Cisco AnyConnect is the recommended VPN client for Mac. The built-in VPN client for Mac is another option but is more likely to suffer from disconnects.
Open the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client home page and click on Download Software (registered customers only) on the right hand side of the web page. Choose the required software package and download with valid Cisco user credentials. Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client Troubleshooting TechNote Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client FAQ.
Overview
The latest iteration (v2.3.4) of the Cisco Secure Firewall Migration Tool adds public beta support for S2S VPN migrations from ASA: Policy-based (crypto map) Pre-Shared key authentication type VPN configuration to Firepower Management Center VP. Cisco AnyConnect VPN client Fixes: Right click on task bar and open task manager, then Details, scroll down look for process vpngui.exe and vpnui.exe, Right click and end task. Switch to different VPN access location and try connecting with your Windows credentials.
Stanford's VPN allows you to connect to Stanford's network as if you were on campus, making access to restricted services possible. To connect to the VPN from your Mac you need to install the Cisco AnyConnect VPN client.
Two types of VPN are available:
- Default Stanford (split-tunnel). When using Stanford's VPN from home, we generally recommend using the Default Stanford split-tunnel VPN. This routes and encrypts all traffic going to Stanford sites and systems through the Stanford network as if you were on campus. All non-Stanford traffic proceeds to its destination directly.
- Full Traffic (non-split-tunnel). This encrypts all internet traffic from your computer but may inadvertently block you from using resources on your local network, such as a networked printer at home. If you are traveling or using wi-fi in an untrusted location like a coffee shop or hotel, you may wish to encrypt all of your internet traffic through the Full Traffic non-split-tunnel VPN to provide an additional layer of security.
You can select the type of VPN you want to use each time you connect.
Install the VPN client
- Download the Cisco AnyConnect installer for Mac.
- Double-click the InstallAnyConnect.pkg file to start the Cisco AnyConnect Installer wizard.
- When the Welcome window displays, click Continue.
- Select your hard drive as the destination where you want to install Cisco AnyConnect and then click Continue.
- Click Install to perform a standard installation of the software.
- At the prompt, enter your administrator account password for the Mac and click Install Software.
- When the software has finished installing, click Close.
Connect to the Stanford VPN
- To launch the VPN client, open your Applications folder and navigate to Cisco > Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.app.
- When prompted for a VPN, enter su-vpn.stanford.edu and then click Connect.
- Enter the following information and then click OK:
- Group: select Default Stanford split- tunnel (non-Stanford traffic flows normally on an unencrypted internet connection) or Full Traffic non-split-tunnel (all internet traffic flows through the VPN connection)
- Username: your SUNet ID
- Password: your SUNet ID password
- Next, the prompt for two-step authentication displays.
- Enter a passcode or enter the number that corresponds to another option(in this example, enter 1 to authenticate using Duo Push on an iPad). You may have to scroll down the list to see all of your options. Then click Continue.
- If your only registered authentication method is printed list, hardware token, or Google Authenticator, the menu does not display. Enter a passcode in the Answer field and click Continue.
- Click Accept to connect to the Stanford Public VPN service.
- Once the VPN connection is established, the Cisco AnyConnect icon with a small lock appears in the dock.
Disconnect from the Stanford VPN
- Click the Cisco AnyConnect icon with a small lock.
- At the prompt, click Disconnect.
Contents
Introduction
This document briefly describes the possible error messages that appear during the installation of AnyConnect VPN client on Apple MAC machines and their corresponding resolutions.
Prerequisites
Requirements
There are no specific requirements for this document.
Components Used
The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:
Cisco ASA Security Appliance that runs software version 8.x
Cisco IOS® Router that runs Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(20)T
Cisco AnyConnect Client software version 2.x
The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.
Conventions
Refer to Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.
Error Messages
This section shows a list of error messages along with the solutions.
Package Corrupt Error Message
When AnyConnect 2.3 is launched from an Apple MAC machine, the Anyconnect Package corrupt or unavailable error message appears and eventually, the connection attempt fails.
Solution
This can be a problem with the absence of the MAC-related AnyConnect package on the flash of the router. Upload the suitable AnyConnect package for MAC in order to resolve this issue. Upload the corresponding AnyConnect package, which depends upon the MAC architecture. For MACs on the Intel processor, you need the i386 macos image and for MACs that run the Power PC processor (PPC) you need the powerpc macos image. These are example packages for your reference:
anyconnect-macosx-i386-2.5.3055-k9.pkg
anyconnect-macosx-powerpc-2.5.3055-k9.pkg
Split DNS Issues
When split DNS is enabled on an AnyConnect setup, it is found that all the DNS queries are sent in clear but not tunneled. This is a problem with only the Apple MAC machines and works fine with Windows machines.
Solution
This behavior is observed and filed in Cisco bug ID CSCtf03894 (registered customers only) . In order to resolve this issue, you can upgrade to the AnyConnect release 3.0.4235, which has the Split DNS Functionality Enhancement. As a workaround, you can also use the built-in IPSec VPN client supported by Apple, which does not have this issue.
The Vpn Service Is Not Available Cisco Anyconnect Download
SVC Error Message
The launch of AnyConnect from a Macbook Pro running OSX Leopard is not successful. The VPN gateway is ASA running 8.0.4. The connection fails and the SVC Message: 16/ERROR: Initialization failure (mem allocfailed, etc.) error message appears.
Solution
This can be a problem with the way the MAC machine attempts to connect to the ASA. First verify if any IPv6 adaptors are enabled on the MAC machine and check if MAC tries to contact ASA over the IPv6 network. If so, it fails as the IPv6 is not supported with AnyConnect. In order to resolve this, disable the IPv6 related services on the MAC machine and try to connect with an IPv4 address.
Web-based Installation Error Message when AnyConnect is Launched on MAC
There are intermittent issues with you launch the AnyConnect version 2.5 on the MAC with OSX 10.5.6. The web-based installation was unsuccessful error message appears. At that time, you are unable to download and install AnyConnect, and the browser used is Firefox. If you reboot the MAC machine, this fixes the issue temporarily, but intermittently, the issue happens again.
Solution
Verify if your VPN gateways are connected in Load-balancer mode. If it is connected, then there could be some DNS cache-related issues that cause improper DNS redirects. In order to resolve this issue, always try to map the DNS URL to connect to one specific VPN gateway only.
MAC OSX 10.6.3 is Unable to get to Internet
When you use the AnyConnect on a MAC machine, you can access the Internal Corporate network but you are unable to browse to the Internet. It neither works by FQDN nor by IP address. There is a proxy server in use for Internet traffic.
Solution
The issue can be due to the length of the PMTU. Verify the existing MTU size on the VPN gateway, for example, ASA and modify it to a lesser value. In this sample output, the mtu size is reduced to 1204 from existing 1400.
AnyConnect on MAC fails to launch to Cisco IOS Router
The attempt to launch AnyConnect in standalone mode to a Cisco IOS® Router running Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(20)T is unsuccessful. The anyconnect internal error (state: not connected) error message appears.
Solution
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(20)T supports AnyConnect on MAC in standalone mode without any problem. In order to resolve this, try to use the complete URL when you connect to the Cisco IOS head-end device. This is a sample URL:
If this issue persists, contact Cisco TAC (registered customers only) for further troubleshooting.
Note: You need to have valid Cisco user credentials to contact Cisco TAC.
Cisco Anyconnect Windows 10 Download
Wireless CSSC for an Apple MAC
Currently, the NAM module on the AnyConnect 3.0 product replaces the Cisco Secure Services Client (CSSC). Refer to Network Access Manager (Replacement for CSSC) for more information. There is no current plan to enable NAM to support MAC OSX platform.
Unable to Upgrade Firefox while AnyConnect is Installed on MAC
This error message appears when you upgrade Firefox on Apple machine version 10.6:
On machines that use softtokens, this error message appears:
It is observed that these MAC machines have AnyConnect version 2.5 installed. The current version of Firefox is 3.6.13.
Solution
This behavior has been tested and filed in Cisco bug ID CSCtn93915 (registered customers only) . As a workaround, you can try any of these described options.
Uninstall AnyConnect, upgrade Firefox and then install AnyConnect again.
Uninstall the current version of firefox then install the new version. All other upgrades after this should work fine.
Web-based Installation of AnyConnect Hangs
The authentication phase works fine but the VPN system hangs at the Using Sun Java for installation phase.
Solution
How To Upgrade Cisco Anyconnect Client
The issue could be with the Java and Web applet settings on the machine. Sometimes, Java gets stuck when you use the web launch with MAC machine. Refer to Cisco bug ID CSCtq86368 (registered customers only) for more information. In order to resolve this issue, follow the below steps.
Uninstall AnyConnect.
Open Java preferences.
Change to run applets in their own process.
Drag the 32 bit Java on top.
If this does not help, upgrade the AnyConnect client to the latest available release.
Unable to Launch AnyConnect on MAC
Cisco Anyconnect Vpn Setup
You are unable to launch AnyConnect on the MAC machine due to certain incompatible software. What are other options to use this MAC machine as a remote access VPN client?
Solution
Refer to What options do I have for providing remote access to Mac users? for more information. Refer to IPSec VPN client for Apple MAC for more information and complete details.
Unable to Download the MAC AnyConnect Package
There are issues when you download the AnyConnect for MAC software from Cisco.com.
Solution
Vpn Service Not Available Cisco Anyconnect Windows
Open the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client home page and click on Download Software (registered customers only) on the right hand side of the web page. Choose the required software package and download with valid Cisco user credentials.
Cisco Anyconnect The Vpn Service Is Not Available Mac
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