OpenConnect explained

OpenConnect
Author:	David Woodhouse
Developer:	Daniel Lenski, Nikos Mavrogiannopoulos
Latest Release Version:	9.12
Latest Release Date:	^[1]
Genre:	VPN
License:	GNU LGPL v2.1^[2]

OpenConnect is a free and open-source cross-platform multi-protocol virtual private network (VPN) client software which implement secure point-to-point connections.

The OpenConnect client supports the following VPN protocols:

• Cisco AnyConnect
• Juniper Secure Connect (since 7.05)^[3]
• Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect (since 8.00)^[4]
• Ivanti/Pulse Connect Secure (since 8.04)^[5]
• F5 BIG-IP and
• Fortinet FortiGate and
• Array Networks AG SSL VPN (since 8.20)^[6]

It was originally written as an open-source replacement for Cisco's proprietary AnyConnect SSL VPN client,^[7] which is supported by several Cisco routers.

, support for several other proprietary VPN protocols is desired or in development:

• SonicWall NetExtender VPN support^[8]
• Check Point SNX VPN support^[9]
• H3C VPN support^[10]
• Barracuda CloudGen Firewall VPN support^[11]
• Huawei VPN support^[12]

Architecture

The OpenConnect client is written primarily in C, and it contains much of the infrastructure necessary to add additional VPN protocols operating in a similar flow, and to connect to them via a common user interface:^[13]

• Initial connection to the VPN server via TLS
• Authentication phase via HTTPS (using HTML forms, client certificates, XML, etc.)
• Server-provided routing configuration, in a protocol-agnostic format, which can be processed by a vpnc-script
• Data transport phase via a UDP-based tunnel (DTLS or ESP), with fallback to a TLS-based tunnel
  • Built-in event loop to handle Dead Peer Detection, keepalive, rekeying, etc.

OpenConnect can be built to use either the GnuTLS or OpenSSL libraries for TLS, DTLS and cryptographic primitives.

Platforms

OpenConnect is available on Solaris, Linux, OpenBSD, FreeBSD, MacOS, and has graphical user interface clients for Windows,^[14] GNOME,^[15] and KDE.^[16] A graphical client for OpenConnect is also available for Android devices,^[17] and it has been integrated into router firmware packages such as OpenWrt.^[18]

OpenConnect VPN graphical client

The OpenConnect project provide clients for Windows and macOS.^[19]

Server

The OpenConnect project also offers an Cisco AnyConnect-compatible server, ocserv,^[20] and thus offers a full client-server VPN solution.

OpenConnect and ocserv now implement an extended version of the Cisco AnyConnect VPN protocol, which has been proposed as an Internet Standard.^[21] Both OpenConnect and ocserv strive to maintain backwards-compatibility with Cisco AnyConnect servers and clients.

Notable uses

OpenConnect's implementation of the Cisco AnyConnect protocol is sufficiently complete, such that some of Cisco's own IP phone devices embed a very old release of OpenConnect^[22] in order to connect to Cisco SSL VPNs.^{[23] [24]}

External links

• OpenConnect project homepage
• https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/OpenConnect

Notes and References

1. infradead.org - OpenConnect: Changelog.
2. gitlab.com - OpenConnect: License.
3. Web site: 2015-03-10 . OpenConnect 7.05 release . 2023-07-10 . lists.infradead.org.
4. Web site: 2019-01-04 . OpenConnect 8.00 release . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200609161130/https://lists.infradead.org/pipermail/openconnect-devel/2019-January/005178.html . 2020-06-09 . lists.infradead.org.
5. Web site: 2019-08-09 . OpenConnect 8.04 release . 2023-07-10 . lists.infradead.org.
6. Web site: 2022-02-20 . OpenConnect 8.20 release . 2023-07-10 . lists.infradead.org.
7. Web site: "Development of OpenConnect was started after a trial of the Cisco client under Linux found it to have many deficiencies …" . Infradead.org . 2018-08-13.
8. Web site: Issues - Draft: SonicWall NetExtender support.
9. Web site: Merge requests - Draft: CheckPoint SNX support. 5 June 2021 .
10. Web site: Merge requests - Draft: Add H3C TLS VPN protocol. 23 July 2022 .
11. Web site: Issues - Add support for Barracuda CloudGen Firewall.
12. Web site: Issues - Huawei SSL VPN support.
13. Web site: How VPNs Work- The Ins and Outs. Daniel Lenski. September 17, 2020. DAMA Portland.
14. Web site: OpenConnect graphical client . . 2023-01-23.
15. Web site: NetworkManager-openconnect . gnome.org . 2020-01-27.
16. Web site: NetworkManagement . kde.org . 2014-10-28.
17. Web site: Android UI for OpenConnect VPN client . . 2023-01-23.
18. Web site: VPN Overview . openwrt.org . 2018-03-15.
19. https://gui.openconnect-vpn.net/
20. https://ocserv.gitlab.io/www/ OpenConnect VPN Server
21. The OpenConnect VPN Protocol Version 1.2 . draft-mavrogiannopoulos-openconnect-03 . N. Mavrogiannopoulos . October 2020 . .
22. Web site: ocserv issues #51.
23. Web site: Recipe: VoIP network with ocserv. Nikos Mavrogiannopoulos.
24. Web site: Open Source License Notices for the SPA525G. Cisco.