Configure secret key for windows vpn client

This feature is useful in environments that do not currently have a PKI in place, or in situations where Windows Server L2TP servers are making connections to third-party VPN servers that only support the use of preshared keys.

Microsoft does not encourage the use of preshared keys, because it is a less secure method of authentication than certificates. Preshared keys are not meant to replace the use of certificates; instead, preshared keys are another method for testing and internal operations.

Microsoft strongly recommends that you use certificates with L2TP whenever possible. The following sections describe how to configure the preshared keys on both the L2TP client and the server. If you use a Windows Server operating system for both client and VPN-based server, complete the instructions in both of these sections so that the L2TP that uses a preshared key can work.

If you use a Windows Server VPN client and a third-party VPN-based server, you must follow the steps in the Configure a preshared key on a VPN client section of this article, and you must configure preshared keys on the third-party device. Enter the hostname e. In the General tab, verify the hostname e.

Note: The xl2tp package does not send user credentials properly to the MX when using Meraki Cloud Controller authentication, and this causes the authentication request to fail. You will need to install a couple of software packages to enable this functionality. The instructions below were written for Ubuntu Ubuntu versions However, due to the large number of Linux versions available, it is not feasible to document every supported Ubuntu version.

In order to begin the VPN setup, open a terminal window. Do this by searching for Terminal in your application list. Click on the Terminal icon to open a new session.

Once the packages have been installed, you may open up the Network Settings by searching for Settings in the application list, or by clicking on the Network icon at the top right of the screen and selecting Wired or Wireless Settings. If L2TP is not listed as an option, please see the first step about installing the required packages. Fill out the Name , Gateway , User name , and Password fields here.

Note: To save your password on this screen, you must select the appropriate option from the question mark on the password field. Once the modal pops up, expand the Advanced options, and enter the following:.

Select OK to continue. You will be returned back to the Add VPN modal. Select the PPP Settings button. Be sure the other authentication methods are de-selected. All other options can remain as the default. You can create a client profile on a computer, export it, and then import it to additional computers. Instructions on how to export a client profile can be found here. In the AzureVPN folder, the azurevpnconfig. When I input the server secret from the root certificate, I receive the error: "Server Secret must be characters long".

Any idea what I'm doing wrong? Hello PeterStadel ,. This will auto fill the server secret information.