Just a quick note: I’ve discovered that the Cisco 3000 VPN software (version 4.9.00.0050) will not work on an Intel-based Mac when connected to the Internet via a Bluetooth-enabled phone. When you click on the “Connect” button, it stalls in the “connecting to server…” stage and never presents the password dialog.
I’ve tried this on both a Verizon-provided Motorola E815 and a Sprint-provided Palm Treo 700p. This is with a fully-updated (10.4.7) MacBook Pro. The same laptop is able to connect to other Internet services just fine with either phone and connect to VPN via other Internet connections (AirPort, direct Ethernet, etc.).
I also have an iBook G4. Given the same phones, the same VPN server, etc., it works just fine.
So there’s an Intel-specific bug in either the Cisco software or Apple’s Bluetooth driver that makes this combo work badly.
Oh, and just to be really sure that the phone connection wasn’t the problem, I had the iBook G4 dial into Sprint’s network. I then shared that connection over an Ethernet cable to the MacBook Pro. Once I disabled all other connections on the MBP (i.e. my home AirPort network), I then fired up the VPN software. It worked.
Here’s hoping somebody at Cisco or Apple notices.
Update (10 July 2006): A friend reports the same symptoms with a MacBook Pro and his T-Mobile phone.
[...] Unfortunately, the “killer app” for me, connecting to the VPN in my office and remotely connecting to my work computer via Remote Desktop, didn’t work! As it turns out, I’m not the only one to notice that the Cisco 3000-series VPN client doesn’t work with bluetooth connections on Intel Macs, and I just upgraded from a G4 iBook to a dial-core MacBook. #@$%!!! Hope that gets fixed real soon. [...]
I’m seeing similar problems connecting from a MacBook through a Motorola V3m on Verizon’s EVDO network… The VPN client works fine on wireless or wifi connections, but not DUN via bluetooth… though it works fine on my old G4 iBook. What a shame – for me the biggest benefit was to be able to connect to my office computer fromt he road via VPN through my cell phone… hope this gets fixed real soon.
I hate that I found your info – I’m experiencing the same thing, with an E815 and a 17 inch macbook pro.
Does 10.4.8 fix anything? I know there have been reports that it has fixed some Cisco problems on MacPro’s.
I wonder what Leopard does/will do?
Not sure. About a month ago, I gave up on using internet over any phone whatsoever, regardless of VPN issues.
I’m now using the Verizon EVDO card which came out in August and I’m much happier with that. In general, it’s much more reliable as a connection platform.
However, it still has the problem with the Cisco VPN driver. You may want to look at the Equinuux VPN Tracker software. It costs about $90, but if you really need to connect to your office from arbitrary locations, it’s worth it. I’ve been using it almost daily for more than a month and it works reliably over every internet connection I’ve tested — including cell phones and the EVDO card. A couple of my colleagues have used it as well and report similar success.
This issue is fixed with Cisco VPN Client 4.9.01.0080
I tried it with 4.9.01.0080 and found that it could establish connections, but that it would usually drop them after only a few minutes. I’m still using VPN Tracker when on the EVDO card.