Troubleshooting Intermittent Disconnections

I can connect to a wireless network, and the VPN works for a while, but then it stops working. What do I do?

There are three common problems that can make the VPN connection stop working:

1. Your computer goes into screen saver/hibernation/standby mode, or powers down the network card to save energy. The issues this causes are further explained in the intermittent disconnection item of the VPN FAQs.
   
   
2. Your computer loses its connection to the VPN server briefly. This can happen when the signal strength of a wireless access point fluctuates or when the wired network connection you are using is too busy to permit the VPN client to maintain its connection with the VPN server.
   
   
3. (Advanced:) You are having problems renewing your DHCP lease. When a DHCP lease expires and cannot be renewed, you lose the IP address you'd been using, and this confuses the VPN client.
   
   
   • If you have control of your DHCP lease time, extend the amount of time a lease lasts. The longer your lease lasts, the longer you can stay connected to the VPN client.
     
     
   • If you don't have control of your DHCP lease time, disconnect from the VPN client whenever you're not using it. Renew your lease while you're not connected to the VPN, and then when you connect again, you'll have a new length of time to use the VPN before the new lease expires. (If you don't want to renew your lease using the instructions given, you can also reboot your system.)