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This information is courtesy of Theodore Sawyer.

There is a simple registry string (HangupTimer) that manages the time before an idle connection is dropped due to inactivity. The idle connection timer has a default setting of 300 (seconds) or 5 minutes. This is what controls the time before the connection drops!

The fix is located within the following registry key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet
\Services\ICSharing\Settings\General]

Standard Editing-the-Registry Warning!

Not knowing what you are doing and editing the Registry can be a very bad thing.  You won't cause the end of the Universe as we know it, but you could cause your computer to not boot, requiring the services of expensive highly-trained computer fix-it type people.  In the process of fixing your machine, they might accidently lose your data.

So, if you aren't comfortable doing this, don't.   Or at least back up your data first!

End of Warning!

The "HangupTimer" registry string setting controls the time from when ICS starts a dialup connection to when it drops the connection after no activity from the client that requested the connection.

Here's what to do:

1. Remove all the network components (including DUN, all DUN profiles, and all ICS components) from the server's configuration.

2. Re-install all the necessary network components.

3. Open regedit and go to the following key:
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet
   \Services\ICSharing\Settings\General]

4. Under this key, change the value for "HangupTimer" to the number of seconds after the last activity on a client machine that you want the dialup connection to drop.
   
   Example: If you want to wait one minute after you stop using the connection to drop the dialup session, set this value to 60. 

5. Close regedit.

6. Verify that the Internet Control Panel  "advanced dial-up" settings (Connections > Settings> Advanced):
   - "Disconnect if idle for xx minutes" and
   - "Disconnect when connection may no longer be needed"
   are unchecked.

7. Not sure if you have to, but it's probably a good idea to reboot your machine before trying to see if the timout is fixed.