Cisco IPsec VPN connection using OSx built in client

Just spent random time over the past year working out an issue with our IT department trying to connect remote Mac computers using 10.6 - 10.8 built in VPN to a Cisco 871W device and we finally solved the mystery. After many hours of searching information posts, trouble shooting and looking at debug counsols, we discovered the Mac device requires a DES3 connection with a 256 AES authentication. Our system kept using a 128 AES which was causing a second level authentication error.