Issue/Question
- My VPN connection frequently disconnects, multiple times per day.
Environment
- Oregon State University
- VPN
Cause/Explanation
The most common cause of a VPN disconnect is a local network connectivity issue.
Note that there is a 4 hour idle timeout set on the VPN server; this means that the VPN will time out the connection if no data is sent over the VPN tunnel for 4 hours. In addition, there is a 2 hour 5 minute idle timeout at campus firewalls.
If your connection is not idle, there is an 18 hour VPN connection limit. Click on the Cisco AnyConnect tray icon to see how much time remains on your current VPN session.
Resolution
Check Operating System Sleep Settings
Your computer may be configured to disable the network adapter when going to sleep. If so, this can cause the VPN to disconnect.
To stop the network card going to sleep:
Windows
- Press Start
- Type in "Power & Sleep" and press Enter
- Under "Network connection" set to "Never"
MacOS
- Open System Preferences
- Go to the Energy Saver settings
- Make sure everything is unchecked other than 'Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off' and 'Wake for network access'.
If that does not resolve the issue, more troubleshooting needs to be done.
Troubleshoot Local Connectivity Issues
If network connectivity is unstable, the connection to the VPN server will also be unstable.
For some general home network troubleshooting, see: Home Internet Troubleshooting
In particular, the following may help:
- Reboot your Internet router
- Reboot the computer
- If connecting via wifi, try connecting to the router with a wired connection
- Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to confirm whether VPN is allowed from their network
For assistance, contact the Service Desk.