After <ahref="https://github.com/hwdsl2/setup-ipsec-vpn"target="_blank">setting up your own VPN server</a>, follow these steps to configure your devices. IPsec/L2TP is natively supported by Android, iOS, OS X, and Windows. There is no additional software to install. Setup should only take a few minutes. In case you are unable to connect, first check to make sure the VPN credentials were entered correctly.
You may also refer to this alternative <ahref="https://usefulpcguide.com/17318/create-your-own-vpn/"target="_blank">setup guide with images</a> by Tony Tran.
To connect to the VPN: Click on the wireless/network icon in your system tray, select the new VPN entry, and click **Connect**. If prompted, enter `Your VPN Username` and `Password`, then click **OK**. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <ahref="https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=my+ip"target="_blank">looking up your IP address on Google</a>. It should say "Your public IP address is `Your VPN Server IP`".
**Note:** This <ahref="https://documentation.meraki.com/MX-Z/Client_VPN/Troubleshooting_Client_VPN#Windows_Error_809"target="_blank">one-time registry change</a> is required if the VPN server and/or client is behind NAT (e.g. home router). Refer to the linked web page, or run the following from an <ahref="http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/open-elevated-command-prompt-windows/"target="_blank">elevated command prompt</a>. You must reboot your computer when finished.
To connect to the VPN: Use the menu bar icon, or go to the Network section of System Preferences, select the VPN and choose **Connect**. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <ahref="https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=my+ip"target="_blank">looking up your IP address on Google</a>. It should say "Your public IP address is `Your VPN Server IP`".
**Note:** Android 6 (Marshmallow) users should edit `/etc/ipsec.conf` on the VPN server and append `,aes256-sha2_256` to both `ike=` and `phase2alg=` lines. Then add a new line `sha2-truncbug=yes` immediately after those. Indent lines with two spaces. When finished, run `service ipsec restart`. (<ahref="https://libreswan.org/wiki/FAQ#Android_6.0_connection_comes_up_but_no_packet_flow"target="_blank">Reference</a>)
Once connected, you will see a VPN icon in the notification bar. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <ahref="https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=my+ip"target="_blank">looking up your IP address on Google</a>. It should say "Your public IP address is `Your VPN Server IP`".
Once connected, you will see a VPN icon in the status bar. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <ahref="https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=my+ip"target="_blank">looking up your IP address on Google</a>. It should say "Your public IP address is `Your VPN Server IP`".
### Chromebook ###
1. If you haven't already, sign in to your Chromebook.
1. Click the status area, where your account picture appears.
1. Click **Settings**.
1. In the **Internet connection** section, click **Add connection**.
1. Click **Add OpenVPN / L2TP**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Server IP` for the **Server hostname**.
1. Enter anything you like for the **Service name**.
1. Make sure **Provider type** is **L2TP/IPSec + pre-shared key**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Username` for the **Username**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Password` for the **Password**.
1. Click **Connect**.
Once connected, you will see a VPN icon overlay on the network status icon. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <ahref="https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=my+ip"target="_blank">looking up your IP address on Google</a>. It should say "Your public IP address is `Your VPN Server IP`".
Follow the steps in <ahref="http://www.jasonernst.com/2016/06/21/l2tp-ipsec-vpn-on-ubuntu-16-04/"target="_blank">this tutorial</a>. Some corrections are required:
1. In `xl2tpd.conf`, remove the line `# your vpn server goes here`.
1. In `options.l2tpd.client`, replace `require-mschap-v2` with `require-chap`.
1. Replace the last command `sudo route add -net default gw <vpn server local ip>` with:
```
sudo route add default dev ppp0
```
If there is an error, check the output of `ifconfig` and replace `ppp0` above with `ppp1`, etc.
Verify that your traffic is being routed properly:
```
wget -qO- http://whatismyip.akamai.com; echo
```
The above command should return `Your VPN Server IP`.
To stop routing traffic via the VPN server:
```
sudo route del default dev ppp0
```
**CentOS and Fedora:**
Refer to the Ubuntu/Debian section above, with these changes:
1. Use `yum` instead of `apt-get` to install packages.
1. In these systems, the `ipsec` command has been renamed to `strongswan`.
1. The files `ipsec.conf` and `ipsec.secrets` should be saved under `/etc/strongswan`.
**Other Linux:**
If your system provides the `strongswan` package, refer to the two sections above.
1. Click **OK** to save the VPN connection details.
![Select only CHAP in VPN connection properties](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/5104323/16024310/b113e9b6-3186-11e6-9e03-12f5455487ba.png)
### Other Errors
Please refer to <ahref="https://documentation.meraki.com/MX-Z/Client_VPN/Troubleshooting_Client_VPN#Common_Connection_Issues"target="_blank">this document</a> for more troubleshooting tips.
Based on <ahref="https://github.com/jlund/streisand/blob/master/playbooks/roles/l2tp-ipsec/templates/instructions.md.j2"target="_blank">the work of Joshua Lund</a> (Copyright 2014-2016)
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the <ahref="https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html"target="_blank">GNU General Public License</a> as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.