Driving me nuts. Trying to connect to the work VPN using L2TP over IPSec with a pre-shared key, and whatever I try, it attempts to connect, and eventually times out.


Using Arch, and Network Manager. I've tried a couple of L2TP clients (swan, open) with the same result.


I must have tried every combination of settings for both L2TP and PPP.


I have instructions for both Windows and Mac clients, but unfortunately not for Linux, where we have a lot more options.


No errors that I can see, but just diddly squat watching the throbber for a while before it gives up.


Ideas?

Kind of one of those questions we may never be able to answer. I'd contact your work place IT for more information.
We don't know if your isp supports it.
Not sure if your modem is correctly configured.
Not sure if your distro is configured correctly.
Not sure if your key is correct and able to be used.

I'd boot up to windows and see if your instructions work.

An example of it may be here. https://20notes.net/linux/setup-l2tp...4-using-gnome/

This guy got it working in Slackware, and this should give you an idea of what is needed:

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...es-4175678022/

Do you have Networkmanager-l2tp, NetworkManager-pptp and xl2tpd installed? He uses strongswan. If you follow his recipe, it should work for you.

Alternatively, if you're friendly with the IT guy, you can set up a linux box running OpenVPN behind the firewall and get him to set up the port forward for you. You'll get a much better result... it's more secure and less flaky.

+1 to contacting your employer’s IT department first. Do they even know you're using Linux?
Hacking about could be career-limiting otherwise.

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first step contact your company IT dept.
find out what client they are expecting you to use. Example is my company wants me to use the Citrix anyconnect. Well guess what, there is a Linux client for that. Once that was installed, I have zero issues connecting via VPN or direct into my VM.

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Apparently the IT guy is in the office on 4 Sept, so I'll take my laptop in and we can work through it together.

I'm fairly certain it's not a Citrix network (no mention of needing the citrix client, which has worked at a previous employer's). I suspect it's probably just one setting on the L2TP or PPP, but there are just too many combinations to experiment with and hope to randomly stumble across the right combination.

Thanks for the interest folks.

EDIT: Oh, and yes, they know I'm using Linux. Worst case is they will supply me with a laptop just for remote working.