VPN Error – Enable GRE protocol

vpnwindows-server-2003

I am trying to setup a VPN on my small home network (windows 2003). My home Vista machine is returning me Error 806 and is saying something about enabling the GRE protocol.

I have one nic inside my windows 2003 machine. It has a static ip of 192.168.1.110

Things I have done

  • I was able to setup the VPN through the Configure Your Server Wizard.
  • I have enabled port 1723 through my router.

When I try to run Windows Firewall for Win2k3 I get a nice message telling me that Windows Firewall cannot run because another program or service is running that might use the network address translation component (Ipnat.sys)

I then went into Routing and Remote Access and from there I am completely lost.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was having some bad luck with Google other than finding this great site.

Best Answer

In addition to TCP port 1723, you're going to need to enable IP protocol 47 to pass through your router/firewall -- this is for GRE, and could be the source of the error.

Can you describe your network further? You have a windows 2003 box w/ one NIC, so it sounds like it's connected directly to your router which is performing nat and has firewalling capability (which is what you've enabled port 1723 to be forwarded through)? Is this about right?

Additionally, is there any security software (i.e., a suite with a personal firewall) installed on the box that may be interfering with the windows firewall?