UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I have an odd problem with my internet connection. I think it's software not hardware, but I'm not even certain of that. My best guess is that it relates to my recent installation of KVpnc.

I can't connect to most websites: no ping, nothing in the browser. But other websites I can connect to normally. Unfortunately, this website was not one that I could see or ping.

I *was* able to ping my DNS server, so I don't think that was the problem.

I found a (bad) workaround which hopefully will point toward the problem. If I run KVpnc and vpn into a remote server I have no trouble. Of course this connection is slower and subject to the whims of both the program and the network on the other side.

Any ideas of what I'm dealing with and how I can fix it?

It may be worth mentioning that I tried to install the Cisco VPN client first, downloaded and applied a patch file for it, but it wouldn't work properly so I installed KVpnc. Possible conflict?

Hi,

have you checked what traceroute says about those failed connections? It sounds to me that everything is tried to be put through that VPN link?

pen

I disconnected and noticed two things. First, the sites I couldn't reach changed. I can't search Google anymore (though I can ping it -- main page vs. results page?), but I could reach at least one site previously off-limits to me. Second, I didn't have traceroute installed (and couldn't install it without reconnecting). So I'll disconnect again shortly and report back.

OK, it just says unknown host (as though a DNS issue). Sites where it can connect show normal traceroutes -- not through the remote server.

Do I need to reinstall the OS?

Noooooooo! With Unixen/Linuxen, it is rarely, or even more rarely, an option or a solution!

Oen thing which you could try, though - in case you haven't cleared the apr and route tables - is to reboot. Have a go for man arp and man route commands; both (in a decently installed system) should produce a manual page to follow. It may be that an unsuccessfull installation of suc VPN product leaves unwanted traces to the system. (A reboot clears them out, but - a rebot is an option just before reinstallation :-)

I'm off for a leave now, back in monday, so happy easter and good luck...

pen