Cisco IPSec VPN - Menubar Start Fails First Time

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Level 4

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Cisco IPSec VPN - Menubar Start Fails First Time

I have seen this problem before, but it was resolved in Snow Leopard (possibly before) and has only just started happening again in Lion (10.7.3):

When I select my company (Cisco IPSec) VPN from the (built-in) network menu it goes through the motions of "Connecting..." and then fails giving the reason "...negotiation with the VPN server failed..." in a dialog. However, selecting it for a second time always presents the expected user authentication dialog.

I have also noticed a pattern that after a successful connection has been terminated, the next attempt will always fail in the manner described whereas cancelling at the authentication dialog and then immediately retrying will work as expected.

There's some kind of alternation going on here, but I can't explain what it is. Does anyone else have experience of this or suggestions of what might be happening (and, ideally, a workaround) please?

NOTE: I have seen other discussions here about Back to My Mac being a culprit, but that appears to be consistently not working - not this alternation thing

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3), 13" Late 2011 8GB RAM

Posted on Mar 22, 2012 4:08 AM

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Answer 1

Jouster

Level 1

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Apr 9, 2012 2:47 AM in response to Arkouda

Yep, I have the same problem. Did you find a solution yet?

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Answer 2

Arkouda Author

Level 4

3,365 points

Apr 9, 2012 4:48 AM in response to Jouster

Afraid not. AppleCare recommended trashing /Library/Preferences/System\ Configuration/ folder and setting-up the connection again, but I have not had time to try yet (as it will wipe more than just my network preferences AFAIK).

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Answer 3

Jouster

Level 1

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Apr 10, 2012 12:34 AM in response to Arkouda

Yeah, I'd be sceptical of that solution as it does the exact same thing on two separate Macs for me. Bummer.

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Answer 4

Fiwalli

Level 1

4 points

Apr 13, 2012 6:34 PM in response to Arkouda

Same problem here. It is incredibly reliable. After almost exactly 1 hour, VPN drops. Then the first connection after fails to connect with your error. Then the next attempt immediately connects.

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Answer 5

Arkouda Author

Level 4

3,365 points

Apr 17, 2012 2:17 AM in response to Fiwalli

I think I may have found the solution (at least it seems to have worked for me):

Trash: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist and the associated lockfile

Restart the Mac.

I noticed that my systemuiserver process was running out-of-control - nearly 100% of a CPU and hogging RAM - so that was my main motivation, but it seems to have dealt with the VPN problem also.

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Answer 6

Aug 23, 2013 2:54 PM in response to Arkouda

Thanks! That worked for me! I had the VPN server working perfectly and then from time to time, it wouldn't work any more without changing anything. Deleting these files fixed it.

Thanks again!

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