Remote Access Server Stops Responding After Several Connections

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to a Windows NT Remote Access Service (RAS) server, you may receive the following error message:

   Error Connecting to <RAS_server>. Dialing <Phone_number>.
   Error 678: There is no answer.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the RAS server you are attempting to connect to is configured to use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to assign remote Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) client addresses, and one of the following conditions exists:

• There is no DHCP server on the network.
• The DHCP server on the network is unavailable.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods:

Method 1

Verify that a DHCP server exists and is available on the network.

Method 2

Configure the RAS server so that TCP/IP is not used as a RAS protocol. To do so, follow these steps on the RAS server:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Network, click the Services tab, click Remote Access Service, click Properties, and then click Network.

3. Under Server Settings, click the TCP/IP check box to clear it. Make sure the check box for at least one other protocol under Server Settings is selected.

4. Click OK, click Continue, and then click Close.

5. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

Method 3

Configure the RAS server to use a static address pool to assign remote TCP/IP client addresses. To do so, follow these steps on the RAS server:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Network, click the Services tab, click Remote Access Service, and then click Properties.

3. Click Network, and then click Configure next to the TCP/IP check box.

4. Click Use Static Address Pool, and then type a beginning and ending range of IP addresses for the RAS server to assign to remote TCP/IP clients.

   NOTE: The range of IP addresses must be valid for the RAS server's subnet.

5. Click OK, click OK, click Continue, and then click Close.

6. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

If your RAS server is configured to use TCP/IP and another protocol, it may function correctly the first few times a RAS client attempts to make a connection, although the client is not assigned an IP address.

For more information about TCP/IP subnets and addressing, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q164015
   TITLE     : Understanding TCP/IP Addressing and Subnetting Basics