Slow ICS after adding Cisco VPN

[Ziltz]

I have a broadband connection going directly into a NIC on
my Win 2000 PC. I am running BlackIce v. 3.6 as a
firewall on this PC. I also run MS ICS on this host PC,
and connect to my 3 other home PCs through a second NIC
(all IP addresses in the 192.168.0.X range). The other 3
pcs on my home network all run Win98SE, and connect to the
Win 2000 PC through an old Black Box hub, with two
upstairs PCs also connecting through another hub (Linksys
NH1005). This setup has worked great for several years,
with little discernable difference in speed between the
Host and clients.

I recently added Cisco Systems VPN client v. 3.5 to the
ICS host. This VPN connection is not often, but when we
do run it, it works great. I understand that ICS will not
work while the VPN connection is active. The problem is
that ever since I installed the VPN, when the VPN is not
running, the ICS connections to the other 3 PCs run VERY
SLOWLY, causing many timeouts. I can still connect to
some internet sites without any problem, but many sites
just timeout.

I would appreciate any suggestions on what to look at/do
to return the ICS client PCs to their previous browsing
performance level.

 

[Brian Oakes [MSFT]]

My guess would be that the VPN Client added additional filters to the stack,
and even through it isn't in use it is still parsing the traffic (for all
intents and purposes). If you remove the VPN Client does the performance
level increase?

Is there an update to the VPN Client?
--

Brian Oakes

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.
Please reply to the newsgroup so that others may benefit.

 

[Ziltz]

Thanks for the reply, Brian.

Good suggestions, but I am not in a position right now to
try them. This VPN client comes from Academic Computing
Services at a University here, and it is difficult to get
the CD back to reinstall after an uninstall. I can do it,
but was hoping for something else to try first.

Same thing for the version; it is what we have been given
to use.

Is there a way for me to test your theory of additional
filters?

Thanks for your reply!

 

[Jay Somerset]

The problem is the "Deterministic Network Enhancer" that the Cisco software
attached to your broadband NIC. You will have to uncheck that box (under
properties>TCIP properties) and reboot.

To use the VPN again, recheck the box.

It's a pain, but it's the only way that i have found around the problem.
Also, this Enhancer will be attached to your LAN NIC, and you should uncheck
it there, and leave it unchecked. The VPN doesn't care about a local LAN.