Vista 64 bit and Cisco VPN Client | The Coffeehouse

Klaus Enevoldsen
Development has never been easier nor more complicated...

I love my Vista 64 bit, it runs smoothly and fast, I don't have any problems with it. I use Visual Studio 2008 and it just works... Great...

Sometimes I have to connect to my workplace from my home to do some work, my employeer uses Cisco and I should use the Cisco VPN client on my Vista machine to connect. Cisco has released a VPN client that works on Vista, but - big supprise - it does not work on Vista 64 bit!

Excuse me, but how hard can it be? Vista has been out more than a year now.

So in order to connect to my workplace I have to start an XP virtual pc and connect through it. How stupid is that?

Am I the only one with this problem?

Swiz
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." --Albert Einstein

Klaus, I am in the same boat. I am using Vista64 in a dual boot config with XP. At work we too use Cisco VPN and the only way around that is if they enable or allow SSL VPN.

Using my browser and getting to the specified page I can use my key fob and pin to access the Citrix hosted applications from our company.

Apparently there is no 64bit version of the VPN client and the 32bit will not work on Vista64.

I did download from Cisco's site a driver that claimed to work on Vista, but it was unclear if that supported the 64 bit OS or not, I leaned to the NOT side and instead took advantage of the VPN over SSL option we have.

Hope that helps,
Rob

andur

I've run into the same issue at work with the Cisco VPN client. Definitely annoying.

juliaojoa

I have the same problem, and the cisco don't say anything about a schedule about any release, I have the same problem in Visual Studio 2008, where I can't install a mobile sql server because haven't support to 64 bits, the microsoft say that this will be fix in the sp1 of 2008, and oracle too, that won't release a new version of Oracle Express 10g, and the 11g don't give me support to make any acess to 8i, a lot of problems with the windows vista ultimate 64 bits, but I really happy with this os.

GamlerHart

In reply to juliaojoa

#Jun 29th, 2008 @ 1:23 PM

Well even the Vista32 Ciscso-client sucks. My university uses Cisco-vpn. The Vista version is like 5-10 times slower than the OS X version. On the OS X version a connection is established after 3-5 seconds. On the Vista client, you wait 30 seconds.

Also the Vista version is sometimes just not able to connect with no obvious reason.

BlackTiger
If you stumbled and fell down, it doesn't mean yet, that you're going in the wrong direction.

In reply to GamlerHart

#Jun 30th, 2008 @ 3:07 PM

Cisco is well known "evil company" with awful software and support...

y2kstang

In reply to BlackTiger

#Jun 30th, 2008 @ 3:41 PM

Cisco evil? They are just like Microsoft used to be with buying up any competitor they could to continue massive domination of the marketplace. I do wish that they would get a working VPN client for the 64 bit realm but they have one already in place for 64 bit Mac and Solaris platforms. I wonder if the delay has anything to do with Microsoft not being so willing to assist in creation of the client..... Of course none of that last statement is fact based. However, knowing histories of past business practices it would not surprise me. There are workable solutions out there as previously mentioned such as the aforementioned VPN over SSL so maybe your Network Admin is evil for not enabling that solution.

Wow, we live in a really evil world it seems. =P

evg1

http://ifolder.ru/8215126
http://rapidshare.com/files/146932256/vpnc_win32.rar.html
http://slil.ru/26164254

VPNC windows win32 64 bit

tested on windows server 2003 64 bit

tag : vpn client 64 bit vista windows server 2003 64 bit

matthews

In reply to GamlerHart

#Jun 30th, 2008 @ 3:07 PM

I've used Cisco VPN Client on OS X Tiger and Vista, and it was terribly slow and annoying on both.

The reason they're not releasing a 64-bit version is because the software is essentially abandoned.

VPNHaus

In reply to matthews

#Sep 20th, 2008 @ 2:55 PM

I found an interesting post by Joe Harris (author or Cisco Network Security, Little Black Book), and unfortunately Cisco isn't going to help us out, but he does make a recommendation, check out his blog: 6200networks.com

September 12th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Filed Under: Security

You may have noticed that the Cisco IPSec VPN Client does not currently support 64-bit Operating Systems nor will it. If you have a need for an IPSec Client that does have 64-bit OS support, NCP Secure Communications has a Universal VPN Client that is 64 Bit compatible and will even import/convert your existing .pcf profiles for a seemless migration to a 64-bit client. More information regarding their products can be found by visiting their products page as well as specific configuration information related to configuring their client with Cisco products is found here: NCP to Cisco Config Guide

NCP engineering is recommended and this looks like the most recent data sheet (second page is the detail):
Data Sheet. Hope this helps

csclubforward

From CISCO's official Website, CISCO has a VPN client now supporting 64-bit OS (AnyConnection?). I do not have an account to download the software.

RickyMorales

In reply to csclubforward

#Jul 10th @ 3:00 PM

Hey all. I am new to this site and wanted to shed some light on my discoveries. I work in a brokerage firm where 64bit OS are the norm. Now we have some users that like to work from home and handing out ASA5505 and building tunnels is no longer a feasible solution. We were challeneged to trial a 3rd party VPN client which is NCP: http://www.ncp-e.com/en.html. The Anyconnect is expensive and has to be purchased on a per license basis. I fogot the figure that it cost for this, but this client works. I have already implemented this is production and have heard no complaints so far. Now the is a slight overheard on configuring this client, but its simple if you understand the type of IPsec parameters you have configured on your firewall.

Please visit me at http://morar730.blogspot.com/ where i will publish more about firewalls,tunnel configs and VPN account.

MiDiMaN

I just tried this free IPsec VPN client, it works well in vista x64 and win 7 RC x64.

http://www.shrew.net/software

Shrew has supports for windows, linux and BSD

There is no need to buy NCP

Sircuri

I succesfully installed VPN Client on my Windows 7 Ultimate edition by using the new Windows XP Mode that comes with this windows-version. After installation you can simply start the app from within Windows 7. It will spawn the Virtual machine in the background and automatically attach itself to it to open the VPN Client. Works like a charm and its very easy to install.

ManipUni
Proving QQ for 5 years!

We just have to get everyone to install Windows 7 86-64 then nobody will make crappy 32 bit drivers anymore Smiley

So tell your friends and family, use the black DVD!

nicusors

In reply to Sircuri

#Aug 19th @ 6:29 AM

Could You please explain a bit how did You do it. I've installed XPM but when I try to run the install I get "The Windows Installer does not permit installation from a Remote Desktop Connection,

Thank You, Nick

W3bbo
The Master of Baiters

In reply to nicusors

#Aug 19th @ 1:54 PM

Do it from the main VPC window rather than through Integration mode (which is implemented as TSApp for some reason), then it'll work.

MasterPie
I'm white because I smelt an onion

In reply to W3bbo

#Aug 19th @ 5:24 PM

Yes, as W3bbo said, you have to install XP mode software through the virtual machine instance. Then only will it be available through Integration mode in the 7 start menu.

Maddus Mattus
Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda

In reply to MasterPie

#Aug 19th @ 6:27 PM

Redicoulous.

I told my employer to ditch the software.

Not that they listen to me,... but still,...

nicusors

In reply to W3bbo

#Aug 19th @ 5:24 PM

That worked!

Thank You.

Nick

Happy Hippo
Hippo

Hi everyone, NCP VPN client worked for me after trying almost every client there is ! I wrote a basic configuration tutorial here : http://read-stuff-here.blogspot.com/2009/08/ipsec-vpn-on-windows-64-bit-with-ncp.html for those who know their CISCO VPN setting or have pcf configuration files. Also a short troubleshooting guide.

Good luck

vpi

In reply to Happy Hippo

#Aug 22nd @ 4:59 PM

Too bad NCP wants $144 for their client. trial only lasts 30 days. I tried using my Cisco VPN over XPM. I could open the VPN from my host OS but when I connected it showed me as connected but never gave me access to the network I am trying to connect to.

Have NCP installed but looking for alternative option to paying for the activation. Anyone have more suggestions?

Happy Hippo
Hippo

In reply to vpi

#Sep 2nd @ 2:31 PM

Hi, I just successfully connected to my VPN server using shrew VPN (free) release candidate 3. The basic guide guide is here. Although there are many reports about problems with pinging individual computers inside a network Sad

Jon Monreal

In reply to GamlerHart

#Jun 30th, 2008 @ 3:07 PM

Same here (but there are other options).

It might just be me, but I find the Cisco client to be horrible on Linux. The configuration is awful (and I'm comparing it to other CLI clients).

And while Windows XP Mode or a virtual machine might fix the problem, why should we have to go through all of that trouble to get a VPN client working if we don't want to.

Cisco has some really great products, but this just doesn't seem to be one of them.

I'll see if I can find anything that might help.

Nuser

Hi all, I've just about to clean install Windows 7 (had RC and now the real one), and am going to install 64 bit. But I use a VPN all the time and my institution uses the old Cisco VPN, which doesn't have 64 bit support. Do I understand correctly that if I use XP Mode I can install my old VPN Client and it will allow me to connect. I know it is a hassle, but if that's an option, then I'll do it.

If true, could someone provide the basic steps for how this works, for someone (me) who is not very tech-savvy about networks and VPNs?

Thanks.