boo joo

Q: Airport extreme and VPN help.

I am having problems working from home and connecting to a VPN at my work using airport extreme and my cable modem. The internet works fine but then it kicks me out of the VPN connection every few minutes or hours.

 

Please Help, I am not a networking expert. Any suggetions would be a great help! I've got the most recent airport extreme and have updated to the most recent firmware too.

Posted on Mar 24, 2014 1:14 PM

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Q: Airport extreme and VPN help.

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  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 24, 2014 1:51 PM in response to boo joo
    Level 10 (105,148 points)
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    Mar 24, 2014 1:51 PM in response to boo joo

    AirPort Extreme does not support VPN.......there are no VPN settings or adjustments.....the Extreme can only act as a passthrough for the connection.

     

    Check with the IT guys at work to find out what the requirements might be for you to be able to connect using VPN.

     

    Something that they may ask.....that also might provide a few more clues here as well.....

     

    What is the make and model number of the modem that you are using?  (It may have firewall settings that need to be adjusted).

     

    Once we have the make and model number of the modem, we may ask you to check a setting or two on the AirPort Extreme.

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 24, 2014 1:56 PM in response to boo joo
    Level 9 (52,645 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 24, 2014 1:56 PM in response to boo joo

    VPN is not a single protocol.. and when you say work VPN we do not actually know what that is.. but very often it is Cisco VPN services. Is that it? If not please tell us explicitly what vpn service.

     

    The internet works fine but then it kicks me out of the VPN connection every few minutes or hours.

    Minutes or hours .. makes it hard to trouble shoot.

     

    I would say if vpn is stable for a few hours that is actually not bad going on domestic equipment and domestic ISP accounts. A few minutes is obviously not usable.. It also means that finding the issue is going to be hugely difficult. I recommend you do a simple swap for another router.. if the other router is stable.. or direct connection to the cable modem from the computer is stable then the issue is the AE which is frankly not up to scratch, and should be returned or placed in the network as AP only.

     

    See the info on vpn in the various threads here.. lots of people have vpn problems.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3926392?tstart=0

     

    Opening ports is not going to fix it.

     

    Your not the server.. you are the client.. ports are opened automatically from your end.. it is the server ie work end that has issues.

     

    The AE may have issues with IPSEC because it is perhaps also being used by BTMM.. do you have BTMM setup in the AE or in computers on the network.

  • by boo joo,

    boo joo boo joo Mar 24, 2014 2:29 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mar 24, 2014 2:29 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I believe it is a Cisco VPN services.. Plugining directly into my zoom modem makes a stable connection, which means I dont have internet for the rest of the computers.

     

     

    Thanks for the quick responses folks!

  • by boo joo,

    boo joo boo joo Mar 24, 2014 2:34 PM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Mar 24, 2014 2:34 PM in response to LaPastenague

    I'm not sure what BTMM is, how can I find out if it is being used? Do I want Nat enabled or disabled?

  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Mar 24, 2014 3:21 PM in response to boo joo
    Level 9 (52,645 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 24, 2014 3:21 PM in response to boo joo

    BTTM..

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4907

     

    It is built into the interface of the AE.. if you have BTMM setup on the AE or any computer it can affect vpn.

     

    Do I want Nat enabled or disabled?

     

    At a guess the problem is your Zoom modem is actually a router.

     

    Plugining directly into my zoom modem makes a stable connection, which means I dont have internet for the rest of the computers.

     

    If it is a router then the AE should be in bridge. If the zoom modem is pure modem then the AE has to be a router.

     

    But that already tells you the issue is the AE. If the ZOOM is not a router simply buy another router.. the AE is unsuitable.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 24, 2014 3:30 PM in response to boo joo
    Level 10 (105,148 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 24, 2014 3:30 PM in response to boo joo

    Plugining directly into my zoom modem makes a stable connection, which means I dont have internet for the rest of the computers.

    Can we get a model number for this device.....which is likely a modem/router.....to avoid guesswork?

     

    Once we know what modem you have, we can tell you what NAT setting will be correct for the AirPort Extreme.