Problem logging into SSL sites

[Stuartp]

All our office machines have suddenly stopped being able to log in to certain SSL sites. Either a blank page is produced or it says connection timed out or host is not available. The message varies and not all SSL sites are affected.

We are using Internet Explorer 6 (but other browsers won't work either) with 128 bit encryption, updates applied from MS knowledge base for the blank page problem and still cannot log in. We are also connecting through ISA server as a proxy. However I doubt the issue is with ISA because even if we try from the server which does not have proxy settings entered and should therefore connect directly, we still have this problem.

If anyone can offer any advice I'd be very grateful!

Thanks in advance,

Stuart

 

[cdogg]

1) Is your connection DSL, Cable, T1, etc?
2) Do you use a router? If so, what's the make/model (this is important)?
3) How long has the problem been happening and what changes, if any, were made on the network?

Try connecting a PC directly to an open end of your connection bypassing all firewalls, security, proxies, and routers to see if it's having the same problem. If not, then at least you know it's not your connection.

I would suspect the firewall, but some routers also contain settings that can interfere.

___________________________________________________________

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab]- A. Einstein

 

[Stuartp]

The connection is ADSL.

Router information is:

Product Description: Efficient 5861 DMT Router (5861-001/2)
Hardware Description: Revision: 47-10 [S/N:913564]
Software Version: v5.3.80

Everything was OK on Friday, and suddenly yesterday this problem appeared. As far as I know there have been no changes made on the network.

I will try a standalone PC directly into the connection tomorrow when I'm back in.

However I am sure the server is connected directly to the Internet through the router, therefore there should be no firewall between the two? I have restarted the router but still the problem persists.

Assuming the standalone PC works tomorrow, any further suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Stuart

 

[cdogg]

Stuart,
I'm guessing that perhaps settings in the router are the problem. Even if it worked on Friday, changes could have been made on the ISP end, causing the router settings to conflict.

Yeah, try a standalone PC directly connected without going through the router and let me know what you find out!

___________________________________________________________

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources"
[tab]- A. Einstein

 

[smah]

Do you use a time server on your network. Many secure sites won't let you in if the date & time are wrong.

 

[Stuartp]

OK... connecting directly through the router works without a problem.

With reference to the time server, our PCs are set up to sync the time with the server, which has some software on it to sync with an Internet time server. However the time and date on the PCs is correct to within a few minutes.

So it is either something on the ISA server which is stopping the connection, or something in IE itself. Since the server does not use the proxy for IE, and I still have the problem even when using IE on the server, I still suspect an IE problem.

Stuart

 

[Stuartp]

Thought it might be helpful to post that the problem has now been resolved. It seemed that our ISA server had somehow been reconfigured (no idea how no-one claims to have touched it) to send SSL requests as HTTP. Hence the timeout on some web sites.

Stuart