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Resolved Question

VPN only works if Windows firewall is disabled

Nov 3, 2011 10:09AM PDT

Hi,

I am wondering if someone might point me in the right direction as to my VPN. As the headline states above, my VPN that I am using to work from home works fine only if I have my Windows firewall turned off. I think I might have read somewhere else that it's possible that I need to open a port? (forgive me as I'm below average in comp knowledge).

I find three things happen if the firewall is turned on AND I am connected to VPN:
1) I am unable to access the drive on the network;
2) I am unable to use Internet (required in my job) and
3) I can receive e-mail but cannot send.

I am running Windows XP Pro, SP3 using D-Link wireless router via DSL. Besides the OS firewall, I am also running Zone Alarm, but I haven't had to mess with that one.

Further, the VPN I am using is listed as an exception to be allowed under the firewall settings.

My apologies if I am missing key info here to help diagnose the problem.

By the way, believe it or not, the IT people through the company I subcontract for (it's their VPN) couldn't help me and didn't know why this was happening.

Thanks a MILLION for any help you can provide. I certainly don't want to disable my firewall.

Discussion is locked

WilliSquirrel has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Sounds proper.
Nov 4, 2011 3:52AM PDT

While your VPN support should tell you what ports to open, what you found is normal. And it's not a problem at all. It's just some configuration issue that your IT folk should know about.

I can't know the answer since a VPN can move the ports around and I didn't move them.
Bob

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I'll go back to IT
Nov 4, 2011 12:03PM PDT

Thank you, Bob. You know, I actually had the IT person here in my home office for over 45 minutes trying to figure out why the firewall had to be disabled. I'll check Monday with them and see if there are other ports that should be opened. My gut feeling? Easier said than done. Grin

Thanks so much again.
Willi