up vote 0 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

I would very much like to connect to a VPN network which have these info:

host: example.com
user: my_name
pass: my_pass

group: VPN1
key: secret_passphrase

It uses Preshared key and Xauth.

Can I connect to this VPN from my Linux desktop, and if so, how? =)

link|improve this question
100% accept rate
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

There is a couple of IPSec compatible VPN client:

  • openswan
  • ike
  • vpnc
  • official cisco linux client

They all work well depending of the IPSec server. There is even a GUI for VPNC that integrate into Ubuntu network manager.

Official Cisco client is harder to install, require kernel headers, user-space binaries in 32 bits only. It can be tricky to install this one.

The problems starts with Xauth and Cisco devices when using non-Cisco hardware. I personnaly tried many times with occasional success.

Which distribution you use? Which IPsec server you connect to?

If you have ubuntu, you can give a try to vpn:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-vpnc vpnc

and set a new VPN connection using your configuration.

link|improve this answer
It is a juniper SRX firewall that is the VPn server, and my distribution is Fedora 13. I can see that openswan and vpnc are available in Fedora. Which would you recommend given that the IPsec server is a Juniper firewall? – Sandra Jul 21 '10 at 16:55
I do not have personnal experience on newer Juniper firewall, but I had some on older Netscreen firewall (that juniper bought) and back in that time I used ipsec-tools and Linux IPSec internal stacks... but I didn't used Xauth. Good luck! – bclermont Jul 21 '10 at 16:59
Check out Shrewsoft too. Great for end-users and compatible with Netscreen. – Warner Jul 22 '10 at 4:59
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

OpenVPN uses its own SSL-based protocol which is not compatible with IPSEC

link|improve this answer
Okay, this was a very vital information you gave there =) I have updated the question accordingly. – Sandra Jul 21 '10 at 12:54
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

The shrewsoft vpn client will be able to connect. http://www.shrew.net/software

link|improve this answer
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.