# Configure IPsec/L2TP VPN Clients

*Read this in other languages: [English](clients.md), [简体中文](clients-zh.md).*

*Note: You may also connect using [IPsec/XAuth mode](clients-xauth.md), or set up [IKEv2](ikev2-howto.md).*

After <a href="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.

An alternative <a href="https://usefulpcguide.com/17318/create-your-own-vpn/" target="_blank">setup guide</a> with images is available, written by Tony Tran.

---
* Platforms
  * [Windows](#windows)
  * [OS X (macOS)](#os-x)
  * [Android](#android)
  * [iOS (iPhone/iPad)](#ios)
  * [Chromebook](#chromebook)
  * [Windows Phone](#windows-phone)
  * [Linux](#linux)

## Windows

### Windows 10 and 8.x

1. Right-click on the wireless/network icon in your system tray.
1. Select **Open Network and Sharing Center**.
1. Click **Set up a new connection or network**.
1. Select **Connect to a workplace** and click **Next**.
1. Click **Use my Internet connection (VPN)**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Server IP` in the **Internet address** field.
1. Enter anything you like in the **Destination name** field, and then click **Create**.
1. Return to **Network and Sharing Center**. On the left, click **Change adapter settings**.
1. Right-click on the new VPN entry and choose **Properties**.
1. Click the **Security** tab. Select "Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPSec)" for the **Type of VPN**.
1. Click **Allow these protocols**. Check "Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)" and uncheck all others.
1. Click the **Advanced settings** button.
1. Select **Use preshared key for authentication** and enter `Your VPN IPsec PSK` for the **Key**.
1. Click **OK** to close the **Advanced settings**.
1. Click **OK** to save the VPN connection details.

### Windows 7, Vista and XP

1. Click on the Start Menu and go to the Control Panel.
1. Go to the **Network and Internet** section.
1. Click **Network and Sharing Center**.
1. Click **Set up a new connection or network**.
1. Select **Connect to a workplace** and click **Next**.
1. Click **Use my Internet connection (VPN)**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Server IP` in the **Internet address** field.
1. Enter anything you like in the **Destination name** field.
1. Check the **Don't connect now; just set it up so I can connect later** checkbox.
1. Click **Next**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Username` in the **User name** field.
1. Enter `Your VPN Password` in the **Password** field.
1. Check the **Remember this password** checkbox.
1. Click **Create**, and then **Close**.
1. Return to **Network and Sharing Center**. On the left, click **Change adapter settings**.
1. Right-click on the new VPN entry and choose **Properties**.
1. Click the **Options** tab and uncheck **Include Windows logon domain**.
1. Click the **Security** tab. Select "Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPSec)" for the **Type of VPN**.
1. Click **Allow these protocols**. Check "Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)" and uncheck all others.
1. Click the **Advanced settings** button.
1. Select **Use preshared key for authentication** and enter `Your VPN IPsec PSK` for the **Key**.
1. Click **OK** to close the **Advanced settings**.
1. Click **OK** to save the VPN connection details.

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 <a href="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`".

If you get an error when trying to connect, see <a href="#troubleshooting">Troubleshooting</a>.

## OS X

1. Open System Preferences and go to the Network section.
1. Click the **+** button in the lower-left corner of the window.
1. Select **VPN** from the **Interface** drop-down menu.
1. Select **L2TP over IPSec** from the **VPN Type** drop-down menu.
1. Enter anything you like for the **Service Name**.
1. Click **Create**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Server IP` for the **Server Address**.
1. Enter `Your VPN Username` for the **Account Name**.
1. Click the **Authentication Settings** button.
1. In the **User Authentication** section, select the **Password** radio button and enter `Your VPN Password`.
1. In the **Machine Authentication** section, select the **Shared Secret** radio button and enter `Your VPN IPsec PSK`.
1. Click **OK**.
1. Check the **Show VPN status in menu bar** checkbox.
1. Click the **Advanced** button and make sure the **Send all traffic over VPN connection** checkbox is checked.
1. Click the **TCP/IP** tab, and make sure **Link-local only** is selected in the **Configure IPv6** section.
1. Click **OK** to close the Advanced settings, and then click **Apply** to save the VPN connection information.

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 <a href="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`".

## Android

1. Launch the **Settings** application.
1. Tap **More...** in the **Wireless & Networks** section.
1. Tap **VPN**.
1. Tap **Add VPN Profile** or the **+** icon at top-right of screen.
1. Enter anything you like in the **Name** field.
1. Select **L2TP/IPSec PSK** in the **Type** drop-down menu.
1. Enter `Your VPN Server IP` in the **Server address** field.
1. Enter `Your VPN IPsec PSK` in the **IPSec pre-shared key** field.
1. Tap **Save**.
1. Tap the new VPN connection.
1. Enter `Your VPN Username` in the **Username** field.
1. Enter `Your VPN Password` in the **Password** field.
1. Check the **Save account information** checkbox.
1. Tap **Connect**.

Once connected, you will see a VPN icon in the notification bar. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <a href="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`".

If you get an error when trying to connect, see <a href="#troubleshooting">Troubleshooting</a>.

## iOS

1. Go to Settings -> General -> VPN.
1. Tap **Add VPN Configuration...**.
1. Tap **Type**. Select **L2TP** and go back.
1. Tap **Description** and enter anything you like.
1. Tap **Server** and enter `Your VPN Server IP`.
1. Tap **Account** and enter `Your VPN Username`.
1. Tap **Password** and enter `Your VPN Password`.
1. Tap **Secret** and enter `Your VPN IPsec PSK`.
1. Make sure the **Send All Traffic** switch is ON.
1. Tap **Done**.
1. Slide the **VPN** switch ON.

Once connected, you will see a VPN icon in the status bar. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <a href="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 IPsec PSK` for the **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 <a href="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`".

## Windows Phone

Users with Windows Phone 8.1 and newer, try <a href="http://forums.windowscentral.com/windows-phone-8-1-preview-developers/301521-tutorials-windows-phone-8-1-support-l2tp-ipsec-vpn-now.html" target="_blank">this tutorial</a>. Please note that IPsec/L2TP support on this platform may have some issues. You can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <a href="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`".

## Linux

### Ubuntu & Debian

Follow the steps in <a href="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 `sudo echo "c XXX-YOUR-CONNECTION-NAME-XXX <user> <pass>" > /var/run/xl2tpd/l2tp-control` with:

   ```
   echo "c XXX-YOUR-CONNECTION-NAME-XXX <user> <pass>" | sudo tee /var/run/xl2tpd/l2tp-control
   ```

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.

Once connected, 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 & 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.

## Troubleshooting

### Windows Error 809

> The network connection between your computer and the VPN server could not be established because the remote server is not responding.

To fix this error, a <a href="https://documentation.meraki.com/MX-Z/Client_VPN/Troubleshooting_Client_VPN#Windows_Error_809" target="_blank">one-time registry change</a> is required because 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 <a href="http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/open-elevated-command-prompt-windows/" target="_blank">elevated command prompt</a>. When finished, reboot your PC.

- For Windows Vista, 7, 8 and 10
  ```console
  REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PolicyAgent /v AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f
  ```

- For Windows XP ONLY
  ```console
  REG ADD HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IPSec /v AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f
  ```

### Windows Error 628

> The connection was terminated by the remote computer before it could be completed.

To fix this error, please follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the wireless/network icon in system tray, select **Open Network and Sharing Center**.
1. On the left, click **Change adapter settings**. Right-click on the new VPN and choose **Properties**.
1. Click the **Security** tab. Select "Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPSec)" for **Type of VPN**.
1. Click **Allow these protocols**. Check "Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP)" and uncheck all others.
1. Click **OK** to save the VPN connection details.

![Select CHAP in VPN connection properties](images/vpn-properties.png)

### Android 6.0 and 7.0

If you are unable to connect using Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or 7.0 (Nougat), try these workarounds:

1. Tap the "Settings" icon next to your VPN profile. Select "Show Advanced Options" and scroll down to the bottom. If the option "Backwards-compatible mode" exists, enable it and reconnect the VPN. If not, see the next step.
1. (Note: The latest version of VPN scripts already includes these changes) 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. Save the file and run `service ipsec restart`. (<a href="https://libreswan.org/wiki/FAQ#Configuration_Matters" target="_blank">Ref</a>)

### Other Errors

Refer to the links below for more troubleshooting tips:

https://documentation.meraki.com/MX-Z/Client_VPN/Troubleshooting_Client_VPN#Common_Connection_Issues   
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/rrasblog/2009/08/12/troubleshooting-common-vpn-related-errors/   
http://www.tp-link.com/en/faq-1029.html

## Credits

This document was adapted from the <a href="https://github.com/jlund/streisand" target="_blank">Streisand</a> project by Joshua Lund and contributors.

## License

Note: This license applies to this document only.

Copyright (C) 2016 Lin Song   
Based on <a href="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 <a href="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.