VPN disconnects when iPhone goes into auto-lock ?

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Level 1

3 points

VPN disconnects when iPhone goes into auto-lock ?

As the subject says....my iPhone seems to disconnect the VPN as soon as it goes into auto-lock....in my case after two minutes.
I have a L2TP VPN configured for a mail connection to an Exchange server...if it constantly disconnects then the pushmail functionality is of no use....

Is this behaviour as designed or am I missing something ?

Regards, Robert

PC, Windows 7

Posted on Feb 12, 2010 5:40 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

hsami

Level 1

1 points

Aug 17, 2010 5:58 AM in response to robertvg

this isn't normal.

i'm using VPN for a year now. never noticed this...
i've tried now to replicate this and failed. it works fine!

i've only noticed it to be disconnected when fluctuation between 3G and EDGE happens. between WiFi and 3G the connection is persistent. push mail and other services work fine...

lock screen with 3G: http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7105/photo2k.png
lock screen with WiFi: http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2189/photo1ll.png

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Answer 2

Apr 30, 2014 12:20 AM in response to mavisiyah

mavisiyah wrote:

OpenVPN app automatically reconnects whenever my iPhone (iOS 6) or iPad (iOS 7) returns from sleep. This solves this problem to some extent. To use this app you can rent a VPS and install openvpn on it, or you can use privatetunnel VPN service.

This solution would solve everything If there was a basic option in settings: "Transfer internet data only via VPN".

It may be a little hard to understand how to rent a VPS and how to install openvpn for avarage users, so maybe I should give some detail on how do I exactly use this method for the ones who need.

Rent a VPS. I have got one from digitalocean.com. Very simple. Just a few clicks.
Install a Softether VPN server, which is free and open source, on your VPS following the instructions here. To enter the commands you need to use PuTTy. You may use Softether VPN Server Manager for Windows after step 4. I recommend it.
Using Softether VPN Server Manager for Windows, get the OpenVPN configuration file (.opvn), download it. There will be two files, use the "L3" one.
Install OpenVPN client for iOS to your Apple device.
Import that .ovpn file into that app.
Connect.

I recommend Softether server instead of OpenVPN server because it is fully OpenVPN compatible and there is no user limit unlike OpenVPN server, in which only 2 users can connect simultaneously in free mode. For more users a 10 users license should be bought.

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Answer 3

Bumix

Level 1

4 points

Mar 2, 2010 8:19 PM in response to robertvg

This is very annoying indeed. I reside in China and try to upload videos to YouTube or download files from other blocked websites that require me to use a VPN. Since the auto-lock can also not be disabled, i currently have to touch the screen every other minute to prevent the device from going into lock and losing the VPN connection.

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Answer 4

Jan 20, 2012 3:13 PM in response to KeithCFL

I really believe that its not a issue in the VPN, but how the iPhone manage the connection (3G/EDGE/WiFi) when the screen lock.

I'm facing this issue, look to

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3670752

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Answer 5

fastfret

Level 1

0 points

Jan 24, 2012 9:15 PM in response to KeithCFL

@KeithCFL: The AnyConnect app didn't work for me.

However, the iphone DOES have a built-in funcion to "auto-connect on demand" to a VPN. (I guess this is what the Anyconnect App does in essence)

The setting can't be made through the iPhone directly (why on earth not?!). You need to install Apple's iPhone Configuration Utility: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1465

However it ONLY works with a Cisco IPSec tunnel using certificates.

So there it is, built-in to the iOS, but only works with one particular protocol and isn't accessible to the average user....

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Answer 6

foxmajik

Level 1

9 points

Mar 6, 2013 4:14 PM in response to robertvg

I sent feedback to apple at apple.com/feedback .

When I submitted the form they informed me that they don't care enough to contact me back but most assuredly someone will read my feedback.

I recommend that if you're having this problem you should do the same. Maybe if enough people complain they'll do something to stop the complaints.

http://apple.com/feedback

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Answer 7

Jun 1, 2010 1:02 AM in response to robertvg

It seems to be a permanent bug (or "feature") on iPhone OS. I'm not sure if it occurred with OS 2 (because I didn't have a VPN last year), but it's an unfathomable issue on OS 3.

I'm also based in China, and need a VPN to do a lot of stuff since Net Nanny is so censorious.

In fact, this issue is such a pain that it's putting me off getting an iPhone (eyeing up the upcoming iPhone 4/HD) if this is not solved in OS 4, and instead getting myself an Android phone (that software has better VPN support, I've noticed). I'm not 'flaming', I'm just stating my predicament.

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Answer 8

Oct 20, 2010 8:08 AM in response to robertvg

How to recreate the problem.
tap to turn on the vPN
use the power button on top of the iphone to put it in standby.
The vpn will come On because I see the VPN icon on the Iphone, I can synch email and it respond to ping. I see the connection in my Nortel Contivity (VPN device).

after going in standby I can ping 15-19 time, Then I see in the Contivity log : LCP terminated at peer's request
So it's the Iphone that drop the VPN connection. After 16-19 second in standby. I already saw VPN problem with a computer in the past and pinging the device is supposed to keep contact with the remote device and prevent the vpn from going down. In this case, even If I force a communication with the Iphone, it drop the VPN.

it's not related to the lock code because I try with and without. If I use it during 2 or more hours without putting it in standby, the VPN connection will stay Up.

PPTP VPN

Message was edited by: VivaQuébec

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Answer 9

Azekiel

Level 1

0 points

Oct 29, 2010 3:42 AM in response to VivaQuébec

my vpn disconnects too when pressing the button or during the autolock.
im using l2tp.
does anyone have the cisco anyconnect app installed and a matching cisco asa for the vpn connection? i want to know if its disconnecting with the cisco anyconnect, too.

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Answer 10

Dec 12, 2010 8:26 AM in response to robertvg

Still waiting for an answer to this same but very simple question: how does one maintain a persistent VPN connection, whether or not in standby? Has anybody talked to an Apple rep about this? I simply can't bear waiting for 30 minutes in the phone queue to be told that they don't know.

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Answer 11

Dec 14, 2010 9:14 PM in response to tofinosurfer

I am having a similar issue with losing my VPN connection.
I have set up a folder using Dropbox to access and manage common files used heavily in my laboratory, and need to access them quickly at times. Locking the phone drops the VPN connection in less than a minute, which ultimately requires me to reactivate it through settings. Doable, but unnecessary!
Personally, I think the issue of interrupted movie downloads is annoying, but not a critical concern. Just dont lock your phone. The real issue is how this interrupts business and academic networks.
The test reported in this thread clearly shows it is an iPhone OS issue.
Apple, please address this bug for us!!

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Answer 12

Dec 17, 2010 3:34 AM in response to yuki fubuki

hi there,

we are encountering the same problems. After we successfully implemented L2TP VPN from iPhone 4 (OS 4.2.1) via Sonicwall NSA 4500 we were wondering about the folowing behaviour: when the iPhone locks the screen VPN networking is beeing disabled. While evaluating the use of iPhones for corporate mailing and networking we need to make use of a permanent VPN connection. We were wondering what use of such a (go-to-sleep) VPN implementation could have ?

Well - not locking the screen could be a workaround, but not a solution. When you make use of smartphones for corporate needs you have to make it as secure as possible - Do you Apple guys have any ideas ?

Thanks

Regards

IT-Staff

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Answer 13

JCritch

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2010 11:53 PM in response to yuki fubuki

I just bought an iPhone 4 today after being frustrated with my Black Berry.

Imagine my suprise when I have had to manually reconnect my VPN every time I want to sync against my corporate exchange server.

This is such a no brainer that Windows Mobile phones have had this for years.

Is there no way around this? No software that you can buy to resolve this?

If not I will return my iPhone tomorrow.

To bad as I really like it but this is a no go for corporate email users.

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Answer 14

fps-tech

Level 1

3 points

Jan 6, 2011 9:50 AM in response to fps-tech

This is an example that I just tested. You're at your local unsecured Starbucks location and are on their WiFi nextwork. You establish your VPN connection because you don't want Firesheep sniffing all your gritty Facebook details. You have push mail enabled. I had one email sent to me while on VPN, and surely enough, my iPad alerts me that it came. Great, I'm secured, no problem. Now, I turn my iPad off. I sent another email after 30 seconds, which is how long it took for VPN to get torn down (verified by my VPN server). iPad alerts me of a new email. That exchange was all done on their unsecured network, without me even knowing.

Bottom line is I now know I have to disable Push email whenever on a public hotspot, and there goes one of the best business features. Maybe it's not a big deal since I think Exchange is secured, but still seems sketchy.

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Answer 15

Feb 2, 2011 5:26 AM in response to Varta

has anyone ever tried to reproduce this problem with pptp ?
we are thinking of testing the behavior of the iPhone with a pptp server...

just wondering if apple guys ever take a look into these forums ?

regards

it-staff

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