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Cisco VPN Client Needed For Work, will it work with Snow Leopard

Hey Guys,
So I have Cisco VPN Client 4.9.01 with some settings (including passwords I do not know) that my Corporate job offered on their FTP Site. Works great for using my Lotus Notes e-mail.

I am just wondering if this will work with Snow Leopard. People are talking about using Apple's VPN client. I suppose this would be fine if I knew the passwords! If I have to use the Apple VPN Client, is there a way to export the settings from my Cisco client and importing to Apple?
Thanks!

Posted on Aug 26, 2009 9:21 PM

46 replies

unyun

Level 1

0 points

Aug 30, 2009 6:28 AM in response to rollar

same here. uninstalled and then reinstalled the 4.9.01 client and it worked fine, remembered all the profiles. thank god.

still disappointed about the exchange 2003 issue... bummer... been wanting to dump Entourage for a long time and have been patient waiting....

Aug 30, 2009 8:40 AM in response to KAdamsInCo

Many thanks for this. It's the middle of the night on Sunday, and I needed to access work, only to find that the Cisco VPN client I had installed in Leopard was not working. having read about the latest version working I went to the Cisco site to download it. No dice. I had to have some sort of account. This is for the CLIENT! The function that is now part of my OS. Cisco can go find a dead bear somewhere. I was out of luck until I found this post and the decode information. All hail!!! I hope I can return the favour some day.

Aug 30, 2009 12:26 PM in response to David Selevan

Just so you know, there are other alternatives to the Cisco VPN client. I use Shimo http://www.shimoapp.com/ and there's also VPNTracker http://www.equinux.com/us/products/vpntracker/index.html among several other apps.

Cerniuk

Level 1

27 points

Aug 30, 2009 3:25 PM in response to KAdamsInCo

Don't mean to be dense but I don't see how to direct the built in "raccoon" client (aka "Cisco VPN") to the "OS X VPN = pcf file value".

I see the settings for all else including Server Address, Account Name, Password, Group Name,
Shared Secret and have all that information, no problem.

Still, the login fails and it asks me for my password over and over. If I enter a bad username, the server provides a different error so it is clear that it is working up to the point of accepting the password for auto.

What else? Is the password encryption potentially the issue and if so, how to direct the raccoon client to encrypt using a different method?

Aug 30, 2009 5:31 PM in response to Cerniuk

I was able to set mine up using the steps and website provided. It is a little cooler than the Cisco VPN client because the Apple one gives you the toolbar at the top of the screen. Go to Network under system preferences and click the plus sign.
Interface=VPN
VPN Type (will pop up next): Cisco IPSec
Service Name: Whatever you want

Open your PCF file with TextEdit.
Server Address should be under Host
Your account name is your personal VPN account name, like a employee number or user ID. Usually different for every user in your company.

Check off Show VPN Status in Menubar
Authentication Settings..
Open your PCF File with Text Edit.
This will give you a Group Name.
My GroupPwd was blank, but it gave me a enc_GroupPwd
I took this long and crazy value and pasted it into the website someone provided earlier.
http://www.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/~massar/bin/cisco-decode
Sure enough, that gave me the password to put under shared secret!

That's it, you can now connect and it will prompt you for your PIN and SecurID token number like usual.

At this point, you no longer need a pcf file, you can just connect using a toolbar at the top of the screen. Very handy!!

snack

Level 1

0 points

Aug 30, 2009 5:59 PM in response to David Selevan

Hi, was able to configure the native apple cisco but like everyone else it keeps on asking for the password over and over again.
When you look at the dialogue box it asks you for a username, password and domain.
Not sure if this is pertinent but maybe the password has to include a domain too but not sure what format it wants i.e password/domain, passworddomian, password\domain or it may not need it in the first place.
Does anyone have a guess??

Aug 30, 2009 6:21 PM in response to David Selevan

Hey, I installed Snow Leopard on Friday. I also use the Cisco VPN Client for work. The IT department is all Windows based, so they leave us Mac guys to figure things out on our own. Good thing it is not the other way around! I would rather try figuring out a problem on my Mac than a Windows based machine.

I had the issue with the Error 51 once I installed Snow Leopard. I tried the sudo commands listed below, and also tried rebooting. Neither of those options worked. I ended up reinstalling the Cisco VPN Client from the .dmg file, and all is back up and running!

I am running Cisco VPN Client Version 4.9.01 (0030) with Snow Leopard. Everything is running great!

Aug 30, 2009 6:23 PM in response to David Selevan

Hey, I am running the same client 4.9.01 and Snow Leopard. I was getting a error 51 from the cisco vpn client, so I reinstalled the cisco vpn client and all is well!

Aug 30, 2009 6:23 PM in response to JTaylorEngineer

Same here (Windows at work, Mac at home).
Now that it works, try the built in Mac VPN under System Preferences. It is way faster I'm using my Lotus Notes right now and it is 80 times faster. Don't know if that is enhanced VPN or the Snow Leopard but I'm very happy.

Sep 1, 2009 7:41 PM in response to David Selevan

I just installed SL and my Cisco VPN client stopped working 4.9.01.0180. Based on the posts in this thread, seems like a reinstall should get it working again. It will, however, be difficult to convince my IT department to reinstall it on my personal laptop again. Wondering if anyone in this forum can share the installer (0180).

Sep 1, 2009 7:47 PM in response to manishjain

Hey buddy,
The installer is easy to find, but your IT department most likely provided you with PCF Files which have secret passwords and server information which you will need to re-install. Better check your Mac for those .PCF files before doing anything. The DMG installer wont be hard to find, but you'll need those profiles, either from your computer, a co-workers computer, or your IT department. The installation part is cake.

Sep 1, 2009 7:53 PM in response to David Selevan

I haven't been able to find the installer. Any pointers?

Sep 1, 2009 7:55 PM in response to manishjain

Can you search your mac for the .pcf files?

Sep 1, 2009 7:59 PM in response to manishjain

you can google the Torrents, use Wyzo, or better yet follow the directions we posted earlier to setup the built in Cisco VPN. But ¥ou'll need all the settings in the .pcf files.

Sep 1, 2009 8:03 PM in response to David Selevan

Yeah, I found the pcf files.

Cisco VPN Client Needed For Work, will it work with Snow Leopard