LINUX L2TP

LINUX L2TP

# CentOS & RHEL
yum -y install epel-release
yum --enablerepo=epel -y install strongswan xl2tpd

VPN_SERVER_IP='vpn.tropicalmarinecentre.co.uk'
VPN_IPSEC_PSK='tropicaltest2016'
VPN_USER='bp_external'
VPN_PASSWORD='rJqeajKpGAfzewBi9PGU'

Configure strongSwan:

cat > /etc/ipsec.conf <<EOF
# ipsec.conf - strongSwan IPsec configuration file

# basic configuration

config setup
  # strictcrlpolicy=yes
  # uniqueids = no

# Add connections here.

# Sample VPN connections

conn %default
  ikelifetime=60m
  keylife=20m
  rekeymargin=3m
  keyingtries=1
  keyexchange=ikev1
  authby=secret
  ike=aes128-sha1-modp2048!
  esp=aes128-sha1-modp2048!

conn myvpn
  keyexchange=ikev1
  left=%defaultroute
  auto=add
  authby=secret
  type=transport
  leftprotoport=17/1701
  rightprotoport=17/1701
  right=$VPN_SERVER_IP
EOF

cat > /etc/ipsec.secrets <<EOF
: PSK "$VPN_IPSEC_PSK"
EOF

chmod 600 /etc/ipsec.secrets

# For CentOS/RHEL & Fedora ONLY
mv /etc/strongswan/ipsec.conf /etc/strongswan/ipsec.conf.old 2>/dev/null
mv /etc/strongswan/ipsec.secrets /etc/strongswan/ipsec.secrets.old 2>/dev/null
ln -s /etc/ipsec.conf /etc/strongswan/ipsec.conf
ln -s /etc/ipsec.secrets /etc/strongswan/ipsec.secrets
Configure xl2tpd:

cat > /etc/xl2tpd/xl2tpd.conf <<EOF
[lac myvpn]
lns = $VPN_SERVER_IP
ppp debug = yes
pppoptfile = /etc/ppp/options.l2tpd.client
length bit = yes
EOF

cat > /etc/ppp/options.l2tpd.client <<EOF
ipcp-accept-local
ipcp-accept-remote
refuse-eap
require-chap
noccp
noauth
mtu 1280
mru 1280
noipdefault
defaultroute
usepeerdns
connect-delay 5000
name $VPN_USER
password $VPN_PASSWORD
EOF

chmod 600 /etc/ppp/options.l2tpd.client
The VPN client setup is now complete. Follow the steps below to connect.

Note: You must repeat all steps below every time you try to connect to the VPN.

Create xl2tpd control file:

mkdir -p /var/run/xl2tpd
touch /var/run/xl2tpd/l2tp-control
Restart services:

service strongswan restart
service xl2tpd restart
Start the IPsec connection:

# CentOS/RHEL & Fedora
strongswan up myvpn
Start the L2TP connection:

echo "c myvpn" > /var/run/xl2tpd/l2tp-control
Run ifconfig and check the output. You should now see a new interface ppp0.

Check your existing default route:

ip route
Find this line in the output: default via X.X.X.X .... Write down this gateway IP for use in the two commands below.

Exclude your VPN server's IP from the new default route (replace with actual value):

route add YOUR_VPN_SERVER_IP gw X.X.X.X
If your VPN client is a remote server, you must also exclude your Local PC's public IP from the new default route, to prevent your SSH session from being disconnected (replace with actual value):

route add YOUR_LOCAL_PC_PUBLIC_IP gw X.X.X.X
Add a new default route to start routing traffic via the VPN server：

route add default dev ppp0
The VPN connection is now complete. Verify that your traffic is being routed properly:

wget -qO- http://ipv4.icanhazip.com; echo
The above command should return Your VPN Server IP.

To stop routing traffic via the VPN server:

route del default dev ppp0
To disconnect:

# Ubuntu & Debian
echo "d myvpn" > /var/run/xl2tpd/l2tp-control
ipsec down myvpn

# CentOS/RHEL & Fedora
echo "d myvpn" > /var/run/xl2tpd/l2tp-control
strongswan down myvpn