Smoothwall VPN: can't connect to the ssl vpn service: shutting down

[Cazale]

Does anyone else get the above error regularly from the Windows Smoothwall VPN client? (a Windows error box that pops up saying "Smoothwall VPN: Can't connect to the ssl vpn service: shutting down").

 

We look after several schools, and there's barely a day goes by where we don't have this issue with at least one school, or even have the issue ourselves.

 

Whenever we get the error the service is running. Fixing it is simple enough, we remove the Smoothwall client via add/remove programs, reboot, reinstall it, reboot and then it works. It's just a bit of a faff having to do that nearly everyday.

 

The reason I ask is because I tried to open a support ticket with Smoothwall, and their support said it seems to be a unique problem to us, so they wouldn't escalate it as a software problem.

 

I just find that really difficult to believe, because as I said above, we see it regularly with several clients (different schools, different premises, different devices, different Windows versions, different Smoothwalls, etc). We (as a company) also have dedicated VMs that we use to remote into schools hosted on our own server, and it occasionally happens to us too.

 

Anyone else get this issue? (I'm hoping to build up a case of it happening so I can throw it back to them as a bug).

Edited June 21, 2021 by Cazale

[Joeloman]

Unfortunately, this sometimes happens after version updates in Windows.

If you roll back, the VPN works again ....

 

Usually, the fastest and safest way is to just uninstall and reinstall the VPN client.

 

Since this also happens with other VPN client is Smoothwall I do not think the fault lies in their software.

 

A bit mysterious that one device works to update but the other crashes, but it can be so much that goes wrong with an update so we have given up troubleshooting and just reinstalling, as it is the fastest fix.

[Cazale]

Unfortunately, this sometimes happens after version updates in Windows.

 

I'm not doubting that is sometimes true, but in our case I don't think it is the issue.

 

We control updates (with WSUS, to state the obvious) and we'd have noticed the correlation.

 

I should have said in the OP; this isn't something new, we've been seeing it for years. I think it's become more of an issue for us in this past year because there's been a lot more home working due to covid, and as a result of covid schools have more buying more devices, so we're just seeing it happen more frequently.

Edited June 21, 2021 by Cazale

[Joeloman]

Since this just like you say has happened for quite some time ... We tried to roll them back after a Windows update and then the VPN worked again.

When we then installed the update, it usually worked without destroying the VPN. Strange!?!

 

What we came up with was that it probably depended on whether the VPN was running at the time of the update but we he never test on enough devices to be sure of it.

Some of our clients also do not restart after an update, so it may take some time before the error appears.......

 

 

How is it for you after a reinstallation?

Ours works without any problems for a very long time, regardless of whether it is Smoothwall or another VPN client.

Edited June 21, 2021 by Joeloman

[simpsonj]

Apologies for the necro thread raising, but has anyone got the Smoothwall VPN working on Windows 11? I think I've managed it once, but every other time and device, I'm getting the 'application is shutting down error'.

[ibpalle]

Running Windows 11 and the SSL VPN client with no issues here.

[simpsonj]

Running Windows 11 and the SSL VPN client with no issues here.

 

Interesting, thanks @ibpalle I'll do some investigation!

[simpsonj]

Nope, I'm still having no joy:

 

Fresh build on Windows 11 23H2 (HP)

All updates and drivers installed

M365 Office installed

Sophos installed

Some Ninite apps installed (Paint.net, VLC, Chrome)

Adobe Reader DC installed

Clevershare installed

Smoothwall Cloud filter installed

 

Install Smoothwall VPN

Reboot

Launch Smoothwall VPN

An error occured - Can't connect to the ssl vpn service. Application is shutting down.

 

The same apps are installed on a Windows 10 machine (Lenovo), and the VPN works as expected.

 

Could it be a conflict with HP device drivers? Sophos? A setting on Windows 11 that isn't in Windows 10? Without knowing what the VPN requirements of the OS are it's hard to diagnose!

[ibpalle]

Is the TAP device installed in the network interfaces?

[simpsonj]

Thanks @ibpalle, the TAP device is installed:

 

TAP-Win32 Adapter V9

Driver Date: 19/04/2010

Driver version 9.0.0.9

 

But the Event Log shows two logs that might be useful troubleshooting this issue:

#1

Device ROOT\NET\0000 was configured.

Driver Name: oem188.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Driver Date: 04/19/2010

Driver Version: 9.0.0.9

Driver Provider: TAP-Win32 Provider V9

Driver Section: tap0901.ndi

Driver Rank: 0xFF0000

Matching Device Id: tap0901

Outranked Drivers:

Device Updated: true

Parent Device: HTREE\ROOT\0

 

#2

Device ROOT\NET\0000 had a problem starting.

Driver Name: oem188.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Service: tap0901

Lower Filters:

Upper Filters:

Problem: 0x0

Problem Status: 0xC00000E5

[Primus]

I'm running it on Windows 11 with no issues but only a handful of computers - mind the Smoothwall VPN has been massively unloved for a long time and is in serious need of development now.

[ibpalle]

Thanks @ibpalle

 

#2

Device ROOT\NET\0000 had a problem starting.

Driver Name: oem188.inf

Class Guid: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

Service: tap0901

Lower Filters:

Upper Filters:

Problem: 0x0

Problem Status: 0xC00000E5

 

The problem status gives this result on a search:

 

Most application errors, like (0xc00000e5), are usually related to the application being unable to access a required system file. Therefore, run the application as an administrator, which grants it administrative access to system files. You need to right-click on the app and select Run as administrator.

 

Not certain how that would apply here.

[synaesthesia]

Interesting thread - I've been getting this a lot recently, however inconsistently. Sometimes it'll just work, sometimes it won't with the above error message. Sometimes a reboot will solve it, often not. Trying to restart the service, it hangs on stopping service and won't cancel/come back until a reboot.

[ibpalle]

Just an aside, the ovpn file generated by the Smoothwall configurator should work with other OpenVPN clients too - I haven't tested it recently though.

 

https://openvpn.net/client/client-connect-vpn-for-windows/

[Primus]

Just an aside, the ovpn file generated by the Smoothwall configurator should work with other OpenVPN clients too - I haven't tested it recently though.

 

https://openvpn.net/client/client-connect-vpn-for-windows/

 

It will but many have been warning for a while that it doesn't confirm to the latest spec - I've had to limit the version of the VPN client I use as the latest versions won't support this old of an OpenVPN config unfortunately.

[tom_newton]

Ask your CSM to get you onto "Maiden" - our latest release. That has VPN updates which will help (and more still are coming in Newport later this year)

[simpsonj]

Thanks, I've sent the email request over

[synaesthesia]

Upgraded to Maiden over the weekend. VPN connectivity is much improved, however wasn't told that the Smoothwall SSL VPN client is now removed. Going on previous comments I tried OpenVPN v3 which never worked previously and does work now. I believe you can also push this out via whatever method you desire and include the original OVPN file from Smoothwall so upgrading users isn't a massive effort.

Performance on Maiden seems good, although frankly I should hope so with noone in school

Edited July 29, 2024 by synaesthesia

[tom_newton]

Glad things are working for you - hopefully more improvements incoming in the winter.

[ITGuyNW]

Upgraded to Maiden over the weekend. VPN connectivity is much improved, however wasn't told that the Smoothwall SSL VPN client is now removed. Going on previous comments I tried OpenVPN v3 which never worked previously and does work now. I believe you can also push this out via whatever method you desire and include the original OVPN file from Smoothwall so upgrading users isn't a massive effort.

Performance on Maiden seems good, although frankly I should hope so with noone in school

 

Hi

 

So when you say SSL VPN client has gone, does that mean just the client? or has the ability to use a VPN gone completely?

[Joeloman]

It is the self-made Smoothwall client that is no longer available, as there are now many free clients that work very well, Smoothwall no longer needs to make its own.

 

The support for different VPNs in Smoothwall is very good.

[synaesthesia]

Hi

 

So when you say SSL VPN client has gone, does that mean just the client? or has the ability to use a VPN gone completely?

 

Yeah it's just the client software itself. OpenVPN works extremely well and also means better support cross platform.

[ITGuyNW]

I've just updated to Maiden now and our VPN connects.... well when I say connect, it seems to take 3 tries before doing so? Anyone else experienced this?

 

1st line just keep trying to direct me to their help guides, which aren't much help

[tom_newton]

Chuck me the ticket number - I will get it escalated