Trouble with VPN connection and AT&T 4G Elevate

aphillipterp · ‎11-28-2011

I recently purchased the 4G Elevate to work from home in an area that does not have access to other internet. The AT&T reception is about 2-3 bars, consistently, and the speed is completely satisfactory when surfing the internet. However, I need to connect to my office networks using a Cisco VPN. I can connect with the VPN but I get kicked off the VPN connection every 3-6 minutes. I can't work with that type of disconnect rate and am wondering what I can do. Is an air card a better option? Has anyone had this problem with this product? I checked the owner's manual and the "Advanced Settings" has an "Enable VPN connection" option, which IS selected on my device. The IT people at work say the settings on the VPN are all appropriate. Any thoughts? Is this not a viable option for me to work from home?

Another piece of information: this same thing also happens in an area with consistent 5 bar reception.

Please help!

justbn · ‎02-07-2012

I also have the Elevate. The speeds are amazing.

Unfortunately, I cannot connect to my company's Cisco VPN at all. When I attempt to connect, I get prompted for the password. Negotiiation fails after that. I DO have VPN pass through enabled.

I also have a Verizon 4G LTE Mifi. I have no troubles with the VPN connection.

Any ideas how to get connected via VPN on the Elevate. I'm evaluating the Verizon vs. ATT option. I prefer the speeds and device from AT&T. However, all that is useless if I can't connect to the VPN.

aphillipterp · ‎11-28-2011

I did find a solution. It had to do with the Cisco VPN settings. You open the VPN, go to Properties and select the Transport tab. Check enable tunneling and select IPSec over UDP option. Outlook still dislikes my connection but otherwise the connection is functional.

justbn · ‎02-07-2012

I appreciate the response.

Unfortunately, I already have those settings. So, I'm still out of luck.

I did work with AT&T and Sierra Wireless on this. AT&T's initial answer : "We have limited support for VPNs. You may need to contact your IT group." Wow, that was inspiring.

Eventually, we changed the profile on the device to use a Cingular APN. Amazingly, that did fix the problem. I could then connect via Cisco's IPSec VPN. Unfortunately, I lost 4G LTE and could only connect with 4G. My speeds plummetted to < 1MBps. Needless to say, I reverted back to the original settings.

My current "solution" is to first use my own private PPTP VPN. Then, I connect to my company's Cisco VPN. All is well. However, I don't really like that solution very much. I'm paying for the PPTP VPN and no one should have to jump through hoops like that to get a VPN connection.

So, here I have a VERY fast AT&T product that I prefer with less than ideal VPN connections. I also have a moderately fast Verizon 4G LTE Mifi that has perfect VPN connections. Hmmm...... Tough decision.

justbn · ‎02-07-2012

Stupidly, I went with speed - AT&T.

Now, I have horrible issues with the VPN problem. If I am in a 4G only (not LTE) area, I can connect to my corporate VPN by first connecting to a PPTP VPN.

Unfortunately, if I am in an LTE area, this does not work In fact, I can't connect to PPTP at all.

I simply cannot believe that AT&T screws up VPN so badly. Do they not realize that business people need VPNs??

Anyone have a solution?

mpcook · ‎06-28-2011

I had numerous lengthy discussions with AT&T and Sierra on this last Fall, all to no avail. Just updated to the latest firmware, still no VPN connection. Anyone make any progress on this?

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

mpcook wrote:

I had numerous lengthy discussions with AT&T and Sierra on this last Fall, all to no avail. Just updated to the latest firmware, still no VPN connection. Anyone make any progress on this?

using a cisco vpn configuration - client software is Ciso Anyconnect Secure Mobility client Verison 3.0.3054, cisco device is a ASA 5510 on the business side

krazy4eva · ‎07-16-2012

Go into the advanced settings and enable the DMZ and point it to your computer's IP address when on the ATT. That will skip the ATTs firewall and allow the VPN traffic to pass through.

RællicSystems · ‎02-12-2013

krazy4eva wrote:
Go into the advanced settings and enable the DMZ and point it to your computer's IP address when on the ATT. That will skip the ATTs firewall and allow the VPN traffic to pass through.

I tried this out and had no luck. Same connection error through the Cisco Annyconnect program: "The VPN client was unable to modify the IP forwarding table. A VPN connection will not be established. Please restart your computer or device, then try again."

So the question is, what ports does the Cisco VPN need forwarded? I had previously tried port forwarding from the Elevate but had no luck there either. It doesn't seem to want to forward port 80 in particular, but I assume that's because it has its own web server.

RællicSystems · ‎02-12-2013

http://helpdesk.illinoisstate.edu/kb/1156/Opening_firewall_ports_for_the_Cisco_VPN_Client/

I'll try this out and report the results.

RællicSystems · ‎02-12-2013

RællicSystems wrote:
http://helpdesk.illinoisstate.edu/kb/1156/Opening_firewall_ports_for_the_Cisco_VPN_Client/

I'll try this out and report the results.

Doesn't work for me. Would be interesting to see whether it works for anyone else. By the way, the VPN connection works over my iPhone's internet connection, so I don't see what the problem is here. Oh well.

wingrider01 · ‎05-26-2008

RællicSystems wrote:

RællicSystems wrote:

http://helpdesk.illinoisstate.edu/kb/1156/Opening_firewall_ports_for_the_Cisco_VPN_Client/

I'll try this out and report the results.

Doesn't work for me. Would be interesting to see whether it works for anyone else. By the way, the VPN connection works over my iPhone's internet connection, so I don't see what the problem is here. Oh well.

Using the mobility client it works perfectly here - have you had your IT support oen a TAC case to Cisco for assistance?

RællicSystems · ‎02-12-2013

wingrider01 wrote:
RællicSystems wrote:
RællicSystems wrote:
http://helpdesk.illinoisstate.edu/kb/1156/Opening_firewall_ports_for_the_Cisco_VPN_Client/

I'll try this out and report the results.
Doesn't work for me. Would be interesting to see whether it works for anyone else. By the way, the VPN connection works over my iPhone's internet connection, so I don't see what the problem is here. Oh well.
Using the mobility client it works perfectly here - have you had your IT support oen a TAC case to Cisco for assistance?

Good call! I'll ask them to look into it. Thanks.