Problems with VPN and wifi access...

[James314]

Hi all,

I was trying to set up my wifi today so that I could use the internet at my university. However, when I went to connect, I received error messages saying that the VPN server failed to respond. I think this might be the result of one of a couple of factors:

1.I noticed that my wifi connection was dropping in and out and so no solid connection could be established.
2: I might have messed with VPN settings in services in an effort to increase security.

Regarding 1, do I need to d/l new drivers for my wifi card? I have uninstalled IBM access connections and so rely on windows for wifi, is this preferable?

Regarding 2, does anyone know how I can check my VPN settings. I looked through the service.msc and could not see which was the relevant service.

If anyone has any ideas in addition to my suggestions, please help! I have loads of work to get done this week and am a little stressed that I cannot currently access my uni's network.

thanks,

J.

[keku]

First do you have intel wifi card??? if yes that's the one makes connection unstable. my other laptops with IBM abg works fine while Intel drops the connection.

First : Obvious mistake you made that you removed IBM access Connection. that's not advised. I would suggest use IBM access Connection and disable windows. IBM Access Connection is better than windows wifi management. IBM also recommanded to disable wirless zero configuration services.

second. : my company uses Cisco VPN client so I do see service. I remeber I received similar kinda msg long back. we had a minimum client requirement, My PC should have some firewall (windows firewall doesn't quality) and a Anti virus. your network might have that as well. VPN host won't let you connect if you don'y satisfy those secuirty requirments.

[James314]

thanks for the reply Keku. I use Intel pro 2200 b/g card. I also have Kaspersky AV and outpost firewall installed so I doubt that is the issue. I have just d/l the new drivers which are supposed to stop the dropped connections, hopefully that will help.

I got rid of IBM access connections as I found it to be unecessarily complicated and I prefer using windows.

thanks again,

J.

[James314]

[censored] it! Just installed new intel drivers from IBM and now when I press FN and F5 it says 'unable to change power state of 802.1 wireless radio. Update the driver for the wireless adapter' - this makes no sense! I just succesfully updated the driver, so why has it not been recognised? Is this because I uninstalled access connections?

me now very unhappy...

[GomJabbar]

Just installed new intel drivers from IBM and now when I press FN and F5 it says 'unable to change power state of 802.1 wireless radio.

Is this because I uninstalled access connections?

Yes.

[jdhurst]

While I happen to like Access Connections and my IBM card, the Intel 2200bg card should be stable with newest drivers (even second newest).

If you don't wish to use Access Connections, uninstall it, restart, uninstall the wireless NIC, don't restart, install the NIC drivers you want, restart and see where that leaves you.

Once that works, get the VPN settings from your university and set the VPN client accordingly. Your VPN client should have all the settings you need and you should not have to use services at all.

A decent VPN client will work transparently through wired internet, wireless internet, dial-up internet or cellular internet. Makes no difference. I do all the above with Juniper Netscreen and it is problem-free.
... JD Hurst

[James314]

cheers JDHurst! I have done the driver update and am now waiting to go into uni to test it...fingers crossed.

J.

[mrdeucie]

I've never used the Windows wireless but I really like IBM Access Connections. It works fine with Cisco and my school network.

[Kyocera]

I've never used IBM Access Connections, both my laptops connect to any network not requiring a key. That includes my t30 with the Intel 2100 3B. Have you tried to ping the server? Do a system restore prior to when you changed your security settings to verify that they are not messed up. Also one of the easy things to try is to reboot the router.