3.3 Establishing a VPN Connection

VPN Client for Linux lets you establish a connection with a Nortel Contivity server or Standard IPsec gateway. You can do this using either the Graphical User Interface (GUI) or the Command Line Interface (CLI).

IMPORTANT:The CLI and GUI options might not interact properly. We do not recommend using them at the same time.

3.3.1 Connecting to a Standard IPsec Gateway

Copying the User Certificate

Copy your user certificate in .pfx format to the following path:

/user's home directory/.turnpike/usercerts

Connecting to the Gateway

  1. Open the VPN Client for Linux dialog.

    GNOME: Click Computer > More Applications > System > VPN Login.

    KDE: Click the main menu > System > VPN Login.

  2. Select a Standard IPsec Gateway profile from the Profile name drop-down list.

    Connecting to a Standard IPSec Gateway

    All the fields in the upper section of the dialog are automatically displayed.

  3. In the Password field, specify the certificate password.

  4. Click Connect.

    The Connection Details tabbed page displays the progress of the connection.

  5. Click Disconnect if you want to end the connection.

NOTE:In the case of the VPN connection to a Standard IPsec gateway, after Phase 1 is established, any data going to the network is encrypted.

3.3.2 Connecting to a Nortel Contivity Server

  1. Open the VPN Client for Linux dialog.

    GNOME: Click Computer > More Applications > System > VPN Login.

    KDE: Click the main menu > System > VPN Login.

  2. Select a Nortel Contivity Server profile from the Profile name drop-down list.

    Connecting to a Nortel Contivity Server

    The Gateway information is automatically displayed.

  3. In the Nortel Contivity section, specify the following details:

    • Username: The name of the user who requires the connection.

    • User Password: The user password.

  4. Click Connect.

    The Connection Details tabbed page displays the progress of the connection.

  5. Click Disconnect if you want to end the connection.

3.3.3 Using the Command Line Utility

VPN Client fo Linux provides a command line utility (vpnc) to carry out the major VPN functions. After installing VPN Client for Linux, you can access vpnc help by entering the following in a terminal. You must have root privilidges to run this command.

vpnc -h

This lists all the CLI commands and the available options, described in the following table:

Option

Description

vpnc -c

Connects to the VPN gateway in the PROFILENAME.

vpnc -d

Disconnects from the VPN gateway.

vpnc -h

Displays the VPN Client help.

vpnc -l

Lists the available profiles along with their gateway types.

vpnc -v

Displays a detailed log when used with the connect option as follows: vpnc -v -c

Creating Profiles Using a CLI

You cannot create connection profiles using the CLI feature. Profiles must be created and edited using the GUI. See Section 3.2, Connection Profiles for more information. 

Connecting to the Gateway Using a CLI

IMPORTANT:VPN Client for Linux allows only one connection at a time.

To connect to the gateway, enter any of the following commands:

vpnc -c profile

vpnc --connect profile

vpnc -v -c profile

vpnc --verbose --connect profile

HINT:Use the command vpnc -l for the list of all available profiles along with their gateway types.

Disconnecting from the Server

To disconnect from the server, enter the following command:

vpnc -d