New Cisco VPN client released

Only for single-processor macs?? Are you sure about that? I can't imagine how having an additional processor could possibly interfere with the VPN connection. If so, it suc*s having this dual-G5! 🙂

Hi, Kevin.

I registered with Cisco just this evening, so I could get this application, but I've been having problems with their byzantine access system. When I go to that link, after "successfully" logging in, I get a message "NOTE: There are currently no files for this type." When you are at the screen that says "Mac OS X VPN Clients" do you see a link to the file? I'm logged in as a registered guest, so I'm befuddled as to what's up.

Andy

Andy,

Cisco is very tight with their VPN clients and IOS software and only makes them available to those with active "paid" support contracts. Therefore, you elther need to have the admin. of your VPN concentrator get the client for you from the Cisco site or you need to be a creative Googler to find the download on some other trusted site.

Good Luck.

Hi, Tim.

I thought it might be something like that, with all that talk on there about additional access. I guess I'll just have to wait until my university gets a copy, which is where I downloaded the old version, now broken in Tiger. Thanks for the info!

Andy

Andy,

I did the same thing - signed up earlier this afternoon thinking I'd be able to download a copy of the new VPN client. But basically, the time I spent digging through their horrible website (Cisco really, really needs to hire some outside help to make their site usable by humans) amounts to nothing, as I too am unable to see find anything to download.

So, to anybody who wants to find the new Cisco VPN download: it is apparently out there, somewhere, but unless you are a special, blessed admin user, do not waste your time trying to find it on Cisco's website. Wait for your network admin (or whoever) to download it for you, or maybe find somebody willing to help you out (I'm looking for such a person, btw..).

Kaan

I have downloaded and installed the new version of the client over the top of my existing installation on a Tiger-upgraded machine to no avail - the cvpnd process keeps on crashing underneath the GUI client and you have to force-quit the GUI client.

I have subsequently reinstalled my PowerBook with 10.4 clean installation and tried installing the client straight upon on my fresh install - same result.

Short version: this client doesn't seem to fix all of the problems for everyone right at the moment!

does any one know of any place where this can be downloaded at this point without authenticating into a site? any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hello Everyone,

Just to let everyone know that as a proper paid-up cisco contract holder I got the VPN client for my PowerBook G4 with no problems. I installed it and on the surface all seemed well, It connected first time and I could get onto the remote LAN via VNC and I could ping machines in the subnet, then i tried to read my e-mail via Outlook 2001 on Classic (which worked fine pre-tiger) and it couldn't see the server.

After some testing it seems that OS9 network services fail with the VPN client connected to the remote server. I tried it with an OS9 version of IE. It browsed fine with VPN disconnected, connect VPN and it cant see the internet at all, no wonder Outlook doesn't work. This is a total disaster for me as my main reason for using VPN is to access my office e-mails.

Has anyone else had this problem or know of a work around?! I will be reporting it to Cisco first thing Monday.

Gary.

Andrew, I have similar problems on a single CPU Powermac G4. I sent the crash logs and syslogs off the PowerMac along with the VPN concentrator logs to Cisco last night with a TAC case. If you could do the same, or if your network people can please do. Hopefully the more data Cisco receives the faster they will get a fix out.

Regards - Jim

Absolutely.
The client released last night only works on single processor Macs. It causes a Panic if installed on a Dual CPU !! Looks like we'll be waiting a while longer for the client......

It looks like the current client still has some problems.

The last 3 betas didn't work on my system while I could get it to work on a fresh install tiger. On 2 other systems, while the client installs fine and connects fine again, it creates no tunnel (no route, no activity) and
disconnect' doesn't work.
Also, the latest build (release) cannot run on Dual CPU Macs; it causes a panic (so don't try). I am going out on a limb here, but I wonder if the 'no tunnel' problem is related to how the client starts on Tiger (i.e. using launchd or not ?!) when upgraded / or freshly installed. In any case, it seems certain we'll see another build coming from Cisco within the next few days / week.

Seems to run fine on most single CPUs though.

Best,
Dan

Gary, Try changing your MTUs to 1300. They are probably at 1492 or 1500. This is usually the cause for Outlook and browser dysfunction while connected through VPN.

On another note, what on earth is Apple using to spell check these posts? That thing is absolutely prehistoric.

Thanks Richard,

That sounds like good advice, I will give it a try. Only one problem - it seems you can only change the MTU size for Built In Ethernet. I connect using Airport, what do you suggest?

Thanks,

Gary.

The same thing happens to me. I tried to restart cvpnd manually w/o much luck. It's on an iBook G4.

"while the client installs fine and connects fine again, it creates no tunnel (no route, no activity) and disconnect' doesn't work."

That is exactly what I am experiencing. Clean install of 10.4 on a 15" PowerBook G4 1.5GHZ.