PPTP VPN "no valid VPN secrets"

[RichardH]

Binary package hint: network-manager-pptp

When trying to connect I immediately get a notification stating:
"The VPN connection '<name>' failed. because there were no valid VPN secrets."

I'm quite positive I've not made an error in setting it up.

My syslog spits out this:
Jan 17 13:51:26 lena NetworkManager: <info> Starting VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp'...
Jan 17 13:51:26 lena NetworkManager: <info> VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp' started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp), PID 8900
Jan 17 13:51:26 lena NetworkManager: <info> VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp' just appeared, activating connections
Jan 17 13:51:26 lena NetworkManager: nm-vpn-connection.c.828: NeedSecrets failed: dbus-glib-error-quark Rejected send message, 1 matched rules; type="method_call", sender=":1.2" (uid=0 pid=1051 comm="NetworkManager) interface="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.VPN.Plugin" member="NeedSecrets" error name="(unset)" requested_reply=0 destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp" (uid=0 pid=8900 comm="/usr/lib/network-manager-pptp/nm-pptp-service))
Jan 17 13:51:26 lena NetworkManager: <WARN> connection_state_changed(): Rejected send message, 1 matched rules; type="method_call", sender=":1.2" (uid=0 pid=1051 comm="NetworkManager) interface="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.VPN.Plugin" member="Disconnect" error name="(unset)" requested_reply=0 destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp" (uid=0 pid=8900 comm="/usr/lib/network-manager-pptp/nm-pptp-service))
Jan 17 13:51:26 lena NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto netgear' (eth1) as default for routing and DNS.
Jan 17 13:51:38 lena NetworkManager: <debug> [1263732698.001156] ensure_killed(): waiting for vpn service pid 8900 to exit
Jan 17 13:51:38 lena NetworkManager: <debug> [1263732698.001284] ensure_killed(): vpn service pid 8900 cleaned up

[RichardH (richard-hedenberg)]

Installed todays updates, seems to be fixed now.

[Jaromir Obr (jaromir-obr)]

I have the same problem. I'm trying to start PPTP VPN and get following error:
------------
There was a problem launching the authentication dialog for VPN connection type 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp'. Contact your system administrator.

syslog:
---------
Feb 4 20:48:52 turion NetworkManager: <info> Starting VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp'...
Feb 4 20:48:52 turion NetworkManager: <info> VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp' started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp), PID 3268
Feb 4 20:48:52 turion NetworkManager: <info> VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp' just appeared, activating connections
Feb 4 20:48:52 turion NetworkManager: <info> VPN plugin state changed: 1
Feb 4 20:48:52 turion NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'dlink' (wlan0) as default for routing and DNS.
Feb 4 20:49:05 turion NetworkManager: <debug> [1265312945.002538] ensure_killed(): waiting for vpn service pid 3268 to exit
Feb 4 20:49:05 turion NetworkManager: <debug> [1265312945.002837] ensure_killed(): vpn service pid 3268 cleaned up

I'm quite sure it worked well 1-2 days ago.

Used SW:
Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid, amd64
network-manager-pptp: 0.8~rc1-0ubuntu2
kernel 2.6.32-12

[Matt Castelein (matt-castelein)]

I have this problem also.. I'm quite sure the VPN setup is correct, but just to be sure I copied the settings over from another linux box that connects fine. Still no love. I don't think it's even trying to connect.

[Jaromir Obr (jaromir-obr)]

My problem with PPTP VPN has been fixed, see bug #516854 comment 5.

[cmnorton (octopusgrabbus)]

I still have this problem. I'm running 9.10 and am fully up-to-date.

Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> Starting VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp'...
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp' started (org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp), PID 15885
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> VPN service 'org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.pptp' just appeared, activating connections
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> VPN plugin state changed: 1
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> VPN plugin state changed: 3
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> VPN connection 'townofarlington' (Connect) reply received.
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <WARN> nm_vpn_connection_connect_cb(): VPN connection 'townofarlington' failed to connect: 'No VPN secrets!'.
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <WARN> connection_state_changed(): Could not process the request because no VPN connection was active.
Mar 28 11:36:04 hiawatha NetworkManager: <info> Policy set 'Auto MtLaughmore' (wlan0) as default for routing and DNS.

[j0e (joe-james)]

Had this working fine in 9.10 but not working after an update to 10.04 beta 2.

[cmnorton (octopusgrabbus)]

As I've said previously, this was working fine prior to 9.10, and was fine with a 9.10 update, but I had to rebuild my system at 9.10, and it stopped working then.

[j0e (joe-james)]

My issue was for openvpn connections but might be the same for other vpns.

As Jaromir Obr said related to bug #516854

My fix was as simple as running:

sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

[J. Miller (z3usy)]

I have this same problem and have not been able to find any fix at all quite yet.

[arturpio (arturpio-cyberkit)]

I use VPN in every Ubuntu version, usually pptp type.

Starting with Vivid new problem raised: the connection, which is properly configured and working first time after the fresh OS installation, does not initiate when the computer is rebooted.

Scenario:

- installing Vivid, from scratch
- configuring WiFi access
- connecting to the WiFi
- verifying: everything works fine, including Internet access and browsing
- using right-screen network icon, creating the VPN pptp tunnel
- connecting to the VPN, animated wifi icon runs and connects
- checking : everything works fine

reboot

- reconnecting to the WiFi with the menu icon: ok
- checking : Internet works, everything OK
- clicking on VPN name connection in the network menu in the right, upper side menu icon: nothing happens. There is no usual "connecting" animated icon, the VPN does not starts
- rebooting, restarting network manager, recreating the new VPN under the new name does not solve the problem.

Trying with the nmcli from Terminal au a normal user:

$ nmcli con up vpnname (or sudo nmcli con up vpnname)

nothing happens. After the 90 seconds, there is a time-out message .

Connecting as a root:

root@.... nmcli con up vpnname

instantaneous message : "No valid VPN secrets"

Restarting the network-manager does not solve the problem.

In /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/ConnectionName there is a small binary file under the VPN connexion name, it is impossible to edit it.

[Frindli (frindli)]

I have same error message on ubuntu touch if I tried connect to VPN server with OPENVPN or PPTP.

The error message if I type "sudo nmcli con up THENAME":
Password is required but not given in 'passwd-file' (I don't no while) and nmcli cannot ask without --ask option

So that's worked for me on ubuntu touch:
sudo nmcli --ask con up "VPNCONNECTIONNAME"

But VPN worked without terminal before OTA-14.