I have a server running Windows Server 2003 and have set up a VPN connection through my Linksys BEFW11S4 router. I have forwarded ports 1723, 500, 47, 50, and 51 to the server. When I attempt to connect to the VPN from my Windows XP computer I get "Error 721: the remote computer did not respond." This seems to be a common problem, but all of the sites I have found say to forward the aforementioned ports. Now, if I attempt to connect to the VPN via the server's local IP address I can connect with no problem. If I use my internet IP address I can never connect. It seems to me to be a router issue but I cannot figure out why. All appropriate ports are forwarded, VPN Passthrough is enabled, and the server is setup to accept the traffic. Also, I had seen that firmware was an issue of a couple of routers but I upgraded to the latest version with no different results. Can anyone help?

What kind of router is feeding the network where the server is located? What kind of router is feeding the network where your Windows XP client PC is located? On the server network, you should just have to forward the ports which you seem to be doing already. Other configs may need to be issued depending on the type of router. If you have a SOHO router on the client end, you will need to enable PPTP Passthrough. You should not have to forward any ports on this end. If the client end has a Verizon DSL connection to the internet using a Westell DSL Modem/Router you are going to have issues connecting. If you are attempting to connect to the VPN while on the same phyiscal network as the server, using the WAN IP Address, it probably will not work either. Provide some more details and I will help you out.

Thank you Smitty. I was in fact trying to connect to the VPN via the WAN IP while on the local network. That is where I was having problems. I had someone else try to connect from another location and they connected with just fine. I am now attempting to connect to my VPN (now that I know its possible :-) from my workplace and am having the same issue. It may be their router in which case I am just out of luck; but if need be I know I can use Remote Desktop. Thanks again.