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svl
New Member
November 14, 2020
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MacOS Big Sur Fortclient VPN IPSec issues

  • November 14, 2020
  • 12 replies
  • 197479 views

Just installed macOS Big Sur and cannot get a connection with Fortinet firewall VPN anymore, while it did work with macOS Catalina.

 

I tried Forticlient version 6.4 which seems to connect just fine (I get an IP in expected range), but ssh/ping does not work. And also I cannot access a intranet http/https page.

 

Also tried multiple versions of 6.0.x but they all fail to connect and show "Connection was terminated unexpectedly. Error -104". After that, the keyboard (Macbook 16 inch) even fails to register any pressed buttons. For example I open app "notes" and cannot type anything (with every keystroke a sound is played but nothing is written). The only way to get out of this situation is to click "connect to VPN" in forticlient again and before it gets to the error click "disconnect". Then all works as usual (except the VPN obviously).

 

Anyone else having these issues?

 

Update Nov 25th 2020: 

Ok, so after quite a bit of testing by the people who maintain our firewall, we managed to make IPSec VPN work with native Mac OS Big Sur VPN client. I am always amazed by the lack of Fortinet response in this type of issues, as the solution seems pretty simple in the end. Eventually the configuration at fortigate firewall stayed exactly as it was, the only configuration I needed to add locally (with respect to using the FortiClient software) is to add a group name under "Authentication Settings". So to make it work we:

[ul]
  • Setup IPSec VPN in Mac OS Netwerk preferences (see also https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-a-vpn-connection-on-mac-mchlp2963/mac) using fields server address, account name (my personal account name), password (my personal account password) and under "Authentication settings" the shared secret (the shared password) and Group Name (had to get this from the firewall maintainer and never had to fill this in for FortiClient before).[/ul]

    Hopefully this helps others to get Fortigate IPSec VPN work with both Mac OS Big Sur and MacOS Catalina (both tested with our config).

  • Best answer by Bobbyla

    Just to confirm the VPN only installer is now updated on the website - Mac now connects using IPSEC on BigSur

     

    WOOHOO

     

    Thanks for updating it. (Labelled as 6.4 but when installing pulls the latest release 6.4.2.1.1305)

     

    Rob

     

    [image][/image]

    12 replies

    macy200200
    New Member
    December 12, 2020

    Hey there!

     

    Yeah I'm on Big Sur now too! I didn't have any problems with anything fortinet relatetd. I don't have any IPSec VPNS in my client though, only SSL.

    mvdw310
    New Member
    December 13, 2020

    Same Issue here.

    version 6.4.1.0447 connect to the server at the office, but no traffic

    Version 6.4.4         connection give error 104

    dinajafer
    New Member
    September 1, 2021

    The problem might be in the VPN provider you're currently using.