Mac Regret

[Faydra]

I bought a Macbook Pro today, and I was so excited..

I've always had PC's, but there is really a lot to like about the Mac.

So, when I accidently dropped my laptop last weekend and broke it, I decided to take the plunge and buy this nice Mac.

One requirement is that it has to be able to VPN into work. I know that that is possible, I've seen it done. But when I went to install the VPN client I get this.

http://www.anders.com/images/1offs/vpn-client.jpg

No matter what...

I have done google searches and tried

sudo /System/Library/StartupItems/CiscoVPN/CiscoVPN restart

and

sudo SystemStarter restart CiscoVPN

and software updates, and disk permission repair.

Nothing helps..

I get an error 51 no matter what.

So, it seems I've spent a bunch of money on something that won't do what I need it to do and I'm just so frustrated right now.

/cry

[Ducky]

I bought a Macbook Pro today, and I was so excited..

I've always had PC's, but there is really a lot to like about the Mac.

So, when I accidently dropped my laptop last weekend and broke it, I decided to take the plunge and buy this nice Mac.

One requirement is that it has to be able to VPN into work. I know that that is possible, I've seen it done. But when I went to install the VPN client I get this.

http://www.anders.com/images/1offs/vpn-client.jpg

No matter what...

I have done google searches and tried

sudo /System/Library/StartupItems/CiscoVPN/CiscoVPN restart

and

sudo SystemStarter restart CiscoVPN

and software updates, and disk permission repair.

Nothing helps..

I get an error 51 no matter what.

So, it seems I've spent a bunch of money on something that won't do what I need it to do and I'm just so frustrated right now.

/cry


There are VPN solutions that will work with Cisco for your mac.

I am not sure why your CiscoVPN install doesn't work, but I may venture a guess that it is either for the wrong architecture of chip (ppc vs intel) or the wrong OS (if you kept the old copy of the cisco client for tiger and run leopard.)


That said, these are Cisco compatible VPN solutions for your mac:

Here's one. (http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/networking_security/vpnxclient.html)


Here's another. (http://www.gracion.com/vpn/)

Here's a third. (http://www.equinux.com/us/products/vpntracker/latestfeatures.html)

This is the one I use. (http://code.google.com/p/tunnelblick/)


Cisco's client is not mandatory to connect to it. vpnc can be used in linux to connect to cisco routers, so it follows that mac has several clients that could do it as well. You may need to consult with IT folk at your office to get it to work.

[Faydra]

I will try these, thank you SO MUCH.

[Ducky]

I will try these, thank you SO MUCH.

No prob. I'd go with the one I use first, and see if you can get it to work. There may need to be some calls to your work IT folks to get some cisco specific settings for your work VPN to add to your client.

[Faydra]

I'm really confused how these .pcf files come into play... Doesn't the VPN client read the information in these files? I can't figure out how that happens.

[Ducky]

I'm really confused how these .pcf files come into play... Doesn't the VPN client read the information in these files? I can't figure out how that happens.

Yes. They're profile/cert files for your Cisco Client (that doesn't work.) There are several ways to take the information from them and add it to the configuration of your (new) VPN client. Without being at your machine or having knowledge of your work VPN, I would suggest that is what you talk to your IT folk about.

[Faydra]

I was able to get most of the info out of them except for the encrypted group password for the vpn-user account, so hopefully tomorrow I can get someone to give that up to me.

Thanks again, Ducky! :)

[Ducky]

I was able to get most of the info out of them except for the encrypted group password for the vpn-user account, so hopefully tomorrow I can get someone to give that up to me.

Thanks again, Ducky! :)

Yeah that's the rub. At work here I was able to decrypt it, but I won't post here the steps (which aren't newbie friendly) to do that. Best to ask the IT folk for it.

[Ducky]

On a side note, this is a good example of the too-oft seen throwing out of the OS with the bathwater. There is most likely always a solution, folks. We're well past the days where only one operating system for the casual/business user would cut it (excluding highly specific applications using specialized software.)

[Faydra]

I wasn't going to throw it out, I really do like the Mac.

I was just frustrated and needed to vent. It wasn't even the fault of the Mac, it was Cisco that was causing me grief.

I'm leaving for vacation on Friday and need this working, and to get an error over and over again that makes no sense.. well.. I was beyond pissed and taking it out on the Mac when I shouldn't have.

[Ducky]

I wasn't going to throw it out, I really do like the Mac.

I was just frustrated and needed to vent. It wasn't even the fault of the Mac, it was Cisco that was causing me grief.

I'm leaving for vacation on Friday and need this working, and to get an error over and over again that makes no sense.. well.. I was beyond pissed and taking it out on the Mac when I shouldn't have.

No worries. ETA: I am very guilty of this myself. Often I think frustration causes many people to jump to blaming the whole package for small parts that cause issues.


out of curiosity, where did you get the Cisco Client from? I wonder if it is the wrong one?

[Faydra]

On a side note, I found a later version of the client on the work website, tucked away in a corner with an obscure name, figured, why not, and tried it. It corrected the problem and now my Mac is happily connecting to work and I'm a happy little Mac camper.

It's seems to be an odd phenomenon with me, that If I bitch about something, that something resolves itself. I was trying to fix a gate yesterday and I couldn't get a stripped screw out of the wood. I tried for like 45 minutes, before I finally said out loud "I'm NEVER going to get this #*Q*&^#((*# screw out, and 3 seconds later it was out.

I bitched about my Mac and magically there you were to help me.

It's a miracle, really.

[Ducky]

On a side note, I found a later version of the client on the work website, tucked away in a corner with an obscure name, figured, why not, and tried it. It corrected the problem and now my Mac is happily connecting to work and I'm a happy little Mac camper.

It's seems to be an odd phenomenon with me, that If I bitch about something, that something resolves itself. I was trying to fix a gate yesterday and I couldn't get a stripped screw out of the wood. I tried for like 45 minutes, before I finally said out loud "I'm NEVER going to get this #*Q*&^#((*# screw out, and 3 seconds later it was out.

I bitched about my Mac and magically there you were to help me.

It's a miracle, really.

Incorrect version!


I'll take my million ;)