings. Click on DMZ tab at the top and enter the IP address of the computer there. Click on Save Settings and try again. Make sure port forwarding is disabled, and nothing is listed under port triggering page.
Frank: the local dhcp address?
Lisette O(16876): yes
Frank: Still timing out, error 721 tough one huh:)
Frank: Still there?
Lisette O(16876): Yes
Lisette O(16876): For this, it seems that the forwarding option is not working on the router. You may want to contact your Voip provider and check for any updated firmware for this router.
Frank: Ok, thank you for your help.
Lisette O(16876): Thank you for giving us an opportunity to serve you through Live Chat Support. For your records, a transcript of this chat session will be e-mailed to you. Feel free to contact us if you require further assistance. Thank you for choosing Linksys and have a great day!
Frank: disconnected
Lisette O(16876): disconnected

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:52 am Post subject:

There are VPN passthroughs under "Security", "VPN Passthrough".

I don't know if that will help you with your specific VPN setup.

Really dumb question - you WERE hitting "Save Settings" between each attempt, right?

What kind of VPN is this? Can your company tell you what range of ports their client should use? Port forwarding should take care of it from there.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 7

I checked that the pptp protocol was set to pass through. And yes; I
clicked save setting several times.

I can't be the only person with this problem.

Posts: 2257

bigdog55 wrote:

I checked that the pptp protocol was set to pass through. And yes; I
clicked save setting several times.

I can't be the only person with this problem.

Well, I have the WRTP54G and I regularly attach using two different types of VPN.

One is a SOCKS-based VPN using SINE, and the other is IPSEC NAT/PAT (Cisco). Both work flawlessly over my WRTP54G, and I've never had to mess with them, not even with port forwarding.

What type of VPN does your company give you? Do they have any recommended settings for routers in general? I know some VPN's have trouble with routers, but the WRTP54G is a WRT54G with some Vonage window dressing, which is a very, very standard router.

I know the firmware on the WRTP54G isn't great, and of course can't be modified like the WRT54G, but VPN (assuming your company is using a relatively common/modern one) has been a fairly accepted/supported technology in the last few years on both Linksys and NetGear routers, and most others as well.

You may have to resort to what I will probably end up doing, though, and put a "real" router in front of the WRTP54G, and relegate the WRTP54G to Vonage duty only. The WRT54G/GS units generally have good marks, as do some of the NetGear "FR" series. That way, you have access to the "deep tweak" sections via SSH and can really play around and get things working. Or break them totally, of course (grin).

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 7

We use the Windows PPTP VPN. It uses port 1723, the standard VPN port.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 7

Update,

When I reset the router I can connect throught the VPN, one I secure it, I can't.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:50 pm Post subject:

bigdog55 wrote:

Update,

When I reset the router I can connect throught the VPN, one I secure it, I can't.

Sorry, are you trying to say that the first time you try it works and after that it does not?

Sounds like either your client, the server, or the Vonage router is trying to keep the port open after you're done with it, and is having trouble "letting go". I would suspect the router, but I have no way to prove it or offer you a way to do so.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 7

Its definitley the router. But, I can't believe that I am the first person with this problem.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:17 am Post subject:

bigdog55 wrote:

Its definitley the router. But, I can't believe that I am the first person with this problem.

I connect and disconnect all the time with my two VPN clients, but neither of them is the one you use, so there's no fair comparison.

You could try putting your client in the DMZ, but be SURE you are running a good firewall first!

I dunno what to tell you. I connect to my VPN and leave it up all week, but I do disconnect and reconnect from time to time since one of my VPN clients has certain functions I need and the other has other things I need. It's a real blast. Wink

But the WRTP54G has been very solid in that regard.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 18, 2005 Posts: 1

I bought the WRTP54G router from Best Buy about two weeks ago. My company uses the PPTP VPN for connectivity as well, and I was experiencing connectivity problems as well. I was able to connect, but only on about every 4th or 5th try. (very annoying)

Broadbandreports.com has a discussion thread about a similar problem with the WRT54G, and from everything I can tell, it appears to be a firmware issue. However, there was a lot of discussion about adjusting the MTUs on the Windows machine in order to optimize the setting for the specific router. The link is below. . .
(http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,14569208?hilite=wrt54g+pptp)

I tried everything recommended around the MTU adjustment, and was not able to correct the problem. I can confirm that it is DEFINITELY the router, as I also have a U.S. Robotics USR8200 router, and if I swapped the two out, my PPTP works perfectly everytime with USR8200.

Anyway, I called Linksys technical support as well as vonage's, and neither was able to help me resolve the problem. We went through virtually every setting in the router making adjustments, opening ports, forwarding ports, etc. trying to make it work. Alas, nothing did, and so I returned the router to Best Buy.

It was a disappointment, as I currently have three devices (router, wireless access point, & Vonage router) that I was hoping to combine into one. It seems that the best I will be able to do is get a wireless router and consolidate 2 of the 3, but I'd rather just wait until I can get an all-in-one solution that works before forking out additional money.