OEL 5 - Cisco VPN connects proper, then in a few minutes times out

Question

Issue
I installed the latest Linux Cisco VPN (e.g. on Oracle Enterprise linux)
Error
I get this-->
[user@localhost ~]$ vpnclient connect xyz
Cisco Systems VPN Client Version 4.8.01 (0640)
Copyright (C) 1998-2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Client Type(s): Linux
Running on: Linux 2.6.18-164.el5xen #1 SMP Thu Sep 3 02:41:56 EDT 2009 i686
Config file directory: /etc/opt/cisco-vpnclient
Initializing the VPN connection.
Contacting the gateway at xxx.xx.xxx.xxx
Contacting the gateway at xxx.xx.xxx.xxx (balancing)
User Authentication for xyz...
Enter Username and Password.
Username [xyz]:
Password []:
Authenticating user.
Negotiating security policies.
Securing communication channel.
Your VPN connection is secure.
VPN tunnel information.
Client address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Server address: xxx.xx.xxx.xxx
Encryption: 168-bit 3-DES
Authentication: HMAC-SHA
IP Compression: None
NAT passthrough is active on port UDP 4500
Local LAN Access is disabled
Secure VPN Connection terminated locally by the Client
Reason: Remote peer is no longer responding.
Disconnecting the VPN connection.
[user@localhost ~]$
Questions
Even when I drop the OEL 5 firewall -- the remote peer will still "no longer respond"
Also, while the VPN is connected, browsers set to the proper proxy and mail do not connect and return data, etc...
Then it just does this -->
Secure VPN Connection terminated locally by the Client
Reason: Remote peer is no longer responding.
Any advise will be appreciated....
Thanks.....
Edited by: mheath on Dec 7, 2009 2:41 PM

Answer 1

1) Note that I do understand that external mail will not work when connected to the vpn, only internal mail
2) When the vpn is connected, the following should work and both "do not work":
a) When pointing to the proper proxy, the browser should display "external pages like google" and internal pages..
b) And, internal imap mail should work - it does not
3) on a windows machine in the same exact subnet/network vpn works fine...?
4) Also, I have had vpn working with ubuntu 9.1x just previously in the same exact subnet/network!
5) ==> Something is not letting the vpn communicate "after" it is connected on the OEL 5 server ?
Thanks...