Simultaneous VPN Connections

[schasak]

I have a DSL connection at my house. I am wanting have two simultaneous VPN connections (Nortel VPN and Cisco VPN) running simultaneous from the same machine. If I have the Nortel client running and then launch the Cisco client the Cisco client will connect but it will drop the Nortel client. If I have the Cisco client running and launch the Nortel client I receive "Creat socket failed with 10048".

Is ther any way to have both of these clients running simultaneously from the same machine?

 

[aquias]

Depends on the the client setup and the router setup. Generally speaking when you make a VPN connection, it "encapsulates" the PC. What this does, is to close off any and all other connections that attempt to be made to the system.

 

[ROUTERKID1]

you may need to add a second network card

 

[LloydSev]

regardless of a second network card, most VPN setups do not allow what is called "split tunneling". Allowing you to still have internet access while connected to the VPN. This is what is dropping your Nortel connection.

You would need to check with the Network Admin regarding this situation, as most companies do not allow Split Tunneling due to company policy.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[JOAMON]

The main problem is the software....Nortel and Cisco client software do not play well together. It will wind up being one or the other not both at the same time.

 

[LloydSev]

I think the split tunneling reasoning would be the most likely, as since it's using cisco software, it will be running off of cisco equipment, and split tunneling is NOT enabled by default on cisco vpn hardware.

Split Tunneling not being allowed, will disconnect you from ALL other network activity, except local LAN & VPN LAN.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[schasak]

OK, split tunneling will not allow me to do this. As an alternative could I do the following:

Use Nortel VPN client to tunnel to one network and then have the Cisco VPN client running on a Citrix application and VPN into the other network? Not sure if this is a viable option or solution.

 

[JOAMON]

Found this on Cisco's site:

Coexistence with Third-Party VPN Vendors
In Release 4.0, the VPN Client is compatible with VPN clients from Microsoft, Nortel, Checkpoint, Intel, and others. This feature offers the ability to use other VPN products while the Cisco VPN Client is installed.

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/vpn/client/rel4_0/relnotes/400_clnt.htm#1230760

Used to be that the software for both clients could not exist on the same box. Can now have both installed but still think that no matter what you try you will only get one at a time to work.

 

[LloydSev]

Use Nortel VPN client to tunnel to one network and then have the Cisco VPN client running on a Citrix application and VPN into the other network? Not sure if this is a viable option or solution.

The way I understand Citrix, as I am learning more about it as to implement it here, is that the VPN tunnel would itself be on the citrix app server. This server would then no longer have internet connectivity while the tunnel is up and running.

Not sure if you could get connectivity through it though. One thing to keep in mind, is that if you are no longer able to communicate with the server because of the vpn tunnel, you'll need physical access to the machine to shut down the vpn tunnel.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA