From: fmarshallx@remove_the_x.acm.org   
      
   I'm trying to get one XP system to access web pages using a Cisco VPN   
   client.   
   The system had been working fine.  Details are below.   
      
   One question I have is:   
   Given that we see the Ethernet NIC interface and given that we see the VPN   
   client as a network interface:   
   How does the sytem decide which of these "interfaces" to use in supporting   
   things like Internet Explorer?   
   It *appears* that all the interfaces are working but those pages that   
   require the VPN aren't coming up.  Thus my (probably dumb) question.   
      
   Presently we can see normal web pages both http and https.  But we cannot   
   access an https page that probably requires connection via the VPN.   
      
   So, my other question is:   
   How might this be fixed?   
   I'm tempted to reinstall the VPN client, repair the TCP/IP stack, ....   
      
   Any suggestions regarding both questions would be greatly appreciated.   
      
   Thanks,   
      
   Fred   
      
   *****Background:   
   We're working on a customer's system with *no* technical reference   
   information or support.   
   It's rather strange indeed but I'm sure we'll figure it out.   
   I could use some advice / help:   
      
   The system has the following:   
      
   A Westell DSL Modem - working fine.   
   (Initially, the modem was set up to be dialed by PPPOE software in the PC.   
   I changed this so that the modem will dial and stay connected by itself.   
   Maybe this was a mistake but I don't see how.)   
      
   Ethernet NIC: as normal, an ethernet NIC shows up as a network interface.   
      
   PPPOE interface: IF the PPPOE software is started, then it shows up as an   
   interface.  But now that the modem is automatic, this software doesn't do   
   anything.  So, I just don't start it up at all.  I've seen lots of systems   
   transitioned from using "dialing" software to simply letting the modem do   
   the connection work - so I'm very used to this part.   
      
   There is a Cisco VPN client installed on the computer.  I'm not so used to   
   this.....   
   When the VPN client is started, it connects.  So far this seems good.   
      
   So, the current network interfaces showing are:   
   Ethernet NIC - connected with IP address DHCP from the modem.   
   VPN "interface" - connected with IP address that must be coming from the   
   other end of the VPN...   
   PPPOE interface - not connected / used.   
   Dialup connection - not connected / used.   
      
   For the critical purpose of the sytem, Internet Explorer 6 is being used for   
   all interfacing - to interactive web pages.   
   The customer reports that the distant servers recently switched from http to   
   https pages.   
   After this was done, they report that one of the client computers stopped   
   connnecting to the pages.   
   So, our task is to get it working again.   
   (Because all other clients in this system are working, we might assume that   
   the switch to https has *nothing to do* with the problem).   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)