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How-To: IKEv2 VPN for Windows 7 and above

Read this in other languages: English, 简体中文.


IMPORTANT: This guide is for advanced users only. Other users please use IPsec/L2TP or IPsec/XAuth.


Windows 7 and newer releases support the IKEv2 standard through Microsoft's Agile VPN functionality. Internet Key Exchange (IKE or IKEv2) is the protocol used to set up a Security Association (SA) in the IPsec protocol suite. Compared to IKE version 1, IKEv2 contains improvements such as Standard Mobility support through MOBIKE, and improved reliability. In addition, IKEv2 supports connecting multiple devices simultaneously from behind the same NAT (e.g. home router) to the VPN server.

Libreswan can authenticate IKEv2 clients on the basis of X.509 Machine Certificates using RSA signatures. This method does not require an IPsec PSK, username or password. The following example shows how to configure IKEv2 with Libreswan. Commands below must be run as root.

Before continuing, make sure you have successfully set up your VPN server.

  1. Find the VPN server's public IP, save it to a variable and check.

    $ PUBLIC_IP=$(wget -t 3 -T 15 -qO- http://ipv4.icanhazip.com)
    $ echo "$PUBLIC_IP"
    (Check the displayed public IP)

    Note: Alternatively, you may specify the server's DNS name here. e.g. PUBLIC_IP=myvpn.example.com.

  2. Add a new IKEv2 connection to /etc/ipsec.conf:

    $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
    
    conn ikev2-cp
      left=%defaultroute
      leftcert=$PUBLIC_IP
      leftid=@$PUBLIC_IP
      leftsendcert=always
      leftsubnet=0.0.0.0/0
      leftrsasigkey=%cert
      right=%any
      rightid=%fromcert
      rightaddresspool=192.168.43.10-192.168.43.250
      rightca=%same
      rightrsasigkey=%cert
      narrowing=yes
      dpddelay=30
      dpdtimeout=120
      dpdaction=clear
      auto=add
      ikev2=insist
      rekey=no
      fragmentation=yes
      ike=3des-sha1,3des-sha2,aes-sha1,aes-sha1;modp1024,aes-sha2,aes-sha2;modp1024
      phase2alg=3des-sha1,3des-sha2,aes-sha1,aes-sha2
    EOF

    We need to add a few more lines to that file. First check your Libreswan version:

    $ ipsec --version

    For Libreswan 3.23 and newer, run command:

    $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
      modecfgdns="8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4"
      encapsulation=yes
    EOF

    For Libreswan 3.19-3.22, run command:

    $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
      modecfgdns1=8.8.8.8
      modecfgdns2=8.8.4.4
      encapsulation=yes
    EOF

    For Libreswan 3.18 and older, run command:

    $ cat >> /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
      modecfgdns1=8.8.8.8
      modecfgdns2=8.8.4.4
      forceencaps=yes
    EOF
  3. Generate Certificate Authority (CA) and VPN server certificates:

    Note: Specify the certificate validity period (in months) using "-v". e.g. "-v 36". In addition, if you specified the server's DNS name (instead of its IP address) in step 1 above, replace --extSAN "ip:$PUBLIC_IP,dns:$PUBLIC_IP" with --extSAN "dns:$PUBLIC_IP" in the command below.

    $ certutil -S -x -n "Example CA" -s "O=Example,CN=Example CA" -k rsa -g 4096 -v 36 -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -t "CT,," -2
    
    A random seed must be generated that will be used in the
    creation of your key.  One of the easiest ways to create a
    random seed is to use the timing of keystrokes on a keyboard.
    
    To begin, type keys on the keyboard until this progress meter
    is full.  DO NOT USE THE AUTOREPEAT FUNCTION ON YOUR KEYBOARD!
    
    Continue typing until the progress meter is full:
    
    |************************************************************|
    
    Finished.  Press enter to continue:
    
    Generating key.  This may take a few moments...
    
    Is this a CA certificate [y/N]?
    y
    Enter the path length constraint, enter to skip [<0 for unlimited path]: >
    Is this a critical extension [y/N]?
    N
    
    $ certutil -S -c "Example CA" -n "$PUBLIC_IP" -s "O=Example,CN=$PUBLIC_IP" -k rsa -g 4096 -v 36 -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -t ",," \
       --keyUsage digitalSignature,keyEncipherment --extKeyUsage serverAuth --extSAN "ip:$PUBLIC_IP,dns:$PUBLIC_IP"
    
    A random seed must be generated that will be used in the
    creation of your key.  One of the easiest ways to create a
    random seed is to use the timing of keystrokes on a keyboard.
    
    To begin, type keys on the keyboard until this progress meter
    is full.  DO NOT USE THE AUTOREPEAT FUNCTION ON YOUR KEYBOARD!
    
    Continue typing until the progress meter is full:
    
    |************************************************************|
    
    Finished.  Press enter to continue:
    
    Generating key.  This may take a few moments...
  4. Generate client certificate(s), and export the .p12 file that contains the client certificate, private key, and CA certificate:

    $ certutil -S -c "Example CA" -n "vpnclient" -s "O=Example,CN=vpnclient" -k rsa -g 4096 -v 36 -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -t ",," \
       --keyUsage digitalSignature,keyEncipherment --extKeyUsage serverAuth,clientAuth -8 "vpnclient"
    
    A random seed must be generated that will be used in the
    creation of your key.  One of the easiest ways to create a
    random seed is to use the timing of keystrokes on a keyboard.
    
    To begin, type keys on the keyboard until this progress meter
    is full.  DO NOT USE THE AUTOREPEAT FUNCTION ON YOUR KEYBOARD!
    
    Continue typing until the progress meter is full:
    
    |************************************************************|
    
    Finished.  Press enter to continue:
    
    Generating key.  This may take a few moments...
    
    $ pk12util -o vpnclient.p12 -n "vpnclient" -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d
    
    Enter password for PKCS12 file:
    Re-enter password:
    pk12util: PKCS12 EXPORT SUCCESSFUL

    Repeat this step for additional VPN clients, but replace every vpnclient with vpnclient2, etc.

    Note: If you wish to connect multiple VPN clients simultaneously, you must generate a unique certificate for each.

  5. The database should now contain:

    $ certutil -L -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d
    
    Certificate Nickname                               Trust Attributes
                                                       SSL,S/MIME,JAR/XPI
    
    Example CA                                         CTu,u,u
    ($PUBLIC_IP)                                       u,u,u
    vpnclient                                          u,u,u

    Note: To display a certificate, use certutil -L -d sql:/etc/ipsec.d -n "Nickname". To delete a certificate, replace -L with -D. For other certutil usage, read this page.

  6. Restart IPsec service:

    $ service ipsec restart
  7. The vpnclient.p12 file should then be securely transferred to the VPN client device. Next steps:

    Windows 7, 8.x and 10

    1. Import the .p12 file to the "Computer account" certificate store. Make sure that the client cert is placed in "Personal -> Certificates", and the CA cert is placed in "Trusted Root Certification Authorities -> Certificates".

      Detailed instructions:
      https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/Win7Certs

    2. On the Windows computer, add a new IKEv2 VPN connection:
      https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/Win7Config

    3. Start the new IKEv2 VPN connection, and enjoy your VPN!
      https://wiki.strongswan.org/projects/strongswan/wiki/Win7Connect

    4. (Optional) You may enable stronger ciphers by adding this registry key and reboot.

  8. Once successfully connected, you can verify that your traffic is being routed properly by looking up your IP address on Google. It should say "Your public IP address is Your VPN Server IP".

Known Issues

The built-in VPN client in Windows does not support IKEv2 fragmentation. On some networks, this can cause the connection to fail or have other issues. You may try this registry fix, or connect using IPsec/L2TP or IPsec/XAuth mode instead.

References