[macbaby]

I'm new to the mac platform, so I'll need a little help with this problem I'm having. I'm trying to connect to my work's VPN, using a Cisco VPN client. I can successfully connect and receive an IP, but it does not connect to that network.

The Cisco VPN client, v4.9, does connect to my brother's school and it does work as it should. This tells me that the client is not the problem.

Any mac networking gurus - what can I do to fix this? I tried using the apple vpn client, but that does not even make the connection to the VPN Server. I'm fairly knowledgeable about basic networking, but most of my work has been done on Windows.

[Nexus5]

Some VPNs are configured to block non-Windows clients. I have the same problem with my company-VPN. They do not allow non-Windows clients.

nexus5.

[ghporter]

Your company IT people should be able to help you. Your problem could be something as simple as an added hardware address check once the VPN connection is established. Or you may need some sort of digital certificate on your computer, again this would be something the IT guys can (and should) sort out.

I use both the Windows and Mac Cisco VPN clients with my school's network, and I've found that there are a number of "potential show stoppers" in the setup for any particular connection. The guys who manage the network are the ones who should have the information you need-and it's their job to hook you up.

[macbaby]

Actually, I am the company IT.

There is no client certs needed in this setup, nor is there a hardware check. I have successfully set up an Ubuntu box to connect via a cisco VPN client.

The VPN server is a cisco 1841. Remember, it does make a successful connection and authentication. I have a feeling it might be something I am missing on my mac.

[ghporter]

Ouch! Hmmmm. I was already authorized (by MAC address) to connect to my school's network before I installed the VPN, but if there's no hardware check that's moot. I'm lost!

[macbaby]

Thanks for the help. Do you know any other boards that could help out?

[ghporter]

Only if Cisco has one. That would be my first direction to look.

[macbaby]

Got it to work...

Seems like the mac has trouble if the network is exactly the same, ie my home network is the same network/subnet as my work one. I would love to fix this, but I have no idea where to start. Both Windows and Ubuntu did not have this problem.

[ghporter]

It's interesting that the client had issues with this, but I guess that's not too hard to understand-which device was it looking to connect to would be pretty confusing when you went from one network to the other. I take it you changed the subnet your home network was on? Fortunately my school's network has its own, routable subnet, so my home network's addresses are completely different from what the VPN client is looking for. Thanks for posting your answer.

[macbaby]

Well, both are common, private networks - so overlapping is very possible. I just find it confusing that the Mac ignores the VPN network, when other OS's dont.

I'm thinking that the Mac does not allow an overwrite of the route table, while the other OS's do.