VPN disconnects by Screensaver or screen lock

[JoeMoe]

Hi,

does anyone found a solution, to hold the VPN up and running when the screen is locked?

OS: MacOS Sequoia 15.4 and MacOS Sequoia 15.5

FortiClient: VPN 7.4.3.1761

I had to install the newest FortiClient VPN version after a firewall upgrade as the older versions running in some connection problems.

The older versions were stable and connected when the screen was locked. With the new version, the VPN disconnect each time the screen locks.

In fortitray.log it is good to see, a message is send to forticlient and immediately after the message, the ssl-vpn is disconnecting.

20250508 14:55:24.613 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] AppDelegate.swift:390 System is locked/sleep
20250508 14:55:24.620 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] AppDelegate.swift:404 System is going to sleep
20250508 14:55:24.646 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:INFO] VpnManager.swift:2163 Check VPN Connect without Reauth
20250508 14:55:24.657 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] VpnManager.swift:2174 VPN Connection without reauthentication enabled, timeout: 60
20250508 14:55:24.676 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] VpnManager.swift:2189 VPN Information saved.
20250508 14:55:24.690 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] VpnManager.swift:1808 Stop current VPN

The network connection is still open and stable. During the screen is locked, I sent a ping without any lost.

Any ideas are welcome.

Jörg

[grahamb]

Shouldn't Fortinet be hosting this?

[CDavis]

Seems like some backpedaling is now taking place.   Verbiage is changing in the release notes to something less....  Final.   But, the 7.4.4 Mac client should have been released.  As btan said, the lock screen fix is in 7.4.4, there just isn't a free VPN version.  I have a few guesses for the knee-jerk reaction to stop supporting the free ipsec vpn client, but I'll keep those cards close for now.  This has all been pretty frustrating.  But I'm glad to see they won't stop fixing it.  Now, just please release the fixed versions.  7.4.3 is driving me crazy, but not crazy enough to backrev to 7.4.1 or 7.2.9.  No good comes from backrevving.  

[CDavis]

Any comment btan to why the 7.4.4 free client wasn't released with the fix for the vpn disconnect on Screen Saver initiation or Screen Lock?   Back-Revving isn't a great solution in some cases.  I just don't like to do it in general.   

[CDavis]

I'd still like to know what the situation is with getting the free 7.4.4 client that btan said FIXED the 7.4 issues with Locking screen/screensaver and FortiClient VPN.  

[funkylicious]

FCT 7.4.4 doesnt have a free VPN-only feature, you need a EMS instance/license.

[CDavis]

Yes.  btan from Fortinet said there would be one, but then the Free VPN client was announced discontinued, and then they backpedaled and said it wasn't discontinued, but that there was no 7.4.4. free version because there weren't any updates.  But, there was.  The fix for the free client screen lock bug was supposed to be included.   Maybe it wasn't able to be added to the free version, but that seems doubtful.  In any case, the free version should be in total lockstep with the EMS version.  That's the way it's always been.  What advantage is there to have 2 versions?   

[JinMori]

can I have the installer also thanks

[JinMori]

Does somebody still have the installer?

[CDavis]

What would be nice is for Fortinet to release the free version of the 7.4.4 client that fixes this issue.   C'mon already.