VPN Windows 7 and IM/ Messengers
Hi... So this is the scenario. I have Windows 7 Enterprise (corporate image from my firm), and some additional messengers running like Skype which allows me to take conference calls outside my office network. The problem starts when I connect my VPN. Once VPN is connected, all my messengers like Skype / Google Talk automatically disconnects. And the moment I am disconnected from the VPN, and if these are still in the tray, they connect as if nothing happened. The IT in my firm is not going to support me since Skype is an external tool and they don't care anything about it. I spoke to one of my colleagues and they said probably it could be a port issue that VPN blocks. Whats even more weird is ... VPN blocks my Firefox and makes me to add my firm's proxy address so that I can still connect to other web pages. I am hoping someone could come with a work around for this kind of issue. Appreciate all the help. Regds. AJ
November 24th, 2009 9:05am

It sound as if your VPN is setup to use the REMOTE gateway, if that is the case then the corp. firewall is blocking that traffic.As it is a corp. security issue you really should take it up with the corp. IT Dept. they may have a good reason to block those services.
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November 24th, 2009 3:39pm

Hiya,I would agree with BubbaPCGUY it does sound more like your corporate VPN connection. Just out of curiosity what VPN client software are you using to connect with? One of my clients i work with uses the cisco VPN client software which wasnt compatable with my 64bit windows 7 setup( a 64bit compatability issue, not win 7 i hasten to add! :) and the way i got round this is to download and install the XP compatability mode from MS and then run all my VPN connections and sessions from within that. That way it will keep your VPN connection and normal internet connection completely seperate - so in effect you would have a corporate VPN XP enviroment and your windows 7 desktop would be as per norm - this works great if you have dual screens setup also! :)Hope that helps, let me know how you get on.Mike.
November 24th, 2009 5:19pm

It's been a long time since I've used VPN myself, but it sounds like it is doing what it used to do for me (as stated by the users above; I'm trying to summarize here in layman's terms):When not on VPN you're logically connectedlocally to the Internet, and your Skype, etc. work.When you connect to the corporate VPN it's like you took your computer to work and plugged it in there.Specifically, while on the VPN you do not have a locallogical path directly to the Internet any more. All your Internet access is piped through the VPN,THEN out through your company's firewall,as if you were plugged-in to the corporate network.What I don't know if is possible in your case is to have a local connection as well as a VPN connection, with Windows performing as a router. That's what you want to try to accomplish. A long while back, when I used to use VPN, it was not possible. Perhaps now it can be done directly, ormaybe through the use of Virtualization.-Noel P.S., More power to telecommuters! It's the civilized way to work!
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November 24th, 2009 7:27pm

Bubbapcguy Sorry, but that assumption is wrong. I have another laptop at home from the same firm (my wife has that one), and she uses Win XP SP3, same VPN, and she has absoultely no problem. I asked more friends of mine who were on Vista and they too have the same issue as I do. I did some research on the net today with keywords on Google like "VPN Blocks Internet Windows 7" and you would be amazed at the number of ppl suffering out there. Most of them have the same issues. When connected to VPN, all ur traffic goes through it... even firefox needs a proxy address (so in my case i wouldnt be able to access my private web based emails, Google Talk, Skype etc.) When not connected... everything works fine. **** For my wife... VPN or no VPN... everything works ... Skype, Yahoo Messenger, GTalk ... you name it, she has it! LOL :)
November 24th, 2009 9:19pm

Hi Mike ... The VPN client I use is custom made for our company. Unfortunately its not Cisco :( Could you guide me on how to keep my connections separate? Thanks :)
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November 24th, 2009 9:22pm

Noel ... not sure about that lasta paragraph you wrote... windows trying to act as a router? but your previous 2 statements on the VPN are right :)
November 24th, 2009 9:24pm

I use Cisco vpn client with win 7 with no issue at all.You should do a route print and see what the gateway comes back as.I am using a cisco VPNto connect to the city network (not set to use the remote gateway)and skype / SJ phone work fine.In your custom client does it have a setting for "Use remote gateway".Have you disabled IP6 on the win 7 box??? I have.
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November 24th, 2009 9:43pm

Hi Johnaish,Basically what you would need to do is downloaed the windows XP compatability mode app & installed from:http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspxThen just follow the install - it's a simple .exe install anyhow. Then what you are left with is a Windows XP system that you can just launch from your Windows 7 start menu. You would then install your VPN in XP when it's up and running...dont forget to also install anti-virus because in effect this is a seperate computer. You would then connect to your VPN through the windows XP window and do your work stuff etc whilst everything else would still in the Windows 7 enviroment as per normal. So in effect your windows XP enviroment would be connected to your work network and windows 7 out to the internet as per norm - it may not be true fix per say but it certainley works well for me. let me know how you get on.Bubbapguy - curious to know what version of 7 your running and Cisco client?Cheers.
November 25th, 2009 11:32am

Mike I am running win 7 Pro on all the boxes, the cisco client is an older one which is used with my linksys / cisco rv082 router. (I think it is PtPP vs IPspec but I would need to check that. ( my "work" PC is shutdown until I go back into the office next week)I installed it using the compatibility test function (ran the install as administrator as well). It gave me an error on install something about the regisrty could not be updated and the session details are not stored but that is a small thing.
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November 25th, 2009 6:11pm

Hi, If you are using Windows VPN Client, please try the following: 1. Go to Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections. 2. Right-click the VPN connection and click Properties. 3. Switch to the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties. 4. Click Advanced, click to select the Use default gateway on remote network check box, and then click OK. Meanwhile, I would also like to share the following with you: You may be unable to access the network when name resolution is performed through a VPN connection on a Windows XP-based or on a Windows Server 2003-based client computer You Cannot Connect to the Internet After You Connect to a VPN Server Hope this helps. Thanks. Nicholas Li - MSFT
November 30th, 2009 12:02pm

Thank-You Thank-You Thank-You Nicholas Li I am right now connected to my work place over the Internet via a VPN and Browsing the Internet in another Window. Windows 7 and all I had to do was UnCheck the "use default gateway on remote network" check box and then click OK. I am now one Very Happy Camper as I'll be able to listen to Internet Radio while working. :) ))) Doug
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January 23rd, 2010 6:41am

Hi Doug, I am glad to know this helps. In the future, if you experience any issues regarding our products or if you have some feedbacks, you are also welcome to post a new thread in our forum. It is always our pleasure to be of assistance. Thanks! Have a great day!Nicholas Li - MSFT
January 25th, 2010 6:34am

Hi Nicolas, There is no such an option "Use default gateway on remote network" in Advanced settings of TCP/IP on Windows 7 Pro. Above settings form looks different on XP/Vista and my Windows 7. I can add Default gateways but can't untick that option. Why is that? Is there another way to disable default gateway on Windows 7? Regards Piotr
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March 4th, 2010 2:00pm

I'm on Windows 7 pro. I have tried serveral different option of this default gateway. If I uncheck the default gateway on Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4) I have access to VPN but no internet. If I keep this checked and uncheck on the Internet Protocol version 6 (TCP/IPv6). I have internet but no access to my VPN. If I uncheck both No access to to either resources. I will try to XP mode in vista but that does not work for everybody. I have clients who know nothing except for how to turn on their computers. (its probably not smart to give them access to the vpn but I must). I need a simple way to for them to access the resouces from the office and the internet. I'm running OSX 10.3 server at work. My mac clients have no problems with internet and VPN. Any other options would be nice. Also is there something i can do on the server side?
April 27th, 2010 7:32pm

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