Remote Connection Breaks After 10 Minutes

[Larry Stinson]

I maintain programs on my client's server. I establish a VPN connection
using Contivity VPN (client's requirement) and then establish a remote
computer connection (terminal server). However, after working on their
server for approx 10 minutes, it locks up and then I get the message "The
connection to the remote computer was broken. This may have been caused by a
networking error." Without fail, this happens on each remote terminal
session (unless it is less than 10 minutes).

I am using Windows Firewall with both Remote Desktop and mstsc.exe listed as
Exceptions. I'm also running Windows XP SP2 Home edition.

I have tried running Zone Alarm firewall instead. But with Zone Alarm, the
Contivity VPN connection breaks with the error "The routing table cannot be
altered after a Contivity VPN connection has been established." This happens
after about the same amount of time.

Any help resolving this would be greatly appreciated. This is affecting my
business.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Robert L [MS-MVP]]

It could be the MTU issue. these search result may help,

connection to remote computer was broken caused by network error Q: I want to use Remote Desktop from a VPN Connection. With WXP SP1 and SP2 I get "Remote Desktop Disconnected. Connection to the remote computer was broken ...
www.chicagotech.net/Q&A/vpn54.htm


RRAS/VPN Q&A Collections Connect 2 PC's on different subnets via a Win 2003 RRAS · Connection to the remote computer was broken caused by network error · Disconnects with error 721 ...
www.chicagotech.net/Q&A/vpnq&a.htm



Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I maintain programs on my client's server. I establish a VPN connection
using Contivity VPN (client's requirement) and then establish a remote
computer connection (terminal server). However, after working on their
server for approx 10 minutes, it locks up and then I get the message "The
connection to the remote computer was broken. This may have been caused by a
networking error." Without fail, this happens on each remote terminal
session (unless it is less than 10 minutes).

I am using Windows Firewall with both Remote Desktop and mstsc.exe listed as
Exceptions. I'm also running Windows XP SP2 Home edition.

I have tried running Zone Alarm firewall instead. But with Zone Alarm, the
Contivity VPN connection breaks with the error "The routing table cannot be
altered after a Contivity VPN connection has been established." This happens
after about the same amount of time.

Any help resolving this would be greatly appreciated. This is affecting my
business.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Larry Stinson]

Thanks, Bob. It sounds to me like this solution is for people who either receive a black or blank screen when they connect with RDC or the VPN connection is broken. In my case, I connect OK using RDC and can actually work on the remote computer for about ten minutes, then the connection is broken (and when using the Windows Firewall, the VPN connection remains intact).

But I'll give it a shot. I'm desperate.
It could be the MTU issue. these search result may help,

connection to remote computer was broken caused by network error Q: I want to use Remote Desktop from a VPN Connection. With WXP SP1 and SP2 I get "Remote Desktop Disconnected. Connection to the remote computer was broken ...
www.chicagotech.net/Q&A/vpn54.htm


RRAS/VPN Q&A Collections Connect 2 PC's on different subnets via a Win 2003 RRAS · Connection to the remote computer was broken caused by network error · Disconnects with error 721 ...
www.chicagotech.net/Q&A/vpnq&a.htm



Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I maintain programs on my client's server. I establish a VPN connection
using Contivity VPN (client's requirement) and then establish a remote
computer connection (terminal server). However, after working on their
server for approx 10 minutes, it locks up and then I get the message "The
connection to the remote computer was broken. This may have been caused by a
networking error." Without fail, this happens on each remote terminal
session (unless it is less than 10 minutes).

I am using Windows Firewall with both Remote Desktop and mstsc.exe listed as
Exceptions. I'm also running Windows XP SP2 Home edition.

I have tried running Zone Alarm firewall instead. But with Zone Alarm, the
Contivity VPN connection breaks with the error "The routing table cannot be
altered after a Contivity VPN connection has been established." This happens
after about the same amount of time.

Any help resolving this would be greatly appreciated. This is affecting my
business.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Larry Stinson]

That solved my problem!! Thanks a million, Bob!!

I would suggest, however, that any other users with this same problem follow the Microsoft KB article 283165 on "How to change the PPPoE MTU size in Windows XP".

The ChicagoTech article incorrectly identifies the registry key to be changed. The correct key is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Ndiswan\Parameters

The ChicagoTech article omitted the "Services" subkey.

Also, at the very end, Microsoft says to add the DWORD value "ProtocolMTU" (without the quotes) whereas the ChicagoTech article says to add the DWORD value "TunnelMTU" instead. This may work just as well, but since the Microsoft article was more accurate with the registry key information, I went with their suggestions and it worked great.

Thanks again!!
It could be the MTU issue. these search result may help,

connection to remote computer was broken caused by network error Q: I want to use Remote Desktop from a VPN Connection. With WXP SP1 and SP2 I get "Remote Desktop Disconnected. Connection to the remote computer was broken ...
www.chicagotech.net/Q&A/vpn54.htm


RRAS/VPN Q&A Collections Connect 2 PC's on different subnets via a Win 2003 RRAS · Connection to the remote computer was broken caused by network error · Disconnects with error 721 ...
www.chicagotech.net/Q&A/vpnq&a.htm



Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
I maintain programs on my client's server. I establish a VPN connection
using Contivity VPN (client's requirement) and then establish a remote
computer connection (terminal server). However, after working on their
server for approx 10 minutes, it locks up and then I get the message "The
connection to the remote computer was broken. This may have been caused by a
networking error." Without fail, this happens on each remote terminal
session (unless it is less than 10 minutes).

I am using Windows Firewall with both Remote Desktop and mstsc.exe listed as
Exceptions. I'm also running Windows XP SP2 Home edition.

I have tried running Zone Alarm firewall instead. But with Zone Alarm, the
Contivity VPN connection breaks with the error "The routing table cannot be
altered after a Contivity VPN connection has been established." This happens
after about the same amount of time.

Any help resolving this would be greatly appreciated. This is affecting my
business.

Thanks in advance.