Table Of Contents
Release Notes for VPN Client, Release 4.0 through Release 4.0.5.D
Installation Notes - Windows Platforms
Installation Notes - Solaris Platforms
Common Graphical Interface for Windows and Mac VPN Clients
Personal Firewall Enhancements
Coexistence with Third-Party VPN Vendors
Improved RADIUS SDI XAuth Request Handling
New, ISO-Standard Format for Log File Names
Potential Application Compatibility Issues
Harmless Warning Might Occur with Linux Kernel 2.4
DHCP Route Renewal in Windows 2000 and Windows XP
Solaris Client Using Routed RIP Might Lose Connectivity
DNS Server on Private Network with Split DNS Causes Problems
VPN Client Supports Sygate Personal Firewall V. 5.0, Build 1175
The 4.0 VPN Client Is Not Supported on Windows 95
VPN Client Not Supported on Windows NT Servers
Start Before Logon and Microsoft Certificate with Private Key Protect Fails
Downgrading VPN Client from Release 4.0 Causes Start Before Logon Failure
Linksys Wireless AP Cable/DSL Router Version 1.44 or Higher Firmware Requirement
Faultlog.txt File Logs Severity 1 Events
Certificates exported from Netscape 7 do not import into the VPN Client Macintosh Version
VPN Client Can Require Smart Card When Using Certificates
VPN Client GUI Connection History Display Lists Certificate Used
Use Zone Labs Integrity Server 2.1.052.0 or Higher with VPN Client 4.0
Restart VPN Client Service If You Install VPN Client Before Zone Alarm
InstallShield Error Might occur during VPN Client Installation
VPN Client cTCP Connection Fails If Checkpoint Client Is Installed
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.C
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.A
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.4.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.4.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.4
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.F
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.E
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.C
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.A
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.E
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.C
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.A
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.1
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0
Obtaining Technical Assistance
Cisco Technical Support Website
Definitions of Service Request Severity
Obtaining Additional Publications and Information
Release Notes for VPN Client, Release 4.0 through Release 4.0.5.D
CCO Date: December 6, 2004
Part Number OL-5450-10
Note
You can find the most current documentation for the VPN Client at http://www.cisco.com or http://cco.cisco.com. These electronic documents may contain updates and changes made after the hard copy documents were printed.
These release notes support VPN Client software Release 4.0 through Release 4.0.5.D. These release notes describe new features, limitations and restrictions, caveats, and related documentation. Please read the release notes carefully prior to installation. The section, "Usage Notes," describes interoperability considerations and other issues you should be aware of when installing and using the VPN Client.
Contents
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.C
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5.A
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.5
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.4.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.4.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.4
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.F
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.E
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.C
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3.A
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.3
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.E
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.D
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.C
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.B
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2.A
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.2
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0.1
Caveats Resolved in Release 4.0
Obtaining Technical Assistance
Obtaining Additional Publications and Information
Introduction
The VPN Client is an application that runs on a Microsoft® Windows®-based PC, a Sun ultraSPARC workstations, a Linux desktop, or a Macintosh (Mac) personal computer that meets the system requirements stated in the next section. In this document, the term "PC" applies generically to all these computers, unless specified otherwise.
The VPN Client on a remote PC, communicating with a Cisco VPN device at an enterprise or service provider, creates a secure connection over the Internet that lets you access a private network as if you were an on-site user. This secure connection is a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
System Requirements
Refer to Chapter 2, "Installing the VPN Client," in the VPN Client User Guide for Windows, Release 4.0 or Cisco VPN Client User Guide for Mac OS X, as appropriate for your platform, for a complete list of system requirements and installation instructions.
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The VPN Client supports the following Cisco VPN devices:
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If you are using Internet Explorer, use version 5.0, Service Pack 2 or higher.
Installation Notes
Because of platform differences, the installation instructions for Windows and non-Windows platforms also differ.
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The following notes are important for users who are upgrading to Windows XP and users who want to downgrade to an earlier version of the VPN Client software.
Installing Release 4.0.3
Release 4.0.3 on Windows operating systems is localized for Canadian French and Japanese, as well as English. The following sections describe how to install this version on a Windows system.
Overriding the MSI Installation Language.
To perform this action you must already have Windows Installer Version 2.0 installed. You can determine which version you have by executing msiexec.exe without parameters. If the version is lower than 2.0, execute instmsiw.exe, which updates the software to the correct version.
Note
The default installation is in English. To specify a language other than English, enter the following command, all on the same line:
msiexec /i vpnclient_setup.msi TRANSFORMS=vpnclient_<language>.mst;vpnclient_help_<language>.mstThe supported language codes are:
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To force an English only language install, enter the following command:
msiexec /i vpnclient_setup.msiTo force a Canadian French language installation, enter the following command, all on the same line:
msiexec /i vpnclient_setup.msi TRANSFORMS=vpnclient_fc.mst;vpnclient_help_fc.mstTo force a Japanese language installation, enter the following command, all on the same line:
msiexec /i vpnclient_setup.msi TRANSFORMS=vpnclient_jp.mst;vpnclient_help_jp.mstOverriding IS Installation Language:
The install image must contain a vpnclient.ini file with the following two lines:
msiexec /i vpnclient_setup.msi TRANSFORMS=vpnclient_fc.mst;vpnclient_help_fc.mst
msiexec /i vpnclient_setup.msi TRANSFORMS=vpnclient_jp.mst;vpnclient_help_jp.mstThe supported language codes are
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Non-localized Features
The following parts of the VPN Client are not localized:
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Installation Notes - Windows Platforms
In addition to the installation considerations for Release 4.0.3, Release 4.0.x includes the following installation considerations for Windows users:
Installing the VPN Client Software Using InstallShield
Installing the VPN Client software on Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP with InstallShield requires Administrator privileges. If you do not have Administrator privileges, you must have someone who has Administrator privileges install the product for you.
Note
Installing the VPN Client Software Using the MSI Installer
If you are using the MSI installer, you must have Windows NT-based products such as Windows NT 4.0 (with SP6), Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Installing with MSI also requires Administrator privileges.
Note
VPN Client Installation Using Windows Installer (MSI) Requires Windows NT SP6
When you attempt to install the VPN Client using MSI install (vpnclient_en.exe) on NT SP3, SP4, or SP5, the error messages do not indicate that the VPN Client cannot be installed on those operating systems because they are unsupported. Once the errors occur, no other messages are displayed and the installation is aborted.
When you attempt to run vpnclient_en.exe on Windows NT SP3, SP4, or SP5 you see the following messages:
"Cannot find the file instmsiw.exe (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all the required libraries are available."
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"Cannot find the file MSIEXEC (or one of its components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all the required libraries are available."
The Windows Installer (MSI) can be installed only on NT SP6, so the error messages you see using earlier service packs are due to an MSI incompatibility (CSCdy05049).
Installation Notes - Solaris Platforms
The following sections describe actions you must take when installing the VPN Client on a Solaris platform.
Uninstall an Older VPN Client If Present on a Solaris Platform
If you have a previous version of the VPN Client running under Solaris, you must uninstall the older VPN Client before installing a new VPN Client. You are not required to uninstall an old VPN Client, if one is present, before installing a new VPN Client for Linux or Mac OS X.
Refer to the Cisco VPN Client User Guide for Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X, Chapter 2, for complete uninstallation information.
Disable the ipfilter Firewall Kernel Module Before Installing the VPN Client on a Solaris Platform
If you have an IP firewall installed on your workstation, the reboot after installation of the VPN Client takes an inordinate amount of time. This is caused by a conflict between the vpnclient kernel module cipsec and the ipfilter firewall module. To work around this issue, disable the ipfilter firewall kernel module before you install the VPN Client (CSCdw27781).
Using the VPN Client
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New Features in Release 4.0.5
Release 4.0.5 of the VPN Client software includes the following new features.
Mutual Group Authentication
Note
technologies_security_notice09186a0080215981.html (CSCed41329).Group Authentication is a method that uses pre-shared keys for mutual authentication. In this method, the VPN Client and the VPN central-site device use a group name and password to validate the connection. This is a symmetrical form of authentication since both sides use the same authentication method during their negotiations.
Mutual group authentication is asymmetrical in that each side uses a different method to authenticate the other while establishing a secure tunnel to form the basis for group authentication. In this method, authentication happens in two stages. During the first stage, the VPN central-site device authenticates itself using public-key techniques (digital signature) and the two sides negotiate to establish a secure channel for communication. During the second stage, the actual authentication of the VPN Client user by the central-site VPN device takes place. Since this approach does not use pre-shared keys for peer authentication, it provides greater security than group authentication alone, as it is not vulnerable to a man-in-the-middle attack.
To use mutual group authentication, the remote user's VPN Client system must have a root certificate installed. If needed, you can install a root certificate automatically by placing it on the VPN Client system during installation. The certificate must be in a file named rootcert, with no extension, and must be placed in the installation directory for the remote user's VPN Client system.
For more information on mutual group authentication, see the VPN Client Administrator Guide, Chapter 1.
You must configure both the VPN Client and the VPN Concentrator to allow mutual group authentication (Hybrid mode). Ensure that the Certificate Authority being used on both the VPN Client and the VPN Concentrator is the same. Configure the VPN Concentrator in a similar fashion to the use of User Certificates.
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New Features in Release 4.0
Release 4.0 of the VPN Client software includes the following new features.
Virtual Adapter
A virtual adapter is a software-only driver that acts as a valid interface in the system. Its purpose is to solve protocol incompatibility problems. The virtual adapter appears in the network properties list just like a physical adapter.
Note
The Microsoft digital signature affirms that software has been tested with Windows and that the software has not been altered since it was tested.
The software you are about to install does not have a Microsoft digital signature. Therefore, there is no guarantee that this software works correctly with Windows.
Cisco Systems VPN Adapter
If you want to search for Microsoft digitally signed software, visit the Windows Update Web site at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com to see if one is available.
Do you want to continue the installation?
If you see this message, click "Yes" to continue (CSCdz14583).Common Graphical Interface for Windows and Mac VPN Clients
In Release 4.0, the VPN Client provides a consistent graphical user interface across all supported Windows operating systems and Mac OS X, recognizing that the Windows and Mac operating systems follow different conventions, and that the Windows version has additional features. The VPN Client documentation is based on this new user interface.
Alerts (Delete With Reason)
In Release 4.0, the VPN Client can display to the user the reason for a VPN 3000 Concentrator-initiated disconnection. If the VPN 3000 Concentrator, Release 4.0, disconnects the VPN Client and tears down the tunnel, the VPN Client, Release 4.0, displays a popup window showing the reason for the disconnect and also logs a message to the Notifications log and the IPSec log file. For IPSec deletes that do not tear down the connection, the event message appears only in the log file.
The administrator on the VPN 3000 Concentrator can enable or disable this feature, called Alerts in the VPN Concentrator configuration. It is not configurable on the VPN Client. When this feature is enabled, the VPN 3000 Concentrator and the VPN Client negotiate whether to display these messages. See the Cisco VPN Client User Guide, Release 4.0, for a description of the conditions that can cause such disconnects.
Single IPSec-SA
Rather than creating a host-to-network security association (SA) pair for each split-tunneling network, this feature provides a host-to-ALL approach, creating one tunnel for all appropriate network traffic apart from whether split-tunneling is in use. With this feature, the VPN Client supports a single SA per VPN connection and directs all the appropriate traffic through this tunnel, regardless of whether split tunneling is in use. The Statistics page on the VPN Client reflects the traffic for this single SA.
Personal Firewall Enhancements
In Release 4.0, the VPN Client supports Sygate Personal Firewall and Sygate Personal Firewall Pro, Version 5.0, Build 1175 and higher. Other supported features new with this release include:
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Coexistence with Third-Party VPN Vendors
In Release 4.0, the VPN Client is compatible with VPN clients from Microsoft, Nortel, Checkpoint, Intel, and others. This feature offers the ability to use other VPN products while the Cisco VPN Client is installed.
Improved RADIUS SDI XAuth Request Handling
The VPN Client, Release 4.0, includes improvements in RADIUS SDI XAuth handling, which may improve performance. Administrators can configure this feature in the .pcf file and the .ini file. For information, see VPN Client Administrator Guide, Release 4.0, Chapter 2.
New, ISO-Standard Format for Log File Names
The format of the names of log files generated by the VPN Client GUI has changed to LOG-yyyy-MM-dd-hh-mm-ss.txt from MMM-d-yyyy-hh-mm-ss.log. This new format complies with the ISO 8601 extended specification for representations of dates and times and avoids issues with localization.
The new log file names have a chronological order that is the same as their alphanumeric order. This provides for a method of enumerating only the log files generated by the GUI.
Enhancements to GINA
Release 4.0.2 includes an improved application launch verification mechanism employed by the Graphical Identification and Authentication (GINA) dynamic-link library (DLL). This affects only the Windows NT4, Windows 2000, and Windows XP platforms (CSCeb12179).
Usage Notes
This section lists issues to consider before installing Release 4.0.x of the VPN Client software.
In addition, you should be aware of the open caveats regarding this release. Refer to "Open Caveats" on page 37 of these Release Notes for the list of known problems.
Potential Application Compatibility Issues
You might encounter the following compatibility issues when using the VPN Client with specific applications. Whenever possible, this list describes the circumstances under which an issue might occur and workarounds for potential problems.
Windows Interoperability Issues
The following known issues might occur with the indicated Microsoft Windows operating systems and applications software.
WINS Support
On Windows 95 and Windows 98, dynamic WINS support works with DHCP-enabled adapters (for example, PPP or NIC adapters that get their IP information dynamically). For static configurations, users must manually configure the adapters with WINS information.
Windows NT
Importing a Microsoft Certificate Using Windows NT SP3
The following problem has occurred on some Windows NT SP3 systems (CSCdt11315).
When using the Client with digital certificates stored in the Microsoft certificate store, the Client may fail to connect. This is accompanied by the following Client event in the Log Viewer:
4101 13:41:48.557 01/05/01 Sev=Warning/2 CERT/0xA3600002
Could not load certificate (null) from the store.Workaround: Two workarounds exist. Choose one of the following:
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VPN Client Cannot Launch Microsoft Connection Manager
The VPN Client does not see a dialup connection made with Microsoft Connection Manager because of incompatibilities between the requirements of the two applications (CSCdx85663).
Windows 98 Might Hang on Shutdown
On some Windows 98 PCs with the VPN Client installed, if you restart the PC, it may stop responding (that is, "hang") on the screen that says "Windows is shutting down".
Wait a minute. If the PC is still not responding, press the reset button. When the PC reboots, it should not run through ScanDisk, indicating the shutdown was successful in closing all open files. This problem may occur on some PCs and not on others, and we are looking for a solution. Windows 98 shutdown has numerous issues, as can be seen the following Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:
"Q238096 - How to Troubleshoot Windows 98 Second Edition Shutdown Problems" (CSCdt00729).
Windows 2000 (only) Requires Adding Client for MS Networks for Dialup Connections
For the Cisco VPN Client running on a Windows 2000 system, you cannot access Microsoft resources unless you add the Client for Microsoft Networks for the Dial-up adapter.
Aladdin Runtime Environment (RTE) Issue with Windows NT and Windows 2000
Using versions of the Aladdin Runtime Environment (RTE) on Windows NT and Windows 2000 can cause the following behavior. The login prompt that is posted by the Aladdin etoken when connecting the VPN Client can get hidden in the background. If this happens, the VPN connection can timeout and fail with the following event:
"System Error: Connection Manager failed to respond."
A side effect of this is that the VPN Client's service and dialer might become out of synch, and the PC might need to be restarted (CSCdv47999). To avoid this issue, use the Aladdin Runtime Environment (RTE) version 2.65 or later.
Microsoft MSN Installation
Microsoft's MSN installation fails if you have already installed the VPN Client. Uninstall the VPN Client before you install MSN. After MSN has completed installation, you can install the VPN Client.
WINS Information Might Not Be Removed from Windows Servers If Not Disconnected Before Shutdown
If the VPN Concentrator is configured to send WINS server addresses down to the VPN Client and the PC is shut down or restarted without first disconnecting the VPN Client, the WINS servers are not removed from the network properties. This might cause local PC registration and name resolution problems while not connected with VPN.
To work around this problem, do one of the following:
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VPN Client May Falsely Trigger Auto Initiation Connection Event though the NIC Card Has Been Removed
The 4.0 VPN Client with Auto Initiation enabled on a Windows NT system may exhibit the following behavior. After removing a NIC card, the VPN Client may continue to trigger an Auto Initiation connection event though the NIC card has been removed. To stop its connection attempts, you can place the VPN Client in Suspended mode after a failed or canceled VPN connection. You can also disable this feature from the GUI by using Options > Automatic VPN Initiation, and unchecking "Enable". If you add a new NIC, the problem goes away. (CSCdx46812).
DNS
For DNS resolution, if the DOMAIN NAME is not configured on the network interface, you need to enter the fully qualified domain name of the host that needs to be resolved.
Network Interfaces
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Network ICE BlackICE Defender Configuration
Network ICE's BlackICE Defender is a traffic monitoring security product. If you properly configure it, BlackICE Defender can work with the VPN Client. You must configure BlackICE Defender for Trusting, Nervous, or Cautious mode. If you use Nervous or Cautious mode, add the public IP address of the VPN Concentrator to the list of trusted addresses. You can now configure the VPN Client to work with BlackICE Defender configured for Paranoid mode when in Tunnel-everything mode. Split Tunneling requires BlackICE to be in Trusting, Nervous, or Cautious mode.
The Cisco VPN Client firewall has the following requirements for BlackICE (BlackICE Defender 2.5 or greater or BlackICE Agent 2.5 or greater). For BlackICE Defender 2.5, copy the BICTRL.DLL file from the Cisco installation release medium to the BlackICE installation directory on the VPN Client PC. This is a mandatory step for making a connection requiring BlackICE.
BlackICE Defender version 2.9 and greater includes the BICTRL.DLL file in the Network ICE distribution medium, so that you do not need to copy it from the Cisco installation release medium.
Microsoft Outlook Error Occurs on Connection or Disconnect
The following Microsoft Outlook error might occur when the VPN Client connects or disconnects:
"Either there is no default mail client, or the current mail client cannot fulfill the messaging request. Run Microsoft Outlook and set it as the default mail client."
This message does not affect operation of the VPN Client. The issue occurs when Microsoft Outlook is installed but not configured for email, although it is the default mail client. It is caused by a Registry Key that is set when the user installs Outlook.
To eliminate this message, do one of the following:
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Adjusting the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) Value - Windows Only
VPN Encapsulation adds to the overall message length. To avoid refragmentation of packets, the VPN Client must reduce the MTU settings. The default MTU adjusted value is 1300 for all adapters. If the default adjustments are not sufficient, you may experience problems sending and receiving data. To avoid fragmented packets, you can change the MTU size, usually to a lower value than the default. To change the MTU size, use the VPN Client SetMTU utility. If you are using PPPoE, you may also have to set the MTU in other locations. Refer to the following table for the specific procedures for each type of connection.
The MTU is the largest number of bytes a frame can carry, not counting the frame's header and trailer. A frame is a single unit of transportation on the Data Link Layer. It consists of header data, plus data that was passed down from the Network Layer, plus (sometimes) trailer data. An Ethernet frame has an MTU of 1500 bytes, but the actual size of the frame can be up to 1526 bytes (22-byte header, 4-byte CRC trailer).
Recognizing a Potential MTU Problem
If you can connect with the Cisco VPN Client but cannot send or receive data, this is likely an MTU problem. Common failure indications include the following:
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Setting the MTU Value
If you are not experiencing a problem, do not change the MTU value. Usually, an MTU value of 1300 works. If it doesn't, the end user must decrease the value until the Cisco VPN Client passes data. Decrement the MaxFrameSize value by 50 or 100 until it works.
The following table shows how to set the MTU value for each type of connection.
Asante FR3004 Cable/DSL Routers Require Asante Firmware Version 2.15 or Later
Versions of the Asante firmware caused a problem with rekeying and keepalives when a VPN Client had an all-or-nothing connection to a VPN Concentrator through an Asante FR3004 Cable/DSL router. Version 2.15 (or later) of the Asante firmware resolves these issues. For more information about Asante cable/DSL routers, see the following Web sites:
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Using Nexland Cable/DSL Routers for Multiple Client Connections
All Nexland Pro routers support passing multiple IPSec sessions through to Cisco VPN 3000 Series Concentrators. To enable this function, the Nexland user must select IPSec Type 2SPI-C on the Nexland options page.
The discontinued Nexland ISB2LAN product correctly handles a single connection, but problems can occur when attempting to make multiple client connections to the same Secure Gateway from behind an ISB2LAN Nexland Cable/DSL router. Nexland has fixed this problem in the Nexland Pro series of routers (CSCdt10266).
Cert DN Matching Cannot Match on Email Field EA
You cannot match on the Cert DN field (EA) when using the Peer Cert DN Verification feature because the VPN Concentrator does not assign a value to that field (CSCdx25994).
VPN Dialer Application Can Load During OS Shutdown or Restart
When using the VPN Client's Start Before Logon feature (Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows XP) in "fallback" mode, the VPN dialer application loads during a shutdown or restart of the operating system. This will not cause any problems and can be ignored (CSCdu02071).
America Online (AOL) Interoperability Issues
AOL Versions 5.0 and 6.0
The VPN Client supports AOL Version 5.0. AOL Version 6.0 is also supported, with one limitation: when connected, browsing in the network neighborhood is not available.
AOL Version 7.0
AOL Version 7.0 uses a proprietary heartbeat polling of connected clients. This requires the use of split tunneling to support the polling mechanism. Without split tunneling, AOL disconnects after a period of time between 5 and 30 minutes.
AOL 7 Disconnects after VPN Authentication
When making a dialup connection with AOL 7.0 Revision 4114.537 (for Windows 95, 98, ME, Windows 2000 and XP), then attempting to connect with the VPN Client, AOL might disconnect while the user is being authenticated. This is an AOL issue, not a VPN Client problem (CSCdy45351).
VPN Client Fails to Connect over Some AOL Dialup Connections
The Cisco VPN Client connecting over an AOL dialup connection fails to complete the connection, particularly when using AOL 7.0 and 8.0.
The AOL dialup process uses a fallback method which, if your initial attempt to connect fails, resorts to a different connection type for the second attempt. This second attempt can sometimes cause AOL to communicate over two PPP adapters (visible in ipconfig /all output). When this happens, the VPN Client cannot connect. This is a known issue, and AOL is investigating the problem.
The workaround is to try to reconnect the dialup connection to try to avoid getting two PPP adapters (CSCea29056).
Browser Interoperability Issues
The following known issues might occur when using the VPN Client with the indicated browser software.
Issues Loading Digital Certificate from Microsoft Certificate Store on Windows NT SP5 and on IE 4.0 SP2
The following error occurs in the VPN Client log when using a Digital Certificate from the Microsoft Certificate Store. This can occur on Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5 and on Internet Explorer 4.0 with SP2 and using the VPN Client v3.1 or v3.5:
"Could not load certificate cn=Joe Smith,ou=Engineering,o=MyCompany,l=Buffalo, st=new york,c=US,e=jsmith@mycompany.com from the Unsupported Store store"
Both the VPN Client and the Certificate Manager can see and validate the Certificate, but when you try to connect using that Certificate, you get a message in the Connection History dialog that says, "Failed to establish a secure connection to the security gateway".
To fix this problem, do one of the following:
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Requirements for using VPN Client for Windows Using Digital Certificate With Non-exportable Keys
To use certificates with non-exportable keys, you must have the VPN Client, Release 3.6 or 4.0, and your PC must have Internet Explorer version 5.0 SP2 or later installed to function properly. (CSCdx90228).
Entrust Entelligence Issues
The following known issues might occur when using Entrust Entelligence software with the VPN Client.
Potential Connection Delay
Using the VPN Client with Entrust Entelligence might result in a delay of approximately 30 seconds if you are trying to connect while Entrust is "online" with the CA. This delay varies, depending on your Entrust CA configuration. If the Entrust CA is on the private network, then the chance of Entrust being online are low, since the VPN connection is needed to communicate with the CA.
If you experience this delay, do one of the following:
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Entrust System Tray Icon Might Erroneously Indicate Logout
When using VPN Client with Start Before Logon (Windows NT and 2000) and Entrust Entelligence, the Entrust system tray icon indicates that it is "logged out" once in Windows. It is really logged in, just not in the normal Windows desktop. The reason for this is that the context that Entrust was logged into was on the "Logon desktop". This is an Entrust issue, not a VPN Client problem.
Entrust operates normally once logged into within Windows (CSCdu29239).
Entrust Client May Appear Offline
After establishing a VPN connection with Entrust Entelligence certificates, the Entrust client may appear offline. It may appear this way even after the Entrust client has successfully communicated with the Entrust i500 directory.
To work around this issue, do one of the following:
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Use Entrust Entelligence 4.0 with VPN Client Release 3.5.1 or 3.1 Start Before Logon
When using the Release 3.5.1 or 3.1 VPN Client with the Entrust Entelligence 4.0 software, the Start Before Logon feature does not function properly. Upgrading to Entrust Entelligence 5.1 resolves this problem (CSCdu61926).
Some Entrust Dialogs Do Not Display Properly When Using VPN Client Start Before Logon
When using the VPN Client with Start Before Logon and Entrust Entelligence, some Entrust dialogs do not display properly on the logon desktop that displays before going into Windows NT or Windows 2000. The first time the VPN Client dialer and service access the Entrust certificates, it prompts for a security check. This prompt displays in Windows, but not at the logon screen.
To work around this problem, connect the VPN Client once, while in Windows and after installing, to register the VPN applications (ipsecdialer.exe and cvpnd.exe) with Entrust. Once you have done this you can use it at the logon desktop (CSCdu62212).
Renewing Entrust Entelligence Certificate (Key Update) Requires Entrust Version 5.1 SP 3 or Later
Entrust Entelligence certificate renewal (key update) will not work over a VPN Client connection unless Entrust Entelligence version 5.1 SP3 or later is being used. Other Entrust Entelligence operations using older versions work properly.
To work around this issue, do one of the following:
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Accessing Online Glossary Requires Connection to Cisco.com
The Glossary button at the top of all Help screens tries to contact univercd at www.cisco.com (the Cisco documentation site). This connection requires connectivity to Cisco's main web site. If your PC does not have a corporate Internet connection or your firewall blocks access, the following error appears when you attempt to access the Glossary:
"The page cannot be displayed."
To access the Glossary, you must be connected to www.cisco.com (CSCdy14238).
ZoneAlarm Plus Versions 3.1.274 and Earlier Are Incompatible with VPN Client
The following known incompatibility exists between the Cisco VPN Client and Zone Labs ZoneAlarm Plus version 3.1.274 and earlier. If you are using such a version of ZoneAlarm Plus, please visit http://www.zonelabs.com or contact your Zone Labs representative for an update.
On a PC with ZoneAlarm Plus version 3.1.274 (or earlier) and the VPN Client, the following errors occur when the PC boots:
On Windows 2000:
ZAPLUS.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows. You will need to restart the program.
An error log is being generated.
The Application Log states:
The application, ZAPLUS.EXE, generated an application error. The error occurred on 7/23/2002... The exception was c0000005 at address 00401881 (<nosymbols>).
Similar errors occur on other Windows operating systems.
The result of this error is that the ZoneAlarm GUI does not run, and therefore a user can not change any settings in ZoneAlarm Plus or allow new programs to access the Internet.(CSCdy16607).
ZoneLabs Automatically Adds Loopback and VPN 3000 Concentrator Addresses to Trusted Zone for Windows NT PCs
The Loopback address and the VPN 3000 Concentrator's address are automatically added to the ZoneLabs "Trusted Zone" on Windows NT-based systems.
If a Windows NT based-PC has ZoneAlarm, ZoneAlarm Pro, or Zone Labs Integrity Agent, and the VPN Client Release 4.0 installed on it, the loopback address (127.0.0.1) is automatically added to Zone Labs "Trusted Zone" when the Client service is started. Additionally, the VPN 3000 Concentrator's address is automatically added to the "Trusted Zone" when a connection is made (CSCea61272).
Upgrading Zone-Alarm Pro to Version 3.7.098 Causes Error When VPN Client Is Already Installed on the PC
Upgrading ZoneAlarm Pro version 3.5.xxx to ZoneAlarm Pro version 3.7.098 when the VPN Client is installed on the PC might cause the following error to appear:
"The procedure entry point DbgProcessReset could not be located in the dynamic link library VSUTIL.dll."
Click OK, and the installation continues (CSCea25991). See ZoneLabs' bug number 10182.
Harmless Warning Might Occur with Linux Kernel 2.4
Linux users running 2.4 kernels may encounter the following warning when the VPN Client kernel module is loaded:
Warning: loading /lib/modules/2.4.18-3/CiscoVPN/cisco_ipsec will taint the kernel: no license
This message indicates that the VPN Client kernel module is not licensed under the GPL, so the Linux kernel developers will not debug any kernel problems that occur while this kernel module is loaded. This message does not affect the operation of the VPN Client in any way (CSCdy31826).
DHCP Route Renewal in Windows 2000 and Windows XP
In a Windows 2000 or Windows XP environment, if the public network matches the private network (for example, a public IP address of 192.168.1.5, with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0, and an identical private IP address) and the public network's route metric is 1, then traffic might not be tunneled to the private network (CSCdz88896). The same problem can occur if you are using a virtual adapter and the public metric is smaller than the virtual adapter metric.
In Windows 2000 and Windows XP, you can increase the metric of the public network by doing the following steps:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Solaris Client Using Routed RIP Might Lose Connectivity
If the VPN Client running in the Solaris environment uses routed RIP to learn its default route, you might lose connectivity. This is because RIP is blocked when the VPN Client is connected in all tunneling mode (CSCdv75825).
Data Meant for Private Network Stays Local if VPN Client's Local Network Is on Same IP Subnet as Remote Private Network
This problem occurs only with the VPN Client, Release 4.0 and only with Virtual Adapter (Windows 2000 and Windows XP), when the VPN Client's local network is on the same IP subnet as the remote private network. When a VPN connection is up, data meant for the private network stays local. For example: 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0
The VPN Client, Release 4.0, with Virtual Adapter attempts to modify local route metrics to allow data to pass over the VPN tunnel. In some cases, it is impossible for the VPN Client to make this modification (CSCdz38680).
To work around this problem, make the change manually, using the following procedure:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
DNS Server on Private Network with Split DNS Causes Problems
When an ISP's DNS server is included in the Split Tunneling Network List and Split DNS Names are configured, all DNS queries to domains other than those in the Split DNS Names list are not resolved.
By definition, split DNS is used so that only certain domains get resolved by corporate DNS servers, while rest go to public (ISP-assigned) DNS servers. To enforce this feature, the VPN Client direcds DNS queries that are about hosts on the Split DNS Names list to corporate DNS servers, and discards all DNS queries that are not part of the Split DNS Names list.
The problem is when the ISP-assigned DNS servers are in the range of the Split Tunneling Network List. In that case, all DNS queries for non-split-DNS domains are discarded by the VPN Client.
To avoid this problem, remove the ISP-assigned DNS server from the range of the Split Tunneling Network List, or do not configure split DNS (CSCee66180).
VPN Client Supports Sygate Personal Firewall V. 5.0, Build 1175
The supported version of Sygate Personal Firewall is version 5.0, build 1175. Earlier versions might cause the following Blue screen to occur on a Windows NT-based system that has made many connects/disconnects with the VPN Client (CSCdy62426):
Stop: 000000d1 (BAD0B0B8, 00000002, 00000000, BFF12392)
Driver_IRQL_Not_Less_Or_Equal
***Address BFF12392 base at BFF10000, Datestamp 3CCDEC2C - Teefer.sys
The 4.0 VPN Client Is Not Supported on Windows 95
The VPN Client for Windows, Release 4.0, requires the use of the Windows 98 or later operating system. We recommend updating your Operating system to a newer version of Windows (CSCea06231).
VPN Client Not Supported on Windows NT Servers
The VPN Client is not supported on any Windows NT server version (including Windows 2000 and Windows XP/.NET/2003 servers). Only Windows NT 4.0 Workstation and Windows 2000 Workstation are the supported platforms.
No Limit to Size of Log File
When logging is enabled on the VPN Client, all of the log files are placed in the Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\logs directory and are date and time stamped. There is no limit to the size of the log when logging is enabled. The file will continue to grow in size until logging is disabled or the VPN Client program is closed. The log is still available for viewing until the VPN Client program is re-launched, at which time the display on the log tab and log window are cleared (CSCdy87504). The log file remains on the system and a new log file is created when the VPN Client, with logging enabled, is launched.
Start Before Logon and Microsoft Certificate with Private Key Protect Fails
Trying to connect the VPN client using Start Before Logon (SBL) and Microsoft Machine-based certificates fails. This is a Microsoft issue, not a VPN Client problem.
If your certificate has private key protection enabled, every time you use the certificate keys you are either prompted for a password to access the key, or notified with a dialog and asked to click OK.
The prompt displayed when using a certificate with private key protection appears on the Windows Desktop. You do not see this message while at the "Logon" desktop, therefore the VPN Client cannot gain the access to the certificate needed to connect.
Use one of the following workarounds:
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Downgrading VPN Client from Release 4.0 Causes Start Before Logon Failure
Start Before Logon fails if the VPN Client is downgraded from Release 4.0 to 3.6. The reason for this is that the file csgina.dll is upgraded when the VPN Client version 4.0 is installed. If the VPN Client is downgraded to version 3.6, the csgina.dll file for version 4.0 is not replaced, and this breaks ability in the VPN Client version 3.6 to Start Before Logon (CSCea03685).
Follow this procedure to drop back to the VPN Client version 3.6 from version 4.0.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Linksys Wireless AP Cable/DSL Router Version 1.44 or Higher Firmware Requirement
To use the VPN Client behind a Linsksys Wireless AP Cable/DSL router model BEFW11S4, the Linksys router must be running version 1.44 or higher firmware. The VPN Client cannot connect when located behind a Linsksys Wireless AP Cable/DSL router model BEFW11S4 running version 1.42.7 firmware. The VPN Client may see the prompt for username/password, then it disappears (CSCdz52156).
Faultlog.txt File Logs Severity 1 Events
The faultlog.txt file is created when severity 1 events occur. It logs only severity 1 events. All severity 1 log messages go to the logs and also to faultlog.txt. This file exists in the installation directory of the VPN Client.
The advantage that the faultlog.txt file provides is that messages are logged even when the log viewer is not running. For example, errors during service initialization can't be logged to the log viewer, because these errors happen even before the service has attached itself to the log viewer.
Certificates exported from Netscape 7 do not import into the VPN Client Macintosh Version
This incompatibility exists with Netscape 7.0 and the Release 3.7.x Macintosh versions of the VPN Client. Netscape 7.0 uses the latest RSA libraries that are not compatible with the previous RSA libraries that the Clients are using. Previous versions of Netscape are still compatible with the VPN Client.
To work around this issue, export the certificate using a browser other than Netscape 7.
On the Mac OS X platform, Internet Explorer 5.2 that comes installed does not allow certificates to be exported. The best course of action for these users is to either enroll and export the certificate from a Windows workstation and email it to the Mac user or to use direct enrollment from the Client itself.
Verisign works fine with the Macintosh version of the VPN Client. But the "browsers" available on the Macintosh don't export certificates (Verisign or others) in the proper format for the VPN Client to receive them, or they don't allow the export of certificates at all (IE). This is because IE is a Windows product and doesn't support on the Macintosh platform everything the normal Windows IE does (CSCdz23397).
VPN Client Can Require Smart Card When Using Certificates
For Windows 2000 and Windows XP systems, you can configure the VPN Client to require the presence of a Smart Card when Certificates are used. If this feature is configured, the VPN Client displays an error message if a Smart Card is not present. The Certificates need not be present on the Smart Card itself. To configure this feature, add the following line to the user's client profile, specifying the appropriate vendor for your Smart Card:
SmartCardName=<Name of Smart Card Vendor>
If you are using pre-shared keys instead of Certificates, this requirement is not enforced, even if configured.
To disable the Smart Card verification function, completely delete the entry: SmartCardName=<text> from the user's client profile (CSCec82220).
VPN Client GUI Connection History Display Lists Certificate Used
In Release 4.0.3.C, the VPN Client GUI connection history dialog box now displays as the first entry the name of the certificate used for establishing the connection (CSCec79691).
Use Zone Labs Integrity Server 2.1.052.0 or Higher with VPN Client 4.0
Versions of the Zone Labs Integrity Server earlier than 2.1.052.0 exhibit the following problem. If two or more VPN Clients (running on Windows 2000 or XP) are connected to a VPN 3000 Series Concentrator and receive firewall policy from a ZoneLabs Integrity Server, the Integrity Server registers only one connection.
On the Integrity Flex (client agent), under "Policies", the "Integrity Server" column flashes "Connected" then "Disconnected" over and over. Also, the VPN Client log includes the following event: "The firewall, configured for Client/Server, returned a status of lost connection to server." Zone Labs Integrity Server version 2.1.052.0 fixes this issue (CSCea66549).
Restart VPN Client Service If You Install VPN Client Before Zone Alarm
The Firewall Enhancement, "Prevent VPN Traffic Blocking", automatically adds the Loopback address (127.0.0.1) and the address of the VPN 3000 Concentrator to the ZoneAlarm or ZoneAlarmPro trusted zone.
An exception to this, however, occurs if the VPN Client is installed before Zone Alarm. Then the VPN Client's service must be restarted by rebooting the PC or stopping and restarting the service through the Control Panel (on Windows NT-based PCs) (CSCea16012).
InstallShield Error Might occur during VPN Client Installation
The following error message might occur during VPN Client installation:
IKernel.exe - Application Error
The instruction at "0x771c741a" referenced memory at "0x00163648". The memory could not be "read".
This error is caused by an InstallShield component, possibly because of a run-once stale remnant. To recover, you must reboot.
The InstallShield Knowledge base article q108020 addresses this problem. To view this article go to the following URL (CSCea43117):
http://support.installshield.com/kb/view.asp?articleid=q108020
Microsoft has a fix for this issue. For more information and to obtain the fix, go to the following URL:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329623
VPN Client cTCP Connection Fails If Checkpoint Client Is Installed
When the Checkpoint VPN-1 Securemote client is installed with the 4.0 VPN Client, and the VPN Client attempts to connect using cTCP, the 4.0 VPN Client cannot make the connection. Connections do work with UDP, NAT-T, and non-NAT connections.
To make a connection with cTCP when the Checkpoint VPN-1 Securemote is installed, you must disable the Check Point SecuRemote driver in the Connections Properties. To do this, you must be administrator. Follow these steps:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
(CSCea31192)
Open Caveats
Caveats describe unexpected behavior or defects in Cisco software releases. The following lists are sorted by identifier number.
This section lists open caveats for the VPN Client running on a Windows platform.
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The VPN Client may swap Primary and Secondary WINS received from the Concentrator. In a few cases, the VPN Client receives a Primary and a Secondary WINS server from the Concentrator but swaps them when they are added to the IP Configuration. If this happens, it may cause browsing problems if the Secondary WINS server is not as populated as the Primary. Disconnecting and reconnecting may fix the problem.
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When the VPN Client is installed on a Windows 2000 PC with the Efficient Networks NTS EnterNet 300 PPPoE version 1.41 or 1.5c, the following message appears:
"EnterNet could not find the (adapter) for complete pc management NIC (adapter). But it did locate the (adapter) for complete pc management NIC (adapter) - Deterministic Network Enhancer Miniport adapter through which your network server is reachable. Do you want to switch to this adapter?"
Answer Yes every time this question appears. The installation then continues normally.
A similar message appears on Windows NT 4.0. The message is:
"EnterNet could not find the (adapter). But it did locate the (adapter) through which your network server is reachable. Do you want to switch? Yes No"
Answer Yes to this question. The installation then continues normally.
If the VPN Client is uninstalled, the next time the NTS EnterNet 300 PPPoE version 1.41 is used the message, "EnterNet could not find the (adapter). But it did locate the (adapter) through which your network server is reachable. Do you want to switch? Yes No"
Answer Yes to this question. The installation then continues normally.
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Problems have occurred when an ISA legacy NIC card (IBM Etherjet 10MB) is used in a PC with PnP OS enabled. The WINS servers did not function correctly when a VPN Client connection was made. This could be an issue with other legacy NIC cards as well.
The end results are that the WINS servers sent from the Secure Gateway cannot be viewed in the Network configuration, and problems with browsing/logon over the VPN connection may occur.
Workaround:
Disable PnP OS in the PC's BIOS or statically configure the WINS servers.
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When you connect the VPN Client to a VPN 3000 Concentrator that issues two DNS servers, both appear under ipconfig /all, but only one appears under the Network settings TCP/IP Properties. DNS server appears to be missing under TCP/IP Properties (Advanced button, DNS TAB). We do not know whether this causes any problems.
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You might see the following problem on systems running Windows NT and Windows 2000 when you are using the Start Before Logon feature of the VPN Client with third-party dialer. If the third-party dialer does not get set to the foreground when launched, add the following parameter to the vpnclient.ini file in the VPN Client directory (\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\Profiles):
[main]
TopMostDelay=2500The value is the time in milliseconds that the VPN Client waits for the third party dialer to load before attempting to place it in the foreground. The default time is 1000 milliseconds.
Workaround:
For problem dialers/applications, try 2500 milliseconds or greater.
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SCEP enrollment might fail to complete successfully after the PKI administrator has granted your request.
Workaround:
If this happens, delete your failed request and submit a new one.
To delete the request, click the Certificate tab, select the failed request, and click Delete on the toolbar. Alternatively, open the Certificates menu and select Delete.
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The following issue can exist when using the VPN Client Start Before Logon feature with Entrust SignOn. Entrust SignOn is an add-on to the Entrust Entelligence client that allows logging into the Entrust profile and the NT domain from a single login.
The Entrust SignOn GINA dll does not support chaining to other GINA dll files. To make the Entrust SignOn product and the VPN Client with Start Before Logon function properly together, install the VPN Client after Entrust SignOn. The VPN Client replaces the Entrust GINA (etabcgin.dll) with its own (csgina.dll).
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VPN Client and Entrust Entelligence - VPN Connection timeout.
In version 3.1, the potential exists for the VPN Client Connection Manager and the VPN dialer to get out of sync with each other. This occurs only after a VPN Client upgrade on the first time the VPN Client accesses a given Entrust profile. The following sequence outlines how a user could get the connection into this state:
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
If the user waits here or walks away from PC, the VPN Connection times out in 3 minutes.
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
The VPN connection can be used as a normal connection.
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This issue occurs on a Windows NT PC that is running ZoneAlarm or Sygate Personal Firewall, if the VPN Client is set to Start Before Logon and an upgrade to the VPN Client is implemented. Do not attempt a connection before the logon when you reboot, because both firewalls do not automatically give the VPN Client permission to access the Internet. Both firewalls see the upgrade as a new application attempting to access the Internet, and it requires user permission through its pop-up menus. The user must logon to the Windows NT PC using cached credentials, then launch a VPN connection. The firewall then asks permission to allow the VPN Client to connect. Answer yes to each connection. After that, Start Before Logon works fine.
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The message, "The necessary VPN sub-system is not available. You will not be able to make a connection to the remote IPSec server." might appear on a PC when Start Before Logon is enabled on the Client and ZoneAlarm is also running. The message appears when the ctrl+alt+del key combination is pressed. This has happened because the Cisco Systems VPN Service has terminated unexpectedly.
Workaround:
Logon to the PC with cached credentials, open "Services" in control panel and start the VPN service. A connection to the VPN Concentrator will be possible once the service has started.
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When connecting to a VPN 3000 Concentrator over PPPoE using the EnterNet 300 client software from Efficient Networks, Inc., if a firewall is required by the VPN Concentrator, the following message might appear:
"The Client did not match any of the Concentrator's firewall configurations..."
If this message appears, click OK and then click Connect. The connection to the VPN Concentrator then proceeds successfully.
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If you make connections from the command line interface, the following problem can occur. When a firewall is required to connect and the firewall fails or is shut down, you do not see any message giving the reason for the lost connection.
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If you use the VPN Client with a Digital Certificate and your Client sits behind a Cable/DSL router or some other NAT device, you might not be able to connect to your VPN Gateway device (that is, the VPN 3000 Concentrator). The problem is not with the VPN Client or the Gateway; it is with the Cable/DSL router. When the VPN Client uses a Digital Certificate, it sends the Certificate to the VPN Gateway. Most of the time, the packet with the Certificate is too big for a standard Ethernet frame (1500), so it is fragmented. Many Cable/DSL routers do not transmit fragmented packets, so the connection negotiation fails (IKE negotiation).
This problem might not occur if the Digital Certificate you are using is small enough, but this is only in rare cases. This fragmentation problem happens with the D-Link DI-704 and many other Cable/DSL routers on the market. We have been in contact with a few of these vendors to try to resolve the issue.
Testing with the VPN Client Releas
