NetworkManager can't connect to Cisco VPN

[Colan Schwartz]

When attempting to connect from the GUI, an extremely brief notification appears stating the VPN was connected, but then it is immediately replaced by one saying that it failed.

Using the vpnc client on the command line works without problems, however.

Here's what showed up in my system log:

Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Starting VPN service 'vpnc'...
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN service 'vpnc' started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.vpnc), PID 7394
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN service 'vpnc' appeared; activating connections
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN plugin state changed: starting (3)
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN connection '<VPN NETWORK NAME>' (Connect) reply received.
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: devices added (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0, iface: tun0)
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: device added (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0, iface: tun0): no ifupdown configuration found.
Aug 2 16:49:26 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0: couldn't determine device driver; ignoring...
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN connection '<VPN NETWORK NAME>' (IP4 Config Get) reply received from old-style plugin.
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN Gateway: <IP ADDRESS HERE>
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Tunnel Device: tun0
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> IPv4 configuration:
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Internal Address: 10.1.2.8
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Internal Prefix: 24
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Internal Point-to-Point Address: 10.1.2.8
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Maximum Segment Size (MSS): 0
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Static Route: 10.1.1.0/24 Next Hop: 10.1.1.0
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Forbid Default Route: yes
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Internal DNS: 10.1.1.7
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> DNS Domain: '<SHORT NETWORK NAME>.local'
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> No IPv6 configuration
Aug 2 16:49:27 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: Withdrawing workstation service for tun0.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> (6) failed to find interface name for index
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <error> [1375476568.17168] [nm-system.c:145] nm_system_device_set_ip4_route(): (unknown): failed to set IPv4 route: No such device
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN connection '<VPN NETWORK NAME>' (IP Config Get) complete.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Policy set '<WIFI NETWORK NAME>' (wlan1) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Writing DNS information to /sbin/resolvconf
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: setting upstream servers from DBus
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver 10.1.1.7#53 for domain 10.in-addr.arpa
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver 10.1.1.7#53 for domain <SHORT NETWORK NAME>.local
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver <NAMESERVER1>#53
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver <NAMESERVER2>#53
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver <NAMESERVER3>#53
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger postfix/master[1782]: reload -- version 2.10.0, configuration /etc/postfix
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dbus[1290]: [system] Activating service name='org.freedesktop.nm_dispatcher' (using servicehelper)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN plugin state changed: started (4)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: devices removed (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0, iface: tun0)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> VPN plugin failed: 1
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN plugin state changed: stopped (6)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> VPN plugin state change reason: 0
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: Withdrawing address record for 192.168.1.136 on wlan1.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on interface wlan1.IPv4 with address 192.168.1.136.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: Interface wlan1.IPv4 no longer relevant for mDNS.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: Joining mDNS multicast group on interface wlan1.IPv4 with address 192.168.1.136.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: New relevant interface wlan1.IPv4 for mDNS.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger avahi-daemon[1449]: Registering new address record for 192.168.1.136 on wlan1.IPv4.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger dbus[1290]: [system] Successfully activated service 'org.freedesktop.nm_dispatcher'
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7248]: ntpd exiting on signal 15
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpdate[7527]: Can't find host 0.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org: System error (-11)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpdate[7527]: Can't find host 1.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org: System error (-11)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpdate[7527]: Can't find host 2.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org: System error (-11)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpdate[7527]: Can't find host 3.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org: System error (-11)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpdate[7527]: Can't find host ntp.ubuntu.com: System error (-11)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpdate[7527]: no servers can be used, exiting
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger nm-dispatcher.action: Script '/etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/01ifupdown' exited with error status 1.
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7564]: ntpd 4.2.6p5@1.2349-o Thu Apr 4 22:25:14 UTC 2013 (1)
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: proto: precision = 0.116 usec
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: ntp_io: estimated max descriptors: 2144, initial socket boundary: 16
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listen and drop on 0 v4wildcard 0.0.0.0 UDP 123
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listen and drop on 1 v6wildcard :: UDP 123
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listen normally on 2 lo 127.0.0.1 UDP 123
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listen normally on 3 wlan1 192.168.1.136 UDP 123
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listen normally on 4 lo ::1 UDP 123
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listen normally on 5 wlan1 fe80::6670:2ff:fe20:9e5d UDP 123
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: peers refreshed
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Listening on routing socket on fd #22 for interface updates
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Deferring DNS for 0.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org 1
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Deferring DNS for 1.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org 1
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Deferring DNS for 2.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org 1
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Deferring DNS for 3.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org 1
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7565]: Deferring DNS for ntp.ubuntu.com 1
Aug 2 16:49:28 tiger ntpd[7567]: signal_no_reset: signal 17 had flags 4000000
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Policy set '<WIFI NETWORK NAME>' (wlan1) as default for IPv4 routing and DNS.
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <info> Writing DNS information to /sbin/resolvconf
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: setting upstream servers from DBus
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver <NAMESERVER1>#53
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver <NAMESERVER2>#53
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger dnsmasq[2328]: using nameserver <NAMESERVER3>#53
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger postfix/master[1782]: reload -- version 2.10.0, configuration /etc/postfix
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> error disconnecting VPN: Could not process the request because no VPN connection was active.
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> (6) failed to find interface name for index
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: nm_system_iface_flush_routes: assertion `iface != NULL' failed
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> (6) failed to find interface name for index
Aug 2 16:49:29 tiger NetworkManager[1635]: <warn> Dispatcher script failed: Script '/etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/01ifupdown' exited with error status 1.
Aug 2 16:49:30 tiger ntpd_intres[7567]: DNS 0.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org -> 204.9.54.119
Aug 2 16:49:30 tiger ntpd_intres[7567]: DNS 1.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org -> 67.23.233.36
Aug 2 16:49:30 tiger ntpd_intres[7567]: DNS 2.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org -> 63.240.161.99
Aug 2 16:49:30 tiger ntpd_intres[7567]: DNS 3.ubuntu.pool.ntp.org -> 66.175.211.68
Aug 2 16:49:30 tiger ntpd_intres[7567]: DNS ntp.ubuntu.com -> 91.189.94.4

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Gastón Avila (avila-gas)]

There is a workaround proposed by the bug reporter. I will paste it here for other users to use.
I was, however, able to connect using the command-line vpnc client. It took a bit of research, but here's what did the trick:

Install the command-line client.
sudo apt-get install vpnc
Convert the PCF file to a native configuration file.
pcf2vpnc NETWORK.pcf NETWORK.conf
Secure the credentials from prying eyes.
chmod 600 NETWORK_NAME.conf
Edit the NETWORK_NAME.conf file to add your username and password.
Start it with:
sudo vpnc /path/to/vpn/configs/NETWORK/NETWORK.conf
If it doesn't work, add the "--enable-1des" option, but make sure to tell the system administrator(s) that they need to upgrade their configuration as it's not as secure as it could be.
sudo vpnc --enable-1des /path/to/vpn/configs/NETWORK/NETWORK.conf
Terminate your connection as needed.
sudo vpnc-disconnect

From
http://colans.net/blog/installing-vpn-pcf-files-ubuntu-1304

[Greg Knapp (virtual-greg)]

This is also affecting Linux Mint 16, I've tried using Network Manager and vpnc via the command line as per instructions here:

http://colans.net/blog/installing-vpn-pcf-files-ubuntu-1304

I'm seeing the same thing in my /var/log/syslog:

Apr 21 21:27:32 greg-linux NetworkManager[814]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: devices added (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0, iface: tun0)
Apr 21 21:27:32 greg-linux NetworkManager[814]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: device added (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0, iface: tun0): no ifupdown configuration found.
Apr 21 21:27:32 greg-linux NetworkManager[814]: <warn> /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0: couldn't determine device driver; ignoring...
Apr 21 21:27:34 greg-linux avahi-daemon[823]: Withdrawing workstation service for tun0.
Apr 21 21:27:34 greg-linux NetworkManager[814]: SCPlugin-Ifupdown: devices removed (path: /sys/devices/virtual/net/tun0, iface: tun0)

I had no issue connecting to my company Cisco VPN under Arch linux.

[Daniel Gimpelevich (daniel-gimpelevich)]

Is 14.04 affected?

[EliCoten (launchpad-elicoten)]

Think I'm still having the same issue on 14.10