Configure IPsec/XAuth VPN Clients

Read this in other languages: English, 简体中文.

Note: You may also connect using IPsec/L2TP mode, or set up IKEv2.

After setting up your own VPN server, follow these steps to configure your devices. IPsec/XAuth ("Cisco IPsec") is natively supported by Android, iOS and OS X. There is no additional software to install. Windows users can use the free Shrew Soft client. In case you are unable to connect, first check to make sure the VPN credentials were entered correctly.

IPsec/XAuth mode is also called "Cisco IPsec". This mode is generally faster than IPsec/L2TP with less overhead.

Platforms

Windows

Note: You may also connect using IPsec/L2TP mode. No additional software is required.

Download and install the free Shrew Soft VPN client.
Note: This VPN client supports Windows 2K/XP/Vista/7/8.
Click Start Menu -> All Programs -> ShrewSoft VPN Client -> VPN Access Manager
Click the Add (+) button on toolbar.
Enter Your VPN Server IP in the Host Name or IP Address field.
Click the Authentication tab. Select Mutual PSK + XAuth from the Authentication Method drop-down menu.
Under the Local Identity sub-tab, select IP Address from the Identification Type drop-down menu.
Click the Credentials sub-tab. Enter Your VPN IPsec PSK in the Pre Shared Key field.
Click the Phase 1 tab. Select main from the Exchange Type drop-down menu.
Click the Phase 2 tab. Select sha1 from the HMAC Algorithm drop-down menu.
Click Save to save the VPN connection details.
Select the new VPN connection. Click the Connect button on toolbar.
Enter Your VPN Username in the Username field.
Enter Your VPN Password in the Password field.
Click Connect.

Once connected, you will see tunnel enabled in the VPN Connect status window. Click the "Network" tab, and confirm that Established - 1 is displayed under "Security Associations". You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by looking up your IP address on Google. It should say "Your public IP address is Your VPN Server IP".

If you get an error when trying to connect, see Troubleshooting.

OS X

Open System Preferences and go to the Network section.
Click the + button in the lower-left corner of the window.
Select VPN from the Interface drop-down menu.
Select Cisco IPSec from the VPN Type drop-down menu.
Enter anything you like for the Service Name.
Click Create.
Enter Your VPN Server IP for the Server Address.
Enter Your VPN Username for the Account Name.
Enter Your VPN Password for the Password.
Click the Authentication Settings button.
In the Machine Authentication section, select the Shared Secret radio button and enter Your VPN IPsec PSK.
Leave the Group Name field blank.
Click OK.
Check the Show VPN status in menu bar checkbox.
Click Apply to save the VPN connection information.

To connect to the VPN: Use the menu bar icon, or go to the Network section of System Preferences, select the VPN and choose Connect. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by looking up your IP address on Google. It should say "Your public IP address is Your VPN Server IP".

Android

Launch the Settings application.
Tap More... in the Wireless & Networks section.
Tap VPN.
Tap Add VPN Profile or the + icon at top-right of screen.
Enter anything you like in the Name field.
Select IPSec Xauth PSK in the Type drop-down menu.
Enter Your VPN Server IP in the Server address field.
Leave the IPSec identifier field blank.
Enter Your VPN IPsec PSK in the IPSec pre-shared key field.
Tap Save.
Tap the new VPN connection.
Enter Your VPN Username in the Username field.
Enter Your VPN Password in the Password field.
Check the Save account information checkbox.
Tap Connect.

Once connected, you will see a VPN icon in the notification bar. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by looking up your IP address on Google. It should say "Your public IP address is Your VPN Server IP".

If you get an error when trying to connect, see Troubleshooting.

iOS

Go to Settings -> General -> VPN.
Tap Add VPN Configuration....
Tap Type. Select IPSec and go back.
Tap Description and enter anything you like.
Tap Server and enter Your VPN Server IP.
Tap Account and enter Your VPN Username.
Tap Password and enter Your VPN Password.
Leave the Group Name field blank.
Tap Secret and enter Your VPN IPsec PSK.
Tap Done.
Slide the VPN switch ON.

Once connected, you will see a VPN icon in the status bar. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by looking up your IP address on Google. It should say "Your public IP address is Your VPN Server IP".

Linux

Example is based on Ubuntu 18.04 but may be adapted to any linux flavour.

For unknown reason XAuth password file authentication doesn't work with vpnc, so script uses pam authentication. This requires you to connect with existing system users/passwords. Please check libreswan documentation to get acquainted with PAM auth and aggressive connection mode that vpnc can only use. The easiest way is to create some user with no shell access and use that for VPN. On the VPN server execute:

sudo useradd -s /usr/sbin/nologin -r vpnuser

This will create system user vpnuser with no shell access and no home directory. And now set this user some password.

sudo passwd vpnuser

Install vpnc and corresponding network manager plugin:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-vpnc network-manager-vpnc-gnome vpnc

Add new VPN connection of type Cisco Compatible VPN (vpnc) to network connections.
If you haven't set VPN_GROUP variable during setup, then set Group Name to group. All other parameters should be set as following:
Gateway - Your VPN Server IP
User name - Your VPN Username of system user
User password - Your VPN Password of system user
Group password - Your VPN IPsec PSK
Save and connect to your new VPN.

Alternatively you can connect with command line: vpnc --gateway <your server ip> --id <your vpn group> --username <your vpn username>

Please also check https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VPNClient#VPNC for details how VPNC can be configured in Ubuntu.

Credits

This document was adapted from the Streisand project, maintained by Joshua Lund and contributors.

License

Note: This license applies to this document only.

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

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