Argthtjtr

When connecting to my own VPN server on a specific network, called public-network, my Mac disconnects the VPN connection after 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

I have performed several tests and this is the result:

• It works fine until the 2:30 mark


• It doesn't matter which Mac I use, it still disconnects


• It doesn't matter which client I use, all of the following does the same: OSX system client, HMA! Pro VPN and Shimo


• It doesn't matter which protocol I use, at least all of these protocols does the same: PPTP, OpenVPN and L2TP over IPSec


• The same thing happens using my own VPN server and HMA!'s VPN server.


• All other clients (Windows/iPhone) can use any of these VPN servers and protocols without problem on public-network
  


• On OSX, all the protocols, clients and servers works fine on any other network

So it seems that it is the combination of OSX, VPN & public-network that causes this.

This is the syslog from my VPN server, when the disconnection happens:

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pptpd[31400]: CTRL: EOF or bad error reading ctrl packet length.

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pptpd[31400]: CTRL: couldn't read packet header (exit)

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pptpd[31400]: CTRL: CTRL read failed

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pptpd[31400]: CTRL: Reaping child PPP[31401]

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: Hangup (SIGHUP)

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: Modem hangup

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: Connect time 2.5 minutes.

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: Sent 3963649 bytes, received 362775 bytes.

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: MPPE disabled

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: Connection terminated.

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pppd[31401]: Exit.

Feb  2 12:04:32 raspberrypi pptpd[31400]: CTRL: Client <ip-adress> control connection finished

Try to test if vpn disconnects on windows system if you are using PPTP then the problem could be in routing and "tcp buffer size" at macos.

If the problem is only for macos system then this could help:
try to add routes for your internal network something like this:
route add -net 192.168.1.0/24 192.168.1.1 (first is mask of our internal network, second is gateway of your network)

We had similar problem - but vpn didn't disconnected, just all tpc traffic dies. - it is because of buffer size.

If adding that route via terminal helps then do this:
create file ip-up at /etc/ppp

to file paste:

#!/bin/sh

PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/libexec:/System/Library/CoreServices;

export PATH

/sbin/route add -net 192.168.1.0/24 192.168.1.1  - modify to be same as it is on your network

save it and modify permission sudo chmod a+x ip-up (/etc/ppp/ip-up)

On each connection to vpn route will be added.