Windows Server 2003 PPTP VPN Problem

Over the weekend, I upgraded my Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows Server
2003. Now I am having problems getting my PPTP VPN connections from my
laptop to the server to work properly.

My server is located behind a Linksys BEFVP41 VPN Router that is connected
to a Motorola Comcast Cable Modem.

With my NT 4.0 Server, I had no trouble establishing a PPTP VPN connection
from my Windows XP laptop from the internet thru the Cable Modem and VPN
Router to the server. Note: The VPN Router is set up with port forwarding
for the PPTP traffic; it does not actually handle the VPN connection in
question.

After upgrading to Windows Server 2003 this no longer works. However, if I
connect my laptop to the local area network that my server is on (bypassing
the port forwarding in the Linksys VPN router), the VPN connection still
works.

It is almost like there is some subtle difference in the PPTP system between
NT 4.0 and Windows 2003 that interferes with the PPTP forwarding in my
Linksys router.

Does anyone have any ideas what might be happening?

Thanks,
--
Mike Schumann

do you have two NICs on the 2003 server? what's the error code? this link
may help: http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm

--
For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
Networking Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/networksolutions.htm
VPN Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpnsolutions.htm
VPN Process and Error Analysis, http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm
VPN Troubleshooting, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpn.htm
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ssednRMJtKhw1Q3cRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Over the weekend, I upgraded my Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows Server
> 2003. Now I am having problems getting my PPTP VPN connections from my
> laptop to the server to work properly.
>
> My server is located behind a Linksys BEFVP41 VPN Router that is connected
> to a Motorola Comcast Cable Modem.
>
> With my NT 4.0 Server, I had no trouble establishing a PPTP VPN connection
> from my Windows XP laptop from the internet thru the Cable Modem and VPN
> Router to the server. Note: The VPN Router is set up with port
> forwarding for the PPTP traffic; it does not actually handle the VPN
> connection in question.
>
> After upgrading to Windows Server 2003 this no longer works. However, if
> I connect my laptop to the local area network that my server is on
> (bypassing the port forwarding in the Linksys VPN router), the VPN
> connection still works.
>
> It is almost like there is some subtle difference in the PPTP system
> between NT 4.0 and Windows 2003 that interferes with the PPTP forwarding
> in my Linksys router.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas what might be happening?
>
> Thanks,
> --
> Mike Schumann
>

I have a single NIC. The error I am getting is 721 The Remote Computer Did
Not Respond.

This exact configuration worked great in windows NT 4.0.

Thanks,
Mike Schumann

"Robert L [MS-MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> do you have two NICs on the 2003 server? what's the error code? this link
> may help: http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm
>
> --
> For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>
> Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
> Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more
> help.
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> Networking Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/networksolutions.htm
> VPN Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpnsolutions.htm
> VPN Process and Error Analysis,
> http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm
> VPN Troubleshooting, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpn.htm
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
> "Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:ssednRMJtKhw1Q3cRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Over the weekend, I upgraded my Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows Server
>> 2003. Now I am having problems getting my PPTP VPN connections from my
>> laptop to the server to work properly.
>>
>> My server is located behind a Linksys BEFVP41 VPN Router that is
>> connected to a Motorola Comcast Cable Modem.
>>
>> With my NT 4.0 Server, I had no trouble establishing a PPTP VPN
>> connection from my Windows XP laptop from the internet thru the Cable
>> Modem and VPN Router to the server. Note: The VPN Router is set up with
>> port forwarding for the PPTP traffic; it does not actually handle the
>> VPN connection in question.
>>
>> After upgrading to Windows Server 2003 this no longer works. However, if
>> I connect my laptop to the local area network that my server is on
>> (bypassing the port forwarding in the Linksys VPN router), the VPN
>> connection still works.
>>
>> It is almost like there is some subtle difference in the PPTP system
>> between NT 4.0 and Windows 2003 that interferes with the PPTP forwarding
>> in my Linksys router.
>>
>> Does anyone have any ideas what might be happening?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> --
>> Mike Schumann
>>
>
>

normally, error 721 is gre issue.

--
For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net

Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more help.

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
Networking Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/networksolutions.htm
VPN Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpnsolutions.htm
VPN Process and Error Analysis, http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm
VPN Troubleshooting, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpn.htm
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:056dnbkjJOS7nAzcRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a single NIC. The error I am getting is 721 The Remote Computer Did
>Not Respond.
>
> This exact configuration worked great in windows NT 4.0.
>
> Thanks,
> Mike Schumann
>
> "Robert L [MS-MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> do you have two NICs on the 2003 server? what's the error code? this link
>> may help: http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm
>>
>> --
>> For more and other information, go to http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>>
>> Don't send e-mail or reply to me except you need consulting services.
>> Posting on MS newsgroup will benefit all readers and you may get more
>> help.
>>
>> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
>> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN, Anti-Virus, Tips & Troubleshooting on
>> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>> Networking Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/networksolutions.htm
>> VPN Solutions, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpnsolutions.htm
>> VPN Process and Error Analysis,
>> http://www.chicagotech.net/VPN%20process.htm
>> VPN Troubleshooting, http://www.chicagotech.net/vpn.htm
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.
>> "Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:ssednRMJtKhw1Q3cRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Over the weekend, I upgraded my Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows Server
>>> 2003. Now I am having problems getting my PPTP VPN connections from my
>>> laptop to the server to work properly.
>>>
>>> My server is located behind a Linksys BEFVP41 VPN Router that is
>>> connected to a Motorola Comcast Cable Modem.
>>>
>>> With my NT 4.0 Server, I had no trouble establishing a PPTP VPN
>>> connection from my Windows XP laptop from the internet thru the Cable
>>> Modem and VPN Router to the server. Note: The VPN Router is set up
>>> with port forwarding for the PPTP traffic; it does not actually handle
>>> the VPN connection in question.
>>>
>>> After upgrading to Windows Server 2003 this no longer works. However,
>>> if I connect my laptop to the local area network that my server is on
>>> (bypassing the port forwarding in the Linksys VPN router), the VPN
>>> connection still works.
>>>
>>> It is almost like there is some subtle difference in the PPTP system
>>> between NT 4.0 and Windows 2003 that interferes with the PPTP forwarding
>>> in my Linksys router.
>>>
>>> Does anyone have any ideas what might be happening?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> --
>>> Mike Schumann
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

I've done some further testing today.

It looks like my Windows 2003 problem also happens if you use a Windows XP
machine as the VPN tunnel target.

The culprit seems to be the Linksys BEFVP41 Rel 1 Router (running firmware
1.41.1). If I connect the Windows XP target machine directly to the DSL
modem, I can connect the PPTP tunnel without any problem.

If I use a Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router, instead of the BEFVP41, the
tunnel also connects properly (in both cases, I set the DMZ on the router to
forward all traffic to the Windows XP desktop).

So, it looks like I'm in the market for a new VPN router. Any suggestions?
My top three priorities are:

1. Support for FQDNs for the VPN gateway configuration (my sites have
dynamic IP addresses)
2. Support for QOS (I want to start deploying a private VOIP network).
3. Cost

Thanks,
Mike Schumann

"Mike Schumann" <mike-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ssednRMJtKhw1Q3cRVn-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Over the weekend, I upgraded my Windows NT 4.0 Server to Windows Server
> 2003. Now I am having problems getting my PPTP VPN connections from my
> laptop to the server to work properly.
>
> My server is located behind a Linksys BEFVP41 VPN Router that is connected
> to a Motorola Comcast Cable Modem.
>
> With my NT 4.0 Server, I had no trouble establishing a PPTP VPN connection
> from my Windows XP laptop from the internet thru the Cable Modem and VPN
> Router to the server. Note: The VPN Router is set up with port
> forwarding for the PPTP traffic; it does not actually handle the VPN
> connection in question.
>
> After upgrading to Windows Server 2003 this no longer works. However, if
> I connect my laptop to the local area network that my server is on
> (bypassing the port forwarding in the Linksys VPN router), the VPN
> connection still works.
>
> It is almost like there is some subtle difference in the PPTP system
> between NT 4.0 and Windows 2003 that interferes with the PPTP forwarding
> in my Linksys router.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas what might be happening?
>
> Thanks,
> --
> Mike Schumann
>