# How-To: IKEv2 VPN for Windows 7 and above

*Read this in other languages: [English](ikev2-howto.md), [简体中文](ikev2-howto-zh.md).*

---

**Important:** This guide is for **advanced users** only. Other users please use <a href="clients.md" target="_blank">IPsec/L2TP</a> or <a href="clients-xauth.md" target="_blank">IPsec/XAuth</a>.

---

Windows 7 and newer releases support the IKEv2 standard through Microsoft's Agile VPN functionality. Internet Key Exchange (IKE or IKEv2) is the protocol used to set up a Security Association (SA) in the IPsec protocol suite. Compared to IKE version 1, IKEv2 contains <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Key_Exchange#Improvements_with_IKEv2" target="_blank">improvements</a> such as Standard Mobility support through MOBIKE, and improved reliability. In addition, IKEv2 supports connecting multiple devices simultaneously from behind the same NAT (e.g. home router) to the VPN server.

Libreswan can authenticate IKEv2 clients on the basis of X.509 Machine Certificates using RSA signatures. This method does not require an IPsec PSK, username or password. The following example shows how to configure IKEv2 with Libreswan. Commands below must be run as `root`.

Before continuing, make sure you have successfully <a href="https://github.com/hwdsl2/setup-ipsec-vpn" target="_blank">set up your VPN server</a>.

1. Find the VPN server's public IP, save it to a variable and check.

   ```bash
   $ PUBLIC_IP=$(wget -t 3 -T 15 -qO- http://ipv4.icanhazip.com)
   $ echo "$PUBLIC_IP"
   (Check the displayed public IP)
   ```

   **Note:** Alternatively, you may specify the server's DNS name here. e.g. `PUBLIC_IP=myvpn.example.com`.

1. Add a new IKEv2 connection to `/etc/ipsec.conf`:

   ```bash
   $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF

   conn ikev2-cp
     left=%defaultroute
     leftcert=$PUBLIC_IP
     leftid=@$PUBLIC_IP
     leftsendcert=always
     leftsubnet=0.0.0.0/0
     leftrsasigkey=%cert
     right=%any
     rightid=%fromcert
     rightaddresspool=192.168.43.10-192.168.43.250
     rightca=%same
     rightrsasigkey=%cert
     narrowing=yes
     dpddelay=30
     dpdtimeout=120
     dpdaction=clear
     auto=add
     ikev2=insist
     rekey=no
     fragmentation=yes
     ike=3des-sha1,3des-sha2,aes-sha1,aes-sha1;modp1024,aes-sha2,aes-sha2;modp1024
     phase2alg=3des-sha1,3des-sha2,aes-sha1,aes-sha2
   EOF
   ```

   We need to add a few more lines to that file. First check your Libreswan version, then run one of the following commands:

   ```bash
   $ ipsec --version
   ```

   For Libreswan 3.19-3.22:

   ```bash
   $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
     modecfgdns1=8.8.8.8
     modecfgdns2=8.8.4.4
     encapsulation=yes
   EOF
   ```

   For Libreswan 3.23 and newer:

   ```bash
   $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
     modecfgdns="8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4"
     encapsulation=yes
   EOF
   ```

   For Libreswan 3.18 and older:

   ```bash
   $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
     modecfgdns1=8.8.8.8
     modecfgdns2=8.8.4.4
     forceencaps=yes
   EOF
   ```

1. Generate Certificate Authority (CA) and VPN server certificates:

   **Note:** Specify the certificate validity period (in months) with "-v". e.g. "-v 36". Also, if you used the server's DNS name instead of its IP address in step 1 above, replace `--extSAN "ip:$PUBLIC_IP,dns:$PUBLIC_IP"` in the command below with `--extSAN "dns:$PUBLIC_IP"`.

   ```bash
   $ certutil -z <(head -c 1024 /dev/urandom) \
     -S -x -n "Example CA" \
     -s "O=Example,CN=Example CA" \
     -k rsa -g 4096 -v 36 \
     -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -t "CT,," -2

     Generating key.  This may take a few moments...

     Is this a CA certificate [y/N]?
     y
     Enter the path length constraint, enter to skip [<0 for unlimited path]: >
     Is this a critical extension [y/N]?
     N
   ```

   ```bash
   $ certutil -z <(head -c 1024 /dev/urandom) \
     -S -c "Example CA" -n "$PUBLIC_IP" \
     -s "O=Example,CN=$PUBLIC_IP" \
     -k rsa -g 4096 -v 36 \
     -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -t ",," \
     --keyUsage digitalSignature,keyEncipherment \
     --extKeyUsage serverAuth \
     --extSAN "ip:$PUBLIC_IP,dns:$PUBLIC_IP"

     Generating key.  This may take a few moments...
   ```

1. Generate client certificate(s), and export the `.p12` file that contains the client certificate, private key, and CA certificate:

   ```bash
   $ certutil -z <(head -c 1024 /dev/urandom) \
     -S -c "Example CA" -n "vpnclient" \
     -s "O=Example,CN=vpnclient" \
     -k rsa -g 4096 -v 36 \
     -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -t ",," \
     --keyUsage digitalSignature,keyEncipherment \
     --extKeyUsage serverAuth,clientAuth -8 "vpnclient"

     Generating key.  This may take a few moments...
   ```

   ```bash
   $ pk12util -o vpnclient.p12 -n "vpnclient" -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d

     Enter password for PKCS12 file:
     Re-enter password:
     pk12util: PKCS12 EXPORT SUCCESSFUL
   ```

   Repeat this step to generate certificates for additional VPN clients. Replace every `vpnclient` with `vpnclient2`, etc.

   **Note:** To connect multiple VPN clients simultaneously, you must generate a unique certificate for each.

1. The database should now contain:

   ```bash
   $ certutil -L -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d

     Certificate Nickname                               Trust Attributes
                                                        SSL,S/MIME,JAR/XPI

     Example CA                                         CTu,u,u
     ($PUBLIC_IP)                                       u,u,u
     vpnclient                                          u,u,u
   ```

   **Note:** To display a certificate, use `certutil -L -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -n "Nickname"`. To delete a certificate, replace `-L` with `-D`. For other `certutil` usage, read <a href="http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/xenial/en/man1/certutil.1.html" target="_blank">this page</a>.

1. Restart IPsec service:

   ```bash
   $ service ipsec restart
   ```

1. The `vpnclient.p12` file should then be securely transferred to the VPN client device. Next steps:

   #### Windows 7, 8.x and 10

   1. Import the `.p12` file to the "Computer account" certificate store. Make sure that the client cert is placed in "Personal -> Certificates", and the CA cert is placed in "Trusted Root Certification Authorities -> Certificates".

      Detailed instructions:   
      https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/Win7Certs

   1. On the Windows computer, add a new IKEv2 VPN connection:   
      https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/Win7Config

   1. Start the new VPN connection, and enjoy your IKEv2 VPN!   
      https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/Win7Connect

   1. (Optional) You may enable stronger ciphers by adding <a href="https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/WindowsClients#AES-256-CBC-and-MODP2048" target="_blank">this registry key</a> and reboot.

1. Once successfully connected, you can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by <a href="https://www.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`".

## Known Issues

The built-in VPN client in Windows does not support IKEv2 fragmentation. On some networks, this can cause the connection to fail or have other issues. You may try <a href="clients.md#troubleshooting" target="_blank">this registry fix</a>, or connect using <a href="clients.md" target="_blank">IPsec/L2TP</a> or <a href="clients-xauth.md" target="_blank">IPsec/XAuth</a> mode instead.

## References

* https://libreswan.org/wiki/VPN_server_for_remote_clients_using_IKEv2
* https://libreswan.org/wiki/HOWTO:_Using_NSS_with_libreswan
* https://libreswan.org/man/ipsec.conf.5.html
* https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/WindowsClients