How to configure ShrewSoft VPN to connect to Cisco VPN Server?

27
2013-10
  • Ian Boyd

    What are the steps to connect to a Cisco VPN server using the ShrewSoft VPN Client?

    It's important to note that there are different kinds of Cisco VPN connections:

    1. Cisco VPN with pre-shared key (IPSec)
    2. Cisco AnyConnect (SSL VPN)
    3. Cisco VPN with a .pcf file (IPSec)
    4. Cisco VPN with certificate (IPSec)

    I have the detailed answer for 1., pre-shared key. i will be answering that myself.

    I need a detailed answer for using ShrewSoft VPN as an alternative to Cisco AnyConnect.

    I know the .pcf is easy; you can read about it.

    For completeness the certificate version would be good.

    • Answers
  • Ian Boyd

    1. Cisco VPN with pre-shared key

    Assume you have been given connection information for a Cisco VPN server:

    Host: 64.34.199.12

    Group ID: SUPERVENDOR
    Password: *318#($@

    User ID: [email protected]
    Password: ianvendor1234

    These are the steps to use ShrewSoft VPN to connect to the Cisco VPN server, rather than the Cisco client:

    1. Create a new connection, and under Host name or IP Address enter the Host address (64.34.199.12):
      enter image description here

    2. On the Authentication tab, select Authentication Method of Mutual PSK + XAuth:
      enter image description here

    3. On the Authentication -> Local Authentication tab select Identification Type of Key Identifier:
      enter image description here

    4. Still on the Authentication -> Local Authentication tab, enter Key ID String of SUPERVENDOR:
      enter image description here

    5. On the Authentication -> Credentials tab, enter your Pre Shared Key of *318#($@:
      enter image description here

    6. Save the newly created connection, and click Connect

    7. When prompted for a username and password, enter your supplied User ID and Password, and click Connect:
      enter image description here


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  • Oliver Hanappi

    I don't know if it is possible but I would like to configure a Windows 7 VPN connection in a way that I can connect to a network which I normally reach by using Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client. Does Cisco use a protocol which Windows 7 understands also and where can I find the configuration details of the VPN connection?

    If you wonder why I'm trying to do this: I need to connect via VPN to several different networks from different companies/organizations/universities and each one uses its own VPN client. I don't want my computer to have 5 VPN clients installed, therefore I'm trying to replace them with simple Windows VPN connections.


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  • Joey

    That greatly depends on the configuration of the server. Cisco Concentrators can speak PPTP which works on nearly every version of Windows, but it's costly in terms of performance. The number of possible connections drops to about a tenth for the server so this is rarely activated.

    Furthermore there seems to be an option to enable L2TP. The documentation states that but at least for our university here no one figured out how to enable it and set it up.

    You would have to ask the person maintaining the server whether one of the above options apply.

    For the "usual" Cisco IPSec over UDP there is no native option in Windows, unfortunately.