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Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

Perdrix
Grafter
Posts: 76
Thanks: 8
Registered: ‎18-01-2014

Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

At home I use an OpenVPN pipe connected from my router, with I think an exception for plus.net.

I'm currently away from home, so I'm trying to use an L2TP VPN connection.  This seems to work for normal web browsing etc., but when I try to receive emails it just times out (even after increasing the timeout considerably).

Any suggestions on how to get this to work OK?

Thanks, Dave

10 REPLIES 10
idonno
Champion
Posts: 1,564
Thanks: 506
Fixes: 6
Registered: ‎22-10-2015

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

Just a thought, have you got 'two-step verification' enabled? If so, you might need to set up a separate code on the device to receive Outlook e-mails.

Ever helpful. Grin Sure, I’d love to help you out. Now which way did you come in?
Perdrix
Grafter
Posts: 76
Thanks: 8
Registered: ‎18-01-2014

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

This is using Outlook Office application not Outlook.com so I don't think "two step verification" applies.

Thanks

Dave

Townman
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 22,920
Thanks: 9,537
Fixes: 158
Registered: ‎22-08-2007

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

Has this ever worked over the VPN?

You OP said "I THINK there is an exception for Plusnet" have you verified this?

Have you do any basic tests to see if you can 'reach' imap.plus.net over the VPN?

Try...
ping imap.plus.net
or...
tracert imap.plus.net

That should verify that DNS is being resolved and that there is a network path over the VPN to Plusnet services ... or that your exception is actually working.

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Perdrix
Grafter
Posts: 76
Thanks: 8
Registered: ‎18-01-2014

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

I can't verify the router exception for plus.net as I can only access the router from inside my home network and I'm nowhere near home.   Just lets say the I'm pretty sure the it doesn't travel over the VPN when at home.

 

Pinging mail.plus.net gives me a timeout whether the connection is over the VPN or not (I don't use IMAP).

Thx, Dave

 

 

Townman
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 22,920
Thanks: 9,537
Fixes: 158
Registered: ‎22-08-2007

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

You will be using either IMAP or POP3 - it would be better to use the relevant server URL. imap.plus.net or pop3.plus.net

If ping is not working, then go a tracert to verify the connection path, as all Plusnet email servers respond to ping probes.

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Perdrix
Grafter
Posts: 76
Thanks: 8
Registered: ‎18-01-2014

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

Ping to pop3.plus.net times out regardless of whether VPN is used or not.  Tracert in both cases over 20 hops.

Dave

 

 

Townman
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 22,920
Thanks: 9,537
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Registered: ‎22-08-2007

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

Please post tracert results.

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Perdrix
Grafter
Posts: 76
Thanks: 8
Registered: ‎18-01-2014

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN


C:\Users\amonra>: No VPN
C:\Users\amonra>tracert pop3.plus.net

Tracing route to pop3.plus.net [212.159.8.81]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     3 ms     1 ms     1 ms  BThomehub.home [192.168.1.254]
  2     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  3     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  4  1069 ms   824 ms   528 ms  217.41.216.125
  5   892 ms   944 ms   848 ms  212.140.235.54
  6  1359 ms  1242 ms  1238 ms  213.120.182.65
  7  1464 ms  1663 ms  1843 ms  31.55.164.107
  8   967 ms  1210 ms  1207 ms  109.159.248.69
  9  1284 ms  1174 ms   802 ms  core1-te0-3-0-15.ealing.ukcore.bt.net [109.159.248.28]
 10   762 ms  1640 ms  2076 ms  core3-te0-0-0-32.faraday.ukcore.bt.net [213.121.193.23]
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

C:\Users\amonra>: With VPN
C:\Users\amonra>tracert pop3.plus.net

Tracing route to pop3.plus.net [212.159.8.81]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1    20 ms    21 ms    20 ms  10.1.1.1
  2   132 ms    29 ms    24 ms  88.202.231.2.static.midphase.com [88.202.231.2]
  3    62 ms    31 ms    21 ms  83.170.70.229
  4    21 ms    21 ms    21 ms  83.170.70.130
  5   237 ms    23 ms    21 ms  linx7.ukcore.bt.net [195.66.224.56]
  6   247 ms    25 ms    29 ms  host213-121-193-186.ukcore.bt.net [213.121.193.186]
  7     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  8     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  9     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 10     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

C:\Users\amonra>

Dave

Townman
Superuser
Superuser
Posts: 22,920
Thanks: 9,537
Fixes: 158
Registered: ‎22-08-2007

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

Hi Dave,

Interesting results, which helpfully suggest that this problem is not within Plusnet's domain.

  1. You do not appear to be connected to Plusnet's network - the initial IP addresses are on BT's network
  2. The route is failing (in both cases) within BT.net core infrastructure - this looks like a peer routing issue
  3. *.plus.net is not excluded within your VPN set up

There have been some recent issues with accessing the POP3 servers due to load balancer issues - pop3.plus.net resolves to two IP addresses - the issue relates to one of the IP addresses not responding properly.  You could try tracert on the alternative IP address (highlighted in blue below), but I doubt it will make any difference.

PS C:\Users\Kevin> nslookup
Default Server:  dsldevice.lan
Address:  192.168.1.254

> pop3.plus.net
Server:  dsldevice.lan
Address:  192.168.1.254

Non-authoritative answer:
Name:    pop3.plus.net
Addresses:  212.159.8.81
          212.159.9.81

> exit

A tracert from a Plusnet connected PC looks like this...

PS C:\Users\Kevin> tracert pop3.plus.net

Tracing route to pop3.plus.net [212.159.9.81]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1   272 ms     2 ms     2 ms  dsldevice.lan [192.168.1.254]
  2    33 ms    31 ms    30 ms  lo0.central10.psb-bng03.plus.net [195.166.130.254]
  3    40 ms    32 ms    32 ms  411.be7.psb-ir01.plus.net [84.93.253.115]
  4    38 ms    37 ms    37 ms  84-93-224-48.plus.net [84.93.224.48]
  5    38 ms    39 ms    38 ms  84-93-224-36.plus.net [84.93.224.36]
  6    48 ms    37 ms    40 ms  mail.plus.net [212.159.9.81]

Trace complete.

Superusers are not staff, but they do have a direct line of communication into the business in order to raise issues, concerns and feedback from the community.

Perdrix
Grafter
Posts: 76
Thanks: 8
Registered: ‎18-01-2014

Re: Outlook receive timeout when using L2TP VPN

I clearly said at the start of this thread that I was away on holiday, so not on PlusNet network.

I still don't get why I can retrieve my mail when connected from the holday cottage without using the VPN (tracert the first) but if I turn the VPN on, then I can't (tracert the second).

Dave