This article outlines instructions to configure a client VPN connection on commonly-used operating systems. For more information about client VPN, please refer to our Client VPN Overviewdocumentation.
- The Cisco AnyConnect program will now be visible in FinderApplicationsCisco. If needed, the supporting files for the package will be located in Macintosh HDoptciscovpnprofile. Information on advanced instructions for Cisco AnyConnect VPN troubleshooting can be found in the Advanced Instructions for AnyConnect for VPN for Mac OS X.
- The instructions below are tested on Mac OS 10.7.3 (Lion). Open System Preferences Network from Mac applications menu. Click the '+' button to create a new service, then select VPN as the interface type, and choose L2TP over IPsec from the pull-down menu. Server Address: E nter the hostname (e.g.com) or the active WAN IP (e.g. Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP.
- Cisco VPN Client is a straightforward software solution that enables you to establish connections between your computer and a Virtual Private Network (VPN) using a Cisco VPN device.
- Here we are dealing with the older IPSEC VPN method of remote VPNs, NOT AnyConnect. There is/was a VPN client for Mac OSX which you can still download.But modern versions of OSX have the Cisco IPSec VPN client built into them.
The proprietary CiscoVPN Mac client is somewhat buggy. It is possible to use the IPSec VPN software included with Mac OS X instead. This tutorial shows you how to migrate from CiscoVPN to the native OS X IPSec VPN by decrypting passwords saved in CiscoVPN PCF files.
For troubleshooting, please refer to our Troubleshooting Client VPN documentation.
Android
To configure an Android device to connect to the Client VPN, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> VPN
- Click the Plus Icon to add an additional VPN profile
Name: This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
Type: select L2TP/IPSEC PSK
Server address: Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
IPSec pre-shared key: Enter the pre-shared key that admin created in Security appliance >Configure > Client VPN settings.
Press save
You will be prompted for user credentials when you connect.
Chrome OS
Chrome OS based devices can be configured to connect to the Client VPN feature on MX Security Appliances. This allows remote users to securely connect to the LAN. This article will cover how to configure the VPN connection on a Chrome OS device. For more information on how to setup the Client VPN feature of the MX or how to connect from other operating systems, please visit the MX documentation.
- If you haven't already, sign in to your Chromebook.
- Click the status area at the bottom of your screen, where your account picture is located.
- Select Settings.
- In the 'Internet connection' section, click Add connection.
- Select Add private network.
- In the box that appears, fill in the information below:
- Server hostname:Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
- Service name: This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
- Provider type: Select L2TP/IPsec + Pre-shared key.
- Pre-shared key: Enter shared secret that admin created in Security appliance >Configure > Client VPN settings.
- Username credentials for connecting to VPN. If using Meraki authentication, this will be an e-mail address.
- Password credentials for connecting to VPN.
- Click Connect.
For more information regarding the configuration of VPN connections in Chrome OS, visit the Google Support page.
To configure an iOS device to connect to the Client VPN, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings -> General-> VPN -> Add VPN Configuration...
- Type: set to L2TP.
- Description:This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
- Server: Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
- Account: Enter the username
- Password: Enter if desired. If the password is left blank, it will need to be entered each time the device attempts to connect to the Client VPN.
- Secret: Enter shared secret that admin created in Security appliance >Configure > Client VPN settings.
- Ensure that Send All Traffic is set to On.
- Save the configuration.
macOS
Currently only the following authentication mechanisms are supported:
- User authentication: Active Directory (AD), RADIUS, or Meraki hosted authentication.
- Machine authentication: Preshared keys (a.k.a., shared secret).
When using Meraki hosted authentication, VPN account/user name setting on client devices (e.g., PC or Mac) is the user email address entered in the Dashboard.
The instructions below are tested on Mac OS 10.7.3 (Lion).
Open System Preferences > Network from Mac applications menu. Click the '+' button to create a new service, then select VPN as the interface type, and choose L2TP over IPsec from the pull-down menu.
- Server Address: Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
- Account Name: Enter the account name of the user (based on AD, RADIUS or Meraki Cloud authentication).
- User Authentication > Password: User password (based on AD, RADIUS or Meraki Cloud authentication).
- Machine Authentication > Shared Secret: Enter shared secret that admin created in Security appliance >Configure > Client VPN settings.
The VPN connectivity will not be established if you don't enable the Send all traffic over VPN connection option!
Windows 7
Currently only the following authentication mechanisms are supported:
- User authentication: Active Directory (AD), RADIUS, or Meraki hosted authentication.
- Machine authentication: Preshared keys (a.k.a., shared secret).
When using Meraki hosted authentication, VPN account/user name setting on client devices (e.g., PC or Mac) is the user email address entered in the Dashboard.
Open Start Menu > Control Panel, click on Network and Internet, click on View network status and tasks.
In the Set up a connection or network pop-up window, choose Connect to a workplace (Set up a dial-up or VPN connection to your workplace).
Choose Use my Internet connection (VPN), in the Connect to a workspace dialog window.
Cisco Vpn Client For Mac Mojave
In the Connect to a Workplace dialog box, enter:
- Internet address: Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
- Destination name:This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
Choose 'Don't connect now; just set it up so that I can connect later' option.
Click Next. In the next dialog window, enter the user credentials, and click Create.
Despite the name 'Unencrypted PAP', the client's password is sent encrypted over an IPsec tunnel between the client device and the MX. The password is fully secure and never sent in clear text over either the WAN or the LAN.
Windows 8
Currently only the following authentication mechanisms are supported:
- User authentication: Active Directory (AD), RADIUS, or Meraki hosted authentication.
- Machine authentication: Preshared keys (a.k.a., shared secret).
When using Meraki hosted authentication, VPN account/user name setting on client devices (e.g., PC or Mac) is the user email address entered in the Dashboard.
Open Start Menu > Network and Sharing Center and click Settings.
In the Set Up a Connection or Network pop-up window, choose Connect to a workplace.
(Set up a dial-up or VPN connection to your workplace).
Choose Use my Internet connection (VPN), in the Connect to a Workspace dialog window.
In the Connect to a Workplace dialog box, enter:
- Internet address: Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
- Destination name:This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
Go back to Network and Sharing Center and click Change Adapter Settings.
Despite the name 'Unencrypted PAP', the client's password is sent encrypted over an IPsec tunnel between the client device and the MX. The password is fully secure and never sent in clear text over either the WAN or the LAN.
Windows 10
Currently only the following authentication mechanisms are supported:
- User authentication: Active Directory (AD), RADIUS, or Meraki hosted authentication.
- Machine authentication: Preshared keys (a.k.a., shared secret).
When using Meraki hosted authentication, VPN account/user name setting on client devices (e.g., PC or Mac) is the user email address entered in the Dashboard.
Open Start Menu > Search 'VPN' > Click Change virtual private networks (VPN)
From the VPN settings page, click Add a VPN connection.
In the Add a VPN connection dialog:
- VPN provider: Set to Windows (built-in)
- Connection name: This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
- Server name or address: Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
- VPN type: Select L2TP/IPsec with pre-shared key
- User name and Password: optional
Press Save.
After the VPN connection has been created, click Change adapter options under Related settings.
Right-click on the VPN Connection from the list of adapters and click Properties.
Despite the name 'Unencrypted PAP', the client's password is sent encrypted over an IPsec tunnel between the client device and the MX. The password is fully secure and never sent in clear text over either the WAN or the LAN.
In Advanced Properties dialog box, choose 'Use preshared key for authentication' and enter the pre-shared key that admin created in Security appliance >Configure > Client VPN settings.
Back at the Network Connections window, right-click on the VPN connection and click Connect / Disconnect.
Find your VPN profile and click Connect.
Windows XP
Currently only the following authentication mechanisms are supported:
- User authentication: Active Directory (AD), RADIUS, or Meraki hosted authentication.
- Machine authentication: Preshared keys (a.k.a., shared secret).
When using Meraki hosted authentication, use the email address for VPN account / user name.
Open Start Menu > Control Panel, click on Network Connections.
In the Network Tasks section, click on Create a new connection.
Choose Connect to the network at my workplace, in the New Connection Wizard window.
Choose Virtual Private Network connection in the next section.
Then, give a name for this connection. This can be anything you want to name this connection, for example, 'Work VPN.'
Enter the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
In the Connect <Connection Name> box, click on Properties
In the General tab, verify the hostname (e.g. .com)orthe active WAN IP (e.g. XXX.XXX.XXX). Hostname is encouraged instead of active WAN IP because it is more reliable in cases of WAN failover. Admin can find them in Dashboard, under Security appliance > Monitor > Appliance status.
Cisco Client Vpn For Mac Os
Despite the name 'Unencrypted PAP', the client's password is sent encrypted over an IPsec tunnel between the client device and the MX. The password is fully secure and never sent in clear text over either the WAN or the LAN.
Linux
Since Client VPN uses the L2TP over IPsec standard, any Linux client that properly supports this standard should suffice. Please note that newer versions of Ubuntu do not ship with a VPN client that supports L2TP/IP, and will therefore require a 3rd party VPN client that supports the protocol.
Note: The xl2tp package does not send user credentials properly to the MX when using Meraki Cloud Controller authentication, and this causes the authentication request to fail. Active Directory or RADIUS authentication can be used instead for successful authentication.
Confirmed working on OS X High Sierra
The proprietary CiscoVPN Mac client is somewhat buggy. It is possible to use the IPSec VPN software included with Mac OS X instead. This tutorial shows you how to migrate from CiscoVPNto the native OS X IPSec VPN by decrypting passwords saved in CiscoVPN PCF files.
Please visit these guys if their offer interests you - they make this site possible.
Open up your System Prefrences and select 'Network'. Click on the little + button at the bottom of the window to create a new connection.
Pick 'VPN' for the Interface and set its type to 'Cisco IPSec'. It doesn't matter what you set as the service name.
Copy the 'Host' setting from CiscoVPN...
to the 'Server Address' setting in your System Prefrences' and enter your username under 'Account Name'. You probably don't want to enter your passwordunless you are OK with the system saving it.
On Mac OS X, PCF files are usually found in /private/etc/CiscoSystemsVPNClient/Profiles. Open up /Applications/Terminal and type the following:
You should get something like this:
Find that long list of letters and numbers after enc_GroupPwd= and copy it. Also make note of the GroupName - you'll need that in a bit as well.
Paste that sequence of characters into the fancy schmancy decoder ring below and click 'Decode'. (pops up a new window)
Fancy Schmancy Decoder Ring
As an example, this should return 'letmein' as the password:
Thanks to HAL-9000 at evilscientists.de and Massar's work on cisco-decrypt.c for the magic here. A JavaScript implementation also exists here: https://github.com/artemkin/cisco-password-decoder.
Click 'Authentication Settings' back in the Network Prefrences screen. Enter the resulting decoded password into the 'Shared Secret' section of the new VPN connection and set the GroupName from above as well.
Click 'OK', make sure 'Show VPN status in menu bar' is checked and click 'Apply'.
At the top of your screen you should have a little VPN icon. Try connecting to your new VPN.
If everything goes as planned, you should see your connection time counting up at the top of your screen.
How to get your VPN settings out of the built-in mac VPN client.
You don't need the Fancy Schmancy Decoder Ring to get your settings back out of the built-inMac VPN client. Just head over to the Keychain Access application (under Applications -> Utilities) and search for 'VPN'. Double-click your IPSec Shared Secret to open up the window. Clicking 'Show Password' will reveal the secret sauce after you authenticate.
If things seem to get hung-up and you are unable to reconnect your VPN without a reboot, Rick R mentions that you might try killing the 'racoon' process.
Racoon is an IPsec key management daemon and is part of the KAME IPsec tools. Kill it by running 'Activity Monitor' in the 'Utilities' folder, finding it in the process list and clicking 'Quit Process' at the upper left of the Activity Monitor window.
Look in your system.log by running the Console app for hints at what might be going wrong. Here's the system.log from aworking VPN setup / take down.
Disconnects
Dave Ma's VPN would disconnect after 45 minutes of uptime. Fotos Georgiadis on an Apple forum threadsuggested changing the IPSec proposal lifetime within racoon to 24 hours instead of 3600 seconds.(3600 seconds is 1 hour - who knows why people are seeing drops at 45 minutes)Here's how that is done.
Connect to the VPN (so OSX dynamically generates a racoon configuration file)
Open Terminal on Mac (Applications --> Utilities--> Terminal)
Copy the generated configuration file to /etc/racoon:
sudo cp /var/run/racoon/XXXXXX.conf /etc/racoon
**where: XXXXXX is the name or ip address of your VPN server**
Edit the racoon configuration file with your favorite editor (pico):
sudo pico /etc/racoon/racoon.conf
At the bottom of the racoon.conf file, comment out the line:
# include '/var/run/racoon/*.conf';
(by added the '#' to the beginning of the line)
And instead include the copied file (which we will edit):
include '/etc/racoon/XXXXXX.conf';
(don't forget to replace XXXXXX with the actual name of your file)
Edit the generated configuration file with your favorite editor (pico):
sudo pico /etc/racoon/XXXXXX.conf
Disable dead peer detection:
dpd_delay 0;
Change proposal check to claim from obey:
proposal_check claim;
Change the proposed lifetime in each proposal (24 hours instead of 3600 seconds):
lifetime time 24 hours;
*note: make sure you change all the 'proposed lifetime' sections and not just one.
Disconnect and reconnect (this time racoon will use your custom configuration).
Now try using your VPN for more than 45 minutes and it shouldn't drop.
So does all your traffic flow through the VPN when you are connected or just traffic to the protected networks? Cisco VPN servers normally send out a list of routes to private networks so you don't end up sending all of your traffic through the VPN server. The reasoning behind this is why protect it if the traffic is destined for an insecure network anyway? The native OS X Cisco VPN adds these routes automatically and removes them when you disconnect. That's one of the things that differentiates the Cisco VPN client from the standard IPSec client. Let's take a look at what gateway is used when sending traffic to apple.com from within the Terminal application:
Notice the 'gateway' line there? Traffic to apple.com is going out 192.168.1.1 which is my normal Internet gatewayso it is skipping the VPN entirely.
Let's try an IP on a protected private network: (10.1.2.3)
In this case, the gateway is 172.131.25.12 which is a fake IP on the far end of the VPN which will eventually route traffic to 10.1.2.3. So when sending data to 10.1.2.3, I am going through the VPN and that traffic is encrypted.
So how does it know what gateway to use for different IPs? Let's take a look at the routing table:
I've lopped off a bunch of irrelevant lines but as you can see we have two 'default' routes. If a destination isn'texplicitly matched below, the traffic will flow through the first default route from the top. So in this case, ifthe destination isn't within 10.1/16 (which means 10.1.*.*) we will go through our default route of 192.168.1.1. Ifit is, we would go through 172.131.25.12 which is our VPN.
But what if you just wanted to send everything through your VPN connection? We could just delete the first default route and let everything go over the VPN, but this is presumably dangerous because the encrypted traffic probably uses the default route to get to the VPN server in the first place. Let's see:
Yep, it does. So if we are going to remove the default route to 192.168.1.1, we have to make sure we have an explicitroute below to the VPN server. (1.2.3.4) You will notice above that my Cisco VPN server adds this route automatically, but if yours isn't configured that way you can add it like this:
It is safe to try this if you already have the route because the command will just fail.
The next thing we are going to do is a little dangerous and remove all your network access. A reboot should be your weapon of last resort to get your networking back but you might also want to print these instructions out so you havethem. You have been warned!
Now let's do the dangerous bit and rip the first default route away:
Now let's check to see if we can still get to our VPN server:
Yep, looks good.
Now let's look at the wider Internet by seeing how we get to apple.com: (17.172.224.47 - we aren't using apple.com here because we don't want to depend on DNS working)
Whoops, something is wrong! That's because that first route there is a little deceptive. It isn't aroute to the IP of the gateway, just a route to the VPN tunnel device utun0. We'll need to say what IPto go to. Let's add a default route to the VPN's fakenet gateway address: (which we already have as the gateway in most other routes)
OK, let's see which way packets go to get to apple.com: (17.172.224.47)
Yep, looks like the right way.
Now let's try pinging google.com: (apple.com doesn't respond to pings)
Looks like it works. If it doesn't work, your VPN server likely doesn't allow general Internet access throughVPN connections. If this is the case, you are out of luck. Hopefully you know someone influential in the ITdepartment that can change this for you.
Because we removed the normal default route, when we shut down our VPN we'll be stuck without a default route.To add that back in after the VPN goes down, do this:
And we should be back to normal.
Ideally we do these things automatically when the VPN comes up. The easiest way to do this is to have yourVPN administrator set that up as a policy for you. Alternatively, you can create scripts that run on VPN startup.Create /etc/ppp/ip-up and add whatever lines you came up with above to that and mark that file as executablewith:
Similarly, /etc/ppp/ip-down will be run on VPN shutdown. Reverse your commands in that file and you shouldhave a completely automated setup.
Happy tunneling!
-Anders Brownworth
Cisco Anyconnect Vpn Client Download
About Me:
Name:Anders Brownworth
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