Release Notes for Cisco Secure Services Client, Release 4.1.2
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Table Of Contents
Release Notes for Cisco
Secure Services Client 4.1.2Restricting Client Certificates
Deployment of Certificate Authority Files
Machine/User Context Connections
Unsupported Environmental Features
Roaming and Disk Protection Applications
User Certificates from the Windows Certificate Store
Configuring the Distribution Package File
Obtaining Documentation, Obtaining Support, and Security Guidelines
Release Notes for Cisco
Secure Services Client 4.1.2
May 7, 2007
Contents
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Obtaining Documentation, Obtaining Support, and Security Guidelines
Introduction
This document describes important notes, limitations, open caveats, and resolved caveats for Cisco Secure Services Client (SSC) 4.1.2.
Release 4.1.2 is the second maintenance release.
System Requirements
Supported OS Environments
XP Professional (SP1, SP2), 2K (SP4), Win2K Servers (SP4), Win2003 Server
Novell Client version 4.91 SP1 with Hotfix TID2972711
New and Changed Information
New Features in Release 4.1.2
Restricting Client Certificates
For deployed networks the administrator may now restrict the set of allowed client certificates based on the certificate's Extended Key Usage field. (See the Cisco Secure Services Client Administrator Guide Release 4.1.2 in Related Documentation for details on deployment configuring.)
Static Credentials
In earlier releases of SSC Release 4.1, support was added for the configuring of static credentials, identity (username), and password, for user-context connections only. In this release SSC extends that support to include machine-context connections with the following additional limitation. Static credentials for machine authentication also exclude the use of EAP FAST (in addition to EAP TLS, a certificate-based, previously-excluded method).
Changes in Release 4.1.2
Deployment of Certificate Authority Files
Deployment of Certificate Authority (CA) certificates is restricted to the importing of pem file formats only.
Machine/User Context Connections
When deploying authenticating networks created with the machine/user context, you may now configure the order of the domain login and the network connection when making the transition between the machine and user contexts. In earlier 4.1 releases, the user network connection was always made post login. (See the Cisco Secure Services Client Administrator Guide Release 4.1.2 in Related Documentation for details on deployment configuring.) (Reference CSCsi53898)
Limitations and Restrictions
Unsupported Environmental Features
The following environmental features are not supported in release 4.0.5 or 4.1.0:
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For example, SSC does not function properly with IBM ThinkVantage Fingerprint device software versions earlier than version 5. It is recommended that users update to the most recent version available (5.6 at the time of this note) before evaluating compatibility with their individual machine. This update can be obtained at the following URL:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/TVAN-EAPFPR.html
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Important Notes
Roaming and Disk Protection Applications
Software that is designed to protect a laptop's disk drive from physical jarring prevents any disk drive access while vibration is sensed. When using this feature, moving a laptop from one access point to another can cause roaming delays (interruptions in network connectivity). Such delays should not significantly affect applications that are designed to withstand network interruptions. Users can, at some risk, disable the disk-protection utility. Many laptop manufacturers suggest that users stabilize computers by placing them in standby mode before they are in transit which should prevent any problems. SSC has been tested with one such application, the ThinkVantage Active Protection System, to confirm this.
Disabling Multiple Clients
Do not configure multiple client applications (such as Windows Zero Config and Cisco Aironet Desktop Utility) in addition to SSC to control an access point with the same SSID. Allowing multiple applications to carry out write operations (as well as carry on EAPOL messaging required for making a connection) through the same network adapter might disrupt both applications, resulting in unpredictable behavior in both client applications.
If you must configure two applications with the same network, you must disable all but one of the client applications and use the enabled client to make connections.
SSC can be disabled easily from the Client main menu or from the system icon. Individual adapters can be disabled easily from the Manage Adapter dialog. Disabling other third-party clients might not be a simple operation. If a third-party client cannot be disabled, it should be uninstalled. For example, the Cisco Aironet Desktop Utility (ADU) must be uninstalled to allow SSC to control the wireless adapter.
User Certificates from the Windows Certificate Store
If you use user client certificates from the Windows certificate store, ensure that you understand the requirements for certificate storage and accessibility by machine and user profiles. For example, the use of client certificates from the Windows store is not supported when configuring a user-only network that requires pre-logon authentication. For more information, use the SSC's help or user guide.
Restarting the SSC Service
If SSC becomes suspended inadvertently, the SSC service must be restarted. If the service fails to stop or restart properly, you must restart the machine.
The service can always be restarted by restarting the machine.
If you have Windows administrative privileges, you can manually stop and start the SSC service by choosing Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services > Cisco Secure Services Client.
Managing Adapters
If you get a message that a Serious Adapter Problem has been encountered and SSC automatically releases control of the adapter, Cisco recommends that you reactivate control of the adapter through the SSC's Manage Adapters menu item. If this fails, you must stop and restart the Cisco Secure Services Client Service through the Windows Services dialog or restart the machine.
Caveats
Open Caveats
Deploying SSC
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Only a single distribution package XML file may be deployed at a time.
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When using the sscPackageGen utility with the patch command, the input installation file (.msi) must be a pre-configured installation file (which contains a distribution package XML file). The use of the original SSC installation file (which does not contain a distribution package XML file) results in a patch file (.msp) that fails to install your updated distribution package file.
Configuring the Distribution Package File
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When configuring the WPA/WPA2 key format, you are limited to using the HEX option.
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A deployed shared key network with a machine-connection context fails to maintain the connection when the user logs in.
Using SSC
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On a small percentage of machines, an unusual Windows login sequence results in a 10 minute delay in the user gaining access to the desktop. Additionally the SSC tray icon is missing and no automatic network connection is established. There is no work around for this condition other than to restart the machine.
A fix for the next maintenance release is being evaluated. If you are experiencing this problem, contact Cisco Support for the availability of an unofficial prerelease build to test with in your environment.
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For a network with the following specific characteristics only:
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Windows intermittently fails to prompt the user to change their password. When this happens, SSC remains in the machine context and fails to open the SSC tray icon and GUI. To recover from this problem the user must log out and then relogin to complete the password change.
Novell Problems
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If the backend password change request is initiated while a user is logged on and the authentication server issues a reauthentication request, the reauthentication fails even after the user enters the new password in the Novell GINA.
Workaround: The user should log out and log in again so that the client can capture the updated password for use in authentication.
Adapter Problems
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A lockup condition has been observed that causes the current network access device to cycle between failed (red) and connecting (yellow) as observed in the Manage Networks window. Network connectivity is lost and the system tray icon is either steady-state idle (grey) or connecting (yellow).
Workaround: Disable and then re-enabled the network adapter. (Using either the client or adapter controls of the SSC is not sufficient.) From the Windows Network Connections window, select the Wireless Network Connection and right-click. Then click Disable in the resulting pop-up menu. Repeat and click Enable.
Troubleshooting
For the most up-to-date, detailed troubleshooting information, refer to the Cisco TAC website at
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/support/index.html
Related Documentation
For more information about Cisco Secure Services Client, refer to the following documents:
Cisco Secure Services Client for Windows 2K/XP User Guide Release 4.1.2
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7034/products_user_guide_list.html
The user guide contains detailed information on operating, and locally configuring the client. The single guide covers the three distinct versions of the client: the out-of-the-box version, the deployed Configurable End-User's version and the deployed Preset End-User's version. The content is taken directly from the client's embedded help system documentation.
Cisco Secure Services Client Administrator Guide Release 4.1.2
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps7034/prod_maintenance_guides_list.html
The administrator guide contains detailed information on deploying preconfigured end-user SSCs. This document describes the components of the underlying XML schema which controls the content and format of the deployment distribution package (configuration file). It also describes several Administrator utilities that are available to assist in the deployment process.
Obtaining Documentation, Obtaining Support, and Security Guidelines
For information on obtaining documentation, obtaining support, providing documentation feedback, security guidelines, and also recommended aliases and general Cisco documents, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html
This document is to be used in conjunction with the documents listed in the "Related Documentation" section.
Any Internet Protocol (IP) addresses used in this document are not intended to be actual addresses. Any examples, command display output, and figures included in the document are shown for illustrative purposes only. Any use of actual IP addresses in illustrative content is unintentional and coincidental.
© 2007 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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