Simulating Connection Persistence When the Internet Link Changes

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Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2

In the previous section, you tested a remote connection with VPN Reconnect settings. Now we can simulate the interface switch for the remote connection with VPN Reconnect and demonstrate seamless reconnection.

Following are the steps on CLIENT1 required to simulate the interface switch:

  1. Establish the remote connection with VPN Reconnect between the client computer and the VPN server.

  2. Disconnect the client computer from the local internet interface (Ethernet – Wired LAN). Note here that the VPN Reconnect connection still sustains and does not get automatically disconnected.

  3. Establish the internet interface through a Wireless LAN. The VPN Reconnect connection will automatically detect the new interface and will switch to it, restoring the VPN connection and application connectivity.

Important

This step assumes that a wireless access point for Internet is available on the client side for CLIENT1 to establish the Internet interface. For more information, see 4 steps to set up your home wireless network on the Microsoft Web site. Alternatively, for simulating the VPN Reconnect switch without a wireless network, you can:

  • Remove the Ethernet cable and connect to a different Ethernet switch in the same IP subnet.

  • Remove the Ethernet cable and connect to different switch in a different IP subnet.

  1. Verify that the connection switch was completed successfully.

To establish the remote connection with VPN Reconnect between the client and the VPN server

  1. On CLIENT1, click the network icon in the notification area of the Start bar, which by default is in the lower right of the display.

  2. Click VPN Reconnect Connection, and then click Connect.

  3. In the connection dialog box, click Connect.

  4. Verify that the connection was completed successfully: Click the network icon in the notification area of the Start bar again. The VPN Reconnect Connection displays the status Connected.

To disconnect the client from the local internet interface

  1. On CLIENT1, unplug the Ethernet cable from your network adapter.

  2. Click the network icon in the notification area of the Start bar again. The status of the VPN Reconnect Connection has changed to Dormant: Server Unavailable.

To establish the Internet interface through a wireless (or other) network connection

  1. In Network and Sharing Center, click Connect to a network.

  2. Select the wireless (or other) Internet connection from the list of available connections, and then click Connect.

  3. Open Network and Sharing Center and under View your active networks, note Identifying… for your new internet interface.

  4. Wait for a few seconds until Internet connectivity is restored. The VPN Reconnect connection automatically restores the application connectivity after the restoration of Internet connectivity.

  5. Click the network icon in the notification area of the Start bar again. The status of your connection changes to Dormant: waiting to reconnect, and then changes to Connected.

  6. Click Start, type cmd and then press ENTER.

  7. In the Command Prompt window, type ping dc1.contoso.com.

  8. Verify that you can successfully ping DC1 again.

Conclusion

In this guide you configured a lab computer to serve as a VPN gateway server that could accept IKEv2-based VPN connections from a remote client. For more information about RRAS and VPN servers, see Routing and Remote Access Server (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=149606) in the Windows Server Technical Library.