The network connectionbetween your computer an the VPN server could not be established

Question

For this past week I've been getting the following error when I attempt to connect to any of my customer's VPN's.

The network connection between your computer and the VPN server could not be established because the remote server is not responding. This could be because one of the network devices (e.g, firewalls, NAT, routers, etc) between your computer and the remote server is not configured to allow VPN connections. Please contact your Administrator or your serice provider to determine which device may be causing the problem

I've done everything I could find on the web including

Uninstalling and reinstalling the WAN miniports

Disabling firewall

Setting registry setting Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PolicyAgent - AssumeUDFEncapsulationContextOnSendRule from to 2

Ensurng Microsoft CHAP protocol is enabled, and LCP

Disabled TCP/IPv6

I can ping the server, but not connect. This is happening with at least four of the connections to my customers, so I think its something that has changed on my laptop, but I don't know what it is and I'm losing a lot of time trying to fix it, and I'm not able to get work done that I need to get done on my customers' systems.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Kieran

Answer 1

Hi KK

The error message you're encountering indicates that there may be a configuration issue with the network devices (such as firewalls, NAT devices, or routers) between your computer and the VPN server. To troubleshoot and resolve this error, you can follow these steps:

1. Verify your internet connectivity: Ensure that you have a stable internet connection. Check if you can access other websites or services without any issues.
2. Check VPN server status: Contact your customer's IT department or the VPN service provider to confirm if the VPN server is operational and accessible. There might be maintenance or connectivity problems on their end.
3. Confirm VPN server address and credentials: Double-check the VPN server address or hostname you are using, as well as your login credentials (username and password). Ensure they are entered correctly.
4. Temporarily disable firewalls and security software: Temporarily disable any firewalls, antivirus software, or security applications on your computer. Sometimes, these programs can interfere with VPN connections. Try connecting again after disabling them to see if the error persists.
5. Check your local network configuration: Ensure that your local network (home or office) allows VPN connections. Check if any firewalls or routers on your side are blocking VPN traffic. Consult your network administrator or IT department for assistance in configuring your local network to allow VPN connections.
6. Verify VPN protocol and port: Determine the VPN protocol and port required for the connection. It could be OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, or another protocol. Ensure that the correct protocol and port are configured in your VPN client settings.
7. Try connecting from a different network: If possible, attempt to connect to the VPN from a different network, such as a different Wi-Fi network or using a mobile hotspot. This step can help identify if the issue is specific to your current network environment.
8. Update VPN client software: Ensure that you have the latest version of the VPN client software installed on your computer. Outdated or incompatible client software can cause connection issues. Visit the VPN provider's website to download and install the latest version.
9. Restart networking devices: Try restarting your router, modem, or any other networking devices you have. Power cycling these devices can sometimes resolve connectivity issues.
10. Contact your network administrator or VPN service provider: If the issue persists after following the above steps, reach out to your network administrator or VPN service provider for further assistance. They can provide specific troubleshooting steps or check if there are any known issues on their end.

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Answer 2

In my case, the VPN only accepts one connection per wifi network.

I have two laptops, both on the same wifi network. I get this error when I try to connect both to the same VPN.

I resolve it by either

1. Connecting one of the laptops to a mobile hotspot
2. Only connecting one of the two to the VPN