The necessary VPN sub-system is not available.

[cblocher]

I have loaded the VPN Client 3.5.1C on a Windows 98 and also Windows 2000 client. On both systems, when I start the VPN Client, the following message is displayed:

"The necessary VPN sub-system is not available. You will not be able to make a connection to the remote IPSec server."

This is before userid, password, and destination address prompt window is displayed.

What am I missing?

[abdul.kokumo]

This cavets should help:

CSCdw09871

Trying to run the VPN Client returns the following error.

"The necessary VPN sub-system is not available. You will not be able to make a connection to the remote IPSec server."

This may be due to a problem during the installation of the VPN Client where is exited prematurely without error. As a result some of the necessary VPN Client services/drivers do not get started after rebooting.

To see if you have this problem, perform the following steps:

Step 1 Uninstall the VPN Client, restart the PC.

Step 2 Look in the Startup group for the following shortcut:

c:\Documents and Setting\All users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Cisco Systems VPN Client.lnk

Step 3 If the link exists, delete it and reinstall the VPN Client. Reinstalling should now fully complete the VPN Client install and it should run properly.

CSCdu77405

The message, "The necessary VPN sub-system is not available. You will not be able to make a connection to the remote IPSec server." might appear on a PC when Start Before Logon is enabled on the Client and ZoneAlarm is also running. The message appears when ctrl+alt+del are pressed. This has happened because the Cisco Systems VPN Service has terminated unexpectedly.

Workaround:

Logon to the PC with cached credentials, open "Services" in control panel and start the VPN service. A connection to the concentrator will be possible once the service has started.

[mstrasser]

I have loaded the VPN Client 3.5.1C on a Windows 98 and also Windows XP client. On the xp systems, when I start the VPN Client, the following message is displayed:

"The necessary VPN sub-system is not available. You will not be able to make a connection to the remote IPSec server."

This is before userid, password, and destination address prompt window is displayed.

On the 98 System I can go to login but when I connect I received a message Saying " remote peer is no longer responding"

I am using Road Runner Cable access

What can be wrong here , for any help Thank you

[flassh]

I have did everything you said here to fix my problem. Do you know of any other resolution to getting ""The necessary VPN sub-system is not available. You will not be able to make a connection to the remote IPSec server" ?

[dladen]

Do you have a software firewall? If you do, try disabling for testing. You made need to tweak it.

Shot in the dark.

Dan

[dladen]

Do you have a software firewall? If you do, try disabling for testing. You made need to tweak it.

Shot in the dark.

Dan

[rksystems]

Got the same Problem on 2 diffrent computers on W2K.

None off the above Fixes those problems.

Maybe interesting:

When trying to establish a connction no Packet returns. The VPN-Client is only sending but nothing receiving.

Removing the whole Windows Network ( on W2K ) and reinstall everything doesn't help also.

[mudigonda_mallik]

Hey I am also facing the same issue. Did you identify what the problem was ? Thanks a lot !!

[owadmin]

Hi, Were you able to find a solution to this issue. Thanks.

[kdurrett]

Ahh, they keep saying that they have fixed this in every release. First of all, I would use the latest version of client which is 3.6.3. You should also uninstall ANY firewall software or antivirus software you have installed on your pc. Once you've uninstalled those, rebooted, installed 3.6.3, rebooted and successfully tested your client you can reinstall your anti-virus software/and or firewall software. If you're running xp, you should disable your native firewall as well by going to services and disabling. You should no longer have "vpn sub-system not available". Now, theres another workaround for this to get your client to work if you are still having problems, but it can be quite annoying having to do it all the time. Let us know if this fix's your problem first, which it should.

Kurtis Durrett

[tuxwarrior]

Does internet conneciton sharing play a role in this at all. I am also using cicso vpn software to connnect, and receive the same error referring to the sub-system message.

[kdurrett]

ICS should be disabled when installing/using the client. You can disable that through services. The client should have disabled that for you, but if not then you will need to do so. Possible unistalling the client and performing a new install will take care of that for you.

Kurtis Durrett

[bishopcl]

I am running the VPN Client 3.1.1 on Windows XP. I had it running fine, but then reimaged my system. Now I get the "sub-system" error. I've tried uninstalling both Norton Firewall and Norton Anti-virus, then reinstalling the VPN. I've confirmed that IPSec is disabled and ICS is disabled. I noticed that on my Windows 2000 system, the Cisco service has no dependencies. However, XP has TCP/IP and IPSec listed as dependencies. What else can I do?

[bishopcl]

I fixed the problem. Here is how:

fdisk - reinstalled XP - installed INF files from motherboard manufactor

installed vpn.

installed everything else. VPN still works.

[geoff]

I am having the same issues. I have foudn however that the problems are only happening with the VPN client on the Windows 2000 server system. Yes I really need to run the VPN client from a server. but I have no issues from any other system.