VPN connection over O2 keeps disconnecting

HurlyBurly

I'm having a lot of trouble with a VPN connection into the office from home, over my O2 mobile broadband and using Juniper Network software. It connects fine at first but then keeps disconnecting every few minutes and spends a couple of minutes reconnecting each time.

Has anyone else ever had an issue like this?
Anyone successfully using VPN over O2?

Seems like the mobile broadband signal mightn't be reliable enough for the Juniper connection. But it's perfectly fine for normal internet usage including streaming video.

bealtine

HurlyBurly wrote: »

Seems like the mobile broadband signal mightn't be reliable enough for the Juniper connection. But it's perfectly fine for normal internet usage including streaming video.

Welcome to the world of "mobile broadband". It's just dialup with a fancy marketing. Sorry to be negative but it's not worth the hassle.

O2_Daryll

Is there any error message associated with the disconnection?

HurlyBurly

No none.
Happens silently - only notice when I see the JuniperNetworks software flashing thats it's trying to reconnect.
Been checking in the logs but can't see much either.

It's driving me nuts. Have a mate who's on 3 and has no such problems so it has to be something to do with the dongle or the 02 service.

HurlyBurly

bealtine wrote: »

Welcome to the world of "mobile broadband". It's just dialup with a fancy marketing. Sorry to be negative but it's not worth the hassle.

Why waste my time with a comment if you can't contribute something useful.
Mobile is all I have - no fixed or wireless options available.
The o2 service is actually pretty decent by & large, it's just this VPN issue.

PogMoThoin

Run a ping to google and see if it drops after a few mins, you'll then see that it does, all mobile internet does drop out, its just not consistent.

bealtine

HurlyBurly wrote: »

Why waste my time with a comment if you can't contribute something useful.
Mobile is all I have - no fixed or wireless options available.
The o2 service is actually pretty decent by & large, it's just this VPN issue.

Why waste our time with these questions when you could just read the FAQ?

If your service is "pretty decent" then count yourself as one of the lucky ones and don't tell your friends about your service.

HurlyBurly

I'm looking for solutions here...
It works for someone else on 3.
Can I tweak my VPN software to cope ?
Will upgrading the firmware on my modem be of any use?

If not then I guess I should just switch to 3

watty

Have you tried at different locations and times to rule out
Mast or backhaul fault
Contention/Congestion/Cell Breathing

Different PC/Laptop that works on 3 to rule out VPN config or PC issues.

It's unlikely the firmware is the issue.

Is the other guy using Juniper, Cisco, MS VPN or Open VPN?

Is he connecting to same server with same software (if not then changing to 3 may make no difference).

There are a multitude of reasons for this, and only one is the general rubbish-ness of Mobile to carry IP in general and VPN in particular. It could even be an issue at the server end.

HurlyBurly

Thanks for the options Watty.

I've tried different locations & times. Always happens.
Other guy is using same software. It's the exact same connection.

Am hoping to get my hands on a 3 modem to test it out.
Only problem is I had one a good while back (pre vpn usage) and the quality got so bad I had to switch to o2. hopefully they've upgraded in the area a bit since

jor el

HurlyBurly wrote: »

I'm looking for solutions here...

There not be any solutions though. Going by what you say you've tried, I think you're running out of options. It seems that it's just not going to work for you, on O2 anyway.

Changing to Three may work, but it also may be worse. Meteor and Vodafone are other options to consider, but you face the same potential problems with them.

O2_Daryll

If I was to try an replicate the issue for you here, what would I need? how is your system set up.

HurlyBurly

Got a 3 modem and it works. Unreal. The 3 connection is miserable, very slow and jittery yet it maintains the VPN connection into work.

Obviously there's some problem with the combination of O2 and our work vpn setup

Thanks for the offer Daryll but you won't be able to recreate it.
I'll chase it up with work IT.