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GuyHelmer Author

Level 1

5 points

Built-in IPsec VPN randomly drops to Cisco VPN server

I'm using the built-in IPsec VPN client on Lion and the VPN connection randomly drops. I've found this in the system.log file corresponding to the time when the connection drops:

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IPSec Phase1 started (Initiated by me).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKE Packet: transmit success. (Initiator, Aggressive-Mode message 1).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKEv1 Phase1 AUTH: success. (Initiator, Aggressive-Mode Message 2).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKE Packet: receive success. (Initiator, Aggressive-Mode message 2).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKEv1 Phase1 Initiator: success. (Initiator, Aggressive-Mode).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKE Packet: transmit success. (Initiator, Aggressive-Mode message 3).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IPSec Phase1 established (Initiated by me).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKE Packet: receive success. (Information message).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IPSec Extended Authentication requested.

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP configd[16]: IPSec requesting Extended Authentication.

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP configd[16]: IPSec Controller: XAuth reauthentication dialog required, so connection aborted

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP configd[16]: IPSec disconnecting from server xx.xx.xx.xx

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IPSec disconnecting from server xx.xx.xx.xx

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKE Packet: transmit success. (Information message).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKEv1 Information-Notice: transmit success. (Delete IPSEC-SA).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKE Packet: transmit success. (Information message).

Aug 20 10:00:34 MBP racoon[38259]: IKEv1 Information-Notice: transmit success. (Delete ISAKMP-SA).

Is there a hint here as to any configuration I can change on the MBP, or anything I can ask the network admin to change on the Cisco device to resolve this?

Thanks,

Guy

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Aug 20, 2011 8:33 AM

75 replies

ttsaon3

Level 1

10 points

May 24, 2013 10:56 AM in response to mohamedridha

Input the following settings:
Interface: VPN
VPN Type: Cisco IPSec
Service Name: This can be anything, I left the default.

Edit the new interface details as follows:
Server Address: cisco.vpntraffic.com or other country vpn such as spain vpn

Account Name: Your vpn account
Password: Your vpn password

How to setup Mac OS X Built-In Cisco VPN

May 24, 2013 2:26 PM in response to ttsaon3

This is advertising (SPAM) and against the Terms of Use!

By the way, suggesting 3rd party VPNs presents a serious security breach and someone might accidentally use her company's credentials on this service (especially given the ambiguous wording on this message).

This response is totally irrelevant with the thread and I'd dare say malicious. I suggest you delete this on your own or risk being flagged / banned.

bwl21

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2013 11:57 AM in response to GuyHelmer

Did someone find out if the issue is fixed in Mavericks?

parismac

Level 1

15 points

Oct 21, 2013 12:09 PM in response to bwl21

no it's not. Same issue and same fix

bwl21

Level 1

0 points

Oct 21, 2013 1:17 PM in response to parismac

unbelieveable ...

oliverkn

Level 1

0 points

Jan 19, 2014 6:15 AM in response to bwl21

Same issue! After 1 hour my vpn disconnects on mavericks. Before (on Mac OS X 10.8) I had at least 3 hours.

This is really annoying can pls somebody tell me how to fix that!

Jan 23, 2014 3:55 PM in response to GuyHelmer

Does anyone else have similar issue but VPN connection drops around 57 or 58 minute mark ?

Using Maverick 10.9.1

erikman

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2014 12:54 AM in response to Jack Basen

Yes, same issue here.

VPN connection drops after < 1hr on Maverick 10.9.1

oliverkn

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2014 6:45 AM in response to erikman

Rumors say that this issue should be resolved with the next update which is coming soon.

gurple

Level 1

45 points

Feb 13, 2014 3:21 AM in response to oliverkn

It can't come soon enough.

Jul 22, 2018 1:08 AM in response to gurple

Does not seem to be fixed in 10.9.2

oliverkn

Level 1

0 points

Feb 25, 2014 1:30 PM in response to Community User

Ah come on Apple! Seriously? You gotta be kidding me!

Mar 3, 2014 7:41 AM in response to GuyHelmer

FWIW, I'm still seeing this issue in 10.9.2 as well. We use L2TP/IPSEC, but the VPN server is not a Cisco concentrator. Left feedback for Apple already, but thought I'd chip in here as well.

Kirjanov

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2014 4:49 PM in response to GuyHelmer

Intersting, but we don't have this problem with ASA 5505 and lifetime 3600 (1 hour).

I have just tested it with lifetime 120 seconds and everythings works Ok.

But the problem still exists with Cisco 2921 IOS 15.2 and it is making us losing hope.

Mar 31, 2014 7:16 AM in response to GuyHelmer

The same problem here.

On Cisco IPSec VPN the connection drops after an hour!

Do something Apple!!!

Built-in IPsec VPN randomly drops to Cisco VPN server