Bug 498813

Summary:	KMail goes into offline mode with PIA VPN active.
Product:	[Plasma] plasmashell	Reporter:	lnxusr
Component:	Networking in general	Assignee:	Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED DOWNSTREAM
Severity:	major	CC:	nate
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	6.2.5
Target Milestone:	1.0
Platform:	Neon
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description lnxusr 2025-01-17 17:57:06 UTC

SUMMARY
When using Private Internet Access VPN via their GUI, network connection goes into limited access mode within a minute or so, several Akonadi Agents go into offline mode and KMail can no longer access my IMAP server.  Once the VPN is turned off, the connection returns to normal and KMail returns to online mode, again, within a minute or so.  If I use openvpn with one of PIAs .ovpn files, this does not occur.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Activate VPM via PIAs GUI.
2. Wait approximately 1 minute.


OBSERVED RESULT
Remote KMail accounts go into offline mode, and email can no longer be retrieved or read if not stored locally.

EXPECTED RESULT
Accounts remain online and working properly.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS

Operating System: KDE neon 6.2
KDE Plasma Version: 6.2.5
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.10.0
Qt Version: 6.8.1
Kernel Version: 6.8.0-51-generic (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 16 × AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 8-Core Processor
Memory: 31.3 GiB of RAM
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
Product Name: X570 Steel Legend

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The following Akonadi Agents are forced into offline mode:

Followup Reminder
Google Groupware
Mail Dispatcher Agent
Mail Merge Agent
Any IMAP Agent
Any POP3 Agent
Send Later Agent

Reporting this to PIA as well.

Comment 1 Nate Graham 2025-01-21 19:55:00 UTC

> via their GUI
I'm afraid that means the ball is in their court, not ours.

Comment 2 lnxusr 2025-01-21 22:03:25 UTC

(In reply to Nate Graham from comment #1)
> > via their GUI
> I'm afraid that means the ball is in their court, not ours.

I don't think so. This weekend, I tried Windscribe VPN, and the same thing occurred with their GUI Client.  I really hope the KDE development team doesn't start blaming downstream for bugs without even looking into them. 

This started happening the day I upgraded to Neon with Plasma 6.  Everything worked, and still works on Plasma 5 systems, as does KMail on GNOME, and Kubuntu 24.10 with Plasma 6.  As soon as Network Manager reports a limited connectivity, the Mail Dispatcher, Google Groupware, and Mail Filter Agents go offline, and no amount of restarting Akonadi server or each individual agent fixes the problem.  This kicks KMail offline as well.  The above Akonadi agents are the only thing affected by this issue.  Even though Network Manager reports a limited connection, my internet speed isn't effected, all other network services remain fully functional, and I can reach my IMAP server with third party email clients.  This is, IMHO, clearly an issue with Network Manager and/or Akonadi.

With that said, when I woke my system from sleep today, it seems to be working.  There were no updates to either the system or the PIA client, but Network Manager hasn't reported limited connectivity in the six or seven hours I've been on my computer today.  It seems strange that a year later, it just stops being an issue, but as long as it works, and continues to work, I'm fine with it.  I'll be shutting my computer down later to install a new video card later on, and I pray it continues to work after restarting.