VPN works on my home network, but no where else!!!

[webswonders]

Dear . . .,
This is my first post - so i hope im in the right place!!
I have tried to set up my home computer as a vpn server using the vpn that is included on xp.
I have set this up and then set up the client on my laptop using the ip address given when i do cmd> ipconfig /all
I then connected and the vpn worked great - so i went and connected to my mates internet and tried the vpn again - it failed.
I realised that the vpn client is dialing the ip address of the networked computer behind a Belkin ADSL2 wireless modem - i tried the vpn again with the actual ip address and it still failed.
I dont understand why this isn't working.
I could realy do with some help and i would greatly appreciate it
Thanks in advance - and if you need any information dont hesitate to ask!!
Joseph Bromwich

 

[burtsbees]

So...when you connected your laptop to your own network, it worked---was this all on your network, behind your router, or remotely?
From your friend's house to your house---it failed, right?

Burt

 

[webswonders]

Hi Burt,
I am was on my network, when it worked and then from my friends house it failed!
The rest of what i had in the above post is correct!
So any ideas on how to get it to work??
Joseph Bromwich

 

[savaytse66]

I'm extremely new to VPN, and I'm having problems myself, but it sounds like it might be a port-forwarding issue. I wish I could tell you exactly, but you probably have to open a port or two on your router and tell it to direct the traffic to your server behind the router. For PPTP, I think you need to forward TCP port 1723 and IP port 47. That way, when you type in the IP of your router, the router knows to send it to your server PC IP 192.168.xxx.xxx, or whatever IP range you are using behind the router.

Don't take my work for it though. Like I said, I'm trying to figure out some VPN problems of my own, so I'm by no means an expert.

Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[webswonders]

Hi Chris,
No unfortunately this hasn't worked!
i did the port fowarding and hen ran a port scan and the ports were still closed - so i dont really know what is wrong.
I just tried the vpn to check anyway and nope it doesn't work - the error message was that the server cannot handle pptp requests - but pptp is the only port (port 1723) an port 47 is closed - so i really dont see why it isn't working.
Any Help greatly appreciated.
Joseph Bromwich

 

[burtsbees]

an port 47 is closed

That is a protocol number, not a port. More later...busy.

Burt

 

[webswonders]

Right . . . . .
Would you mind explaining a bit more about the protocol number 47. i dont get it. I dont understand how port 1723 - the pptp port can be open but the computer not be enabled to take in pptp connections
Joseph

 

[burtsbees]

Norton?

Burt

 

[webswonders]

No im not using norton - i have Windows XP firewall on the server and Kaspersky internet security on the client - and Windows Firewall on the client as well.
Joseph Bromwich

 

[burtsbees]

Try shutting them all off to test...

Burt

 

[webswonders]

I have tried this!
The error is 'the computer your are trying to connect is not enabled for pptp connections'
How can i rectify this??
I think the problem is that the computer is not allowing the pptp connections!!
Joseph Browmich

 

[brianinms]

PPTP vpn's are a problem as they need ports open in the firewall on both sides of the connection. If you are using a standard cable or dsl provider they sometimes block those ports inbound.

 

[webswonders]

im using tiscali broadband and i have checked it out with them and they say they DO NOT block any ports!
So i am a bit stuck!!
Any more suggestions guys??
Joseph Bromwich

 

[webswonders]

OK, so is it perhaps that i need to log in to the routers ip address and then into the specific computer on the home network. This is starting to seem like an endless job to do something which in theory is so simple!!
Joseph Bromwich.

 

[burtsbees]

I am was on my network, when it worked and then from my friends house it failed!"

Your comp-------Internet----friend's house

This works?

Friend's comp---------Internet-----------your house

This failed?

Burt

 

[webswonders]

Burt,
what you have said is correct - from my friends house it could not even find my home computer with the ip address given.
I understand the reason it worked on my home network - that was because i was connecting to the ip address of my networked home computer - 192.168.2.X - so of corse this would not work at my friends house - so i dialled the lAN ip address of the router at my friends house and this FAILED.
Joseph Bromwich.

 

[burtsbees]

from my friends house it could not even find my home computer with the ip address given."
So it connects but cannot browse the network???
The rest of the post seems to contradict what I said...I am totally confused as to exactly what you are having trouble with. You vpn into your friend's router and successfully browse his network from your house? But you cannot vpn into your router from your friend's house, or you can but cannot then browse your network? So far, you said what I just said, and then you said you were vpn'ing from your computer into your computer...were you behind your own router connecting to your own vpn???

Burt

 

[webswonders]

I am trying to explain this as best io can!!
1. I have a computer behind my router on a home network - this is the vpn server.
2. i did the ipconfig /all in cmd and used the ip address in there - then from my laptop to the vpn server it connected fine!!
3. I then went to my friends house to check the vpn connection from my laptop to the vpn sever at my house and it then failed - i was using my friends internet connection!
4. My home network gives each computer connected an ip address like the folllowing 192.168.2.X and i then realised that when i was at my friends house i was connecting to that ip address that was given to the vpn server by the router at my house.
5. SO, i went back and connected using the LAN ip address and it failed from my house and my friends house.
Ok, so i hope this is now much clearer - but again just ask if you need anything explaining again.
Joseph Bromwich

 

[burtsbees]

2. i did the ipconfig /all in cmd and used the ip address in there - then from my laptop to the vpn server it connected fine!!

Where was your laptop when you did this??? If it's on YOUR LAN, of course it can see the server!!!

From your friend's house, when connecting to your vpn, you need the PUBLIC WAN ip address, not the LAN address---it has to connect to the outside interface on the router before it can even know what's on your internal LAN. The router must also forward the ports you use for the VPN (IPSEC, L2TP, PPTP, whatever you use, UDP, TCP...).

Burt

 

[webswonders]

Hi Burt,
Thanks for that - it is now sort of working!
The vpn connects but when it gets to verifying the username and password it fails!
I have checked the user name and password settings - but i cant see anything obvious - could you lend a hand on this problem??
I would really apreciate your help.
Joseph Bromwich