Migrated VPN Service Broken with Catalina

Let's hope someone is kind enough to test out VPN on Big Sur in the near future :). I also agree with others that the liklihood of this issue being fixed is miniscule.

Has anyone had success setting up a VPN server on macOS Catalina with 3rd party software solutions, such as macos-vpn-server, or openvpn2, or SoftEther VPN?

I should have been more clear... are there software solutions that can use the native VPN clients in macOS / iOS / Windows?

Hi Everyone,

The very intrepid Bernard Tao of VPN Enabler may have come up with a solution. I have already rolled back to Mjoave, but if someone is brave enough to try and test his solution, I would be eternally grateful! I am not going to upgrade Catalina until we have a 100% solution for this massive problem. Loss of VPN is incredibly disruptive to my workflow.

http://cutedgesystems.com/software/openvpnenablerforcatalina/

Thanks!

I could no longer wait for Apple to fix this solution.

I ended up purchasing a Cisco RV325 VPN Router and installed it in our office so that I could reach macOS Server, all of the machines on the network and all of the services. It actually works a thousand times better than the software VPN that macOS Server provided in the past as you basically have unlimited control with monitoring of who accesses your network.

macOS vpnd L2TP configuration uses four things:

1. macOS networking and firewall (pf, application) infrastructure
2. The /usr/sbin/vpnd binary
3. The config file /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.RemoteAccessServers.plist
4. The PSK in the System Keychain in the entry com.apple.net.racoon

MacPorts uses an example config file (based on the old Server.app one), here: https://github.com/macports/macports-ports/blob/master/net/macos-vpn-server/files/com.apple.RemoteAccessServers.plist.macports

The Portfile shows how to add the PSK to the Keychain, here: https://github.com/macports/macports-ports/blob/f16847defa1b99199baf0a569d2fbeb36a8f908f/net/macos-vpn-server/Portfile#L56

/usr/bin/security add-generic-password -a org.macports.ppp.l2tp -s com.apple.net.racoon -T /usr/sbin/racoon -w ${vpn_pre_shared_secret} -U /Library/Keychains/System.keychain

My hats off to all of the highly ingenious 3rd party solutions but one of the key reasons many of us bought a mac mini was to have a simple, integrated, Apple-ecosystem-centric solution to home networking. The fact that Apple has unnecessarily rendered their software solution into obsolescence is highly malicious towards their own customers. Frankly, it is unacceptable and should be "fixed" by Apple. I know that Apple could care less what we think, but I would advocate that we maintain pressure. I can say with 100% certainty this will be my last mac if Apple continues to be so obtuse and unwilling to listen to their own loyal customers.

Hello All- just stumbled upon this thread after experiencing the same issues still in (2020 June)- unfortunately I'm not a networking /IT expert. I am using both the Sophos connect and OpenVPN connect to connect remotely to our company's VPN. These are my 'lay-person' experiences for both clients-

1. Unable to connect to work VPN after upgrading to Catalina.
2. All devices unable to connect following Catalina Update (Macbook 12", MacBookPro 15" (2013), MacbookPro16" (2019)
3. However - iPadPro2018 appears to connect just fine
4. Home setup comprises of a Router (provided by service provider) and a AirPort Extreme in another bedroom as wifi extender.
   1. Somehow - I managed to get it to 'sort-of'* work after forcing my MacBook to 'forget' the wifi extender (Apple AirPort Extreme)
   2. *sort-of > connection stutters about about 10-15mins but doesn't connection does not drop.

Hopefully there is a solution for this- hopefully will be addressed soon with WWDC coming up!

Yes. I too paid for Server.app only because I needed VPN. Now I must use 10.13.6 for can use Server.app 5.6.3 with GUI VPN. Where is my VPN, Apple? I want use Server.app with VPN on macOS 10.15, macOS 11+

I had the exact same problem as documented in this thread.

After trying many / most of the suggested solutions in this chain I gave up and decided to try the EdgeRouter X solution thanks to your suggestion. These little routers are very powerful and seems to work great. It took me a few hours to get things working but I'm really pleased with the result.

Thanks!

Same problem here. The only VPN connections that work are the ones coming from an iPhone through cellular network.

Installed the Catalina supplemental update this morning - issue persists.

https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/372584/migrated-vpn-server-broken-with-macos-catalina

posted it here as well hoping to get more eyes on this so we can figure it out. I need my vpn back!

I have an airport extreme and the VPN still doesn't work. I had to roll back to Mojave.

That is beyond ridiculous. I also filled out a report on Feedback Asst.