Cisco VPN Client is designed for convenient work with network equipment from Cisco. It’s not hard to guess from the name that this program allows you to quickly and correctly create, configure and easily use a connection to a secure private network. For example, Cisco's VPN client is ideal for working with a corporate network, so it is very readily used by company employees who work from home or are on a business trip.
The application is actively used to manage corporate networks
Despite the fairly simple installation and configuration of Cisco VPN Client, users of Windows 10 and Windows 7 quite often still have certain questions.
The main function of the program is the remote use of resources of a private network created on the basis of Cisco equipment. When a properly configured connection is launched, the user, from anywhere, has access to network resources in the same way as if he were directly connected.
Supported protocols:
- IPSec ESP;
- PPTP;
- L2TP;
- L2TP/IPSec;
- NAT Traversal IPSec;
- IPSec/TCP;
- IPSec/UDP.
In addition, this VPN client also supports SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol), developed by Cisco itself.
Cisco VPN Client provides unparalleled security with the Cisco Secure Connectivity System, which uses encryption and two-factor authentication using Aladdin eToken smart cards or USB tokens.
Encryption methods used:
- 3DES;
The presence of a built-in firewall is another feature of the VPN client from Cisco.
The program can be installed on different operating systems, including Windows 7 and Windows 10.
True, Cisco is apparently a fan of x86, so the software is mainly designed to work with exactly this bit depth of the operating system (which is reflected in the stability of operation). But this, of course, does not mean at all that owners of Windows 10 x64 or Windows 7 x64 will never be able to correctly launch the Cisco VPN client. There is also a version for them, but its installation and configuration has its own nuances.
Preparation
To correctly install and configure Cisco VPN Client on Windows (this applies to both 10 and 7), you must have administrator rights.
Check the availability of UDP ports 500 and 4500 for input and output. If necessary, make changes to the firewall settings.
Please note that the VPN client will not work through a proxy.
Installing Cisco VPN Client for Windows 10
Be sure to first make sure that the version you are going to install is up-to-date and compatible with the operating system you have installed. Windows 10 is not particularly tolerant of outdated software, so when you try to install and use an old version of Cisco VPN Client, you may encounter various errors related to incompatibility. In most cases, they can be resolved by disabling secure boot in the BIOS before installing the software. But if you are not a fan of “dancing with a tambourine,” it is best to simply download the latest version, which is compatible with Windows 10.
We first install DNE Citrix (Deterministic Network Enhancer), the presence of which is required for the correct installation of Cisco VPN Client. Check that the DNE version is suitable for your Windows 10 system in terms of bitness! Please note that the anti-rootkit may start complaining when you run the DNE installer, but there is no reason to worry (of course, if you downloaded the installation file from a reliable source, for example, from the official website). In general, keep in mind that it is recommended to turn off antiviruses and firewalls before installation.
After successful installation of DNE and a mandatory reboot of Windows 10, you can begin installing the Cisco VPN Client itself. The self-extracting archive will ask which directory you plan to extract it into. After unpacking is completed, it should immediately automatically (if there are problems with the installation, you should use the installation package with the .msi extension). There should be no special questions during installation; all steps are quite familiar and predictable. Don't forget to reboot after completing the installation process. At this point, the standard installation of Cisco VPN Client for Windows 10 will be considered complete.
Installing Cisco VPN Client for Windows 7
Installing the Cisco VPN client on Windows 7 is similar to installing on Windows 10.
If problems arise during the installation of DNE, you may need to edit the parameter in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\MaxNumFilters - the value should be 14. Correct the value if you have the number 8 set.
Setting up Cisco VPN Client
Setting up Cisco VPN Client for Windows 10 and Windows 7 is quite simple, since the VPN client interface is intuitive, but requires knowledge of the English language and some terms.
A new connection is created by clicking on the “New” button. The window itself opens with fields for specifying information about the connection being created. The information is usually provided by the private network administrator or ISP.
The connection name is entered in the “Connection Entry” field.
The “Host” field specifies the domain (IP address of the VPN gateway).
On the “Authentication” tab: in the “Name” field - the name of the group, in the “Password” field - the password for the group, “Confirm Password” - confirmation of the password. This data is needed for primary group authentication.
After the data has been entered, click “Save”. Ready! Now a line with a new connection appears in the VPN client window.
When connected, a secondary authorization window will appear asking for your personal login and password.
If everything was done correctly, the connection will be established, and the corresponding icon will appear in the tray. Right-clicking on it will open a menu in which you can select the “Statistics” item. The number of packets sent and received will be indicated there.
Possible problems
It happens that Windows 10 and Windows 7 users complain about various errors, for example, 440, 412, 414, 433, 442. They are the result of incorrect installation and configuration of the client and additional components. They are usually solved by correctly removing the installed software, cleaning the registry and correctly installing it again. In exceptional cases, it becomes necessary to reinstall the system.
Quite often, when using Cisco VPN Client on Windows 10 and Windows 7 x64, various errors arise regarding secure boot working. This feature prevents the use of software on the system that is not part of the computer manufacturer's trust list. The solution is to disable Secure Boot through the BIOS.
It wouldn’t hurt to look into the registry: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CVirtA\DisplayName. There should be the name of the installed product (if you see an unclear set of characters, correct it to “Cisco Systems VPN Adapter for 32-bit (or 64-bit) Windows”).
