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To run an IKEv2 VPN with strongSwan, deploy the daemon on a Linux host with a stable, publicly reachable DNS name, create a trusted certificate authority (CA) and gateway certificate, define the connection in swanctl.conf, then enable forwarding, firewall rules, and (when needed) NAT. The gateway certificate’s subjectAltName must exactly match the server name that every client enters.
This guide uses strongSwan’s current VICI/swanctl administration model. The older stroke/ipsec.conf path is deprecated and is not built by default in current documentation.
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IKEv2 negotiation, certificate validation, IP routing, and client authentication are separate pieces. Prepare each one before troubleshooting the others.
- A Linux host: Use a distribution with a maintained strongSwan package set and root access. Package and plugin names differ by distribution, so check the distribution’s current package documentation.
- A public endpoint: The gateway needs a stable public IPv4 address, IPv6 if you intend to serve IPv6, or a DNS record that follows any address changes.
- Reachable UDP ports: Permit UDP 500 and UDP 4500 from the Internet to the host. IKEv2 normally moves to UDP 4500 when NAT traversal is in use.
- A certificate name: Choose a DNS name such as
vpn.example.com. Clients must enter this exact name, including spelling and domain, and that name must appear in the gateway certificate’s SAN extension. - An address plan: Reserve private pools that do not overlap with common home or office networks. The examples below use
10.20.0.0/24for IPv4 andfd42:20::/64for IPv6; replace them with ranges appropriate to your network. - Forwarding and egress policy: Decide whether VPN clients should reach only internal subnets (split tunnel) or send all traffic through the gateway (full tunnel). Plan DNS servers and NAT before connecting users.
Keep private keys readable only by the account that runs the VPN service. Back up the CA key offline; possession of that key allows an operator to issue certificates trusted by your clients.
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Choose the authentication model
strongSwan can authenticate the gateway with a certificate while authenticating users or devices in several ways. Select one deliberately because it determines plugin requirements, client enrollment, and how credentials are revoked.
| Model | What the client presents | Operational strengths | Costs and limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate (public-key) authentication | A client certificate signed by your CA | Strong device identity; no reusable password; suitable for managed fleets | You must issue, install, renew, and revoke certificates |
| EAP-TLS | A client certificate during EAP authentication | Mutual certificate authentication and good machine identity | Requires a client PKI workflow and compatible client profiles |
| EAP-MSCHAPv2 | A username and password | Simple enrollment on Windows and Apple clients; familiar help-desk process | Password protection and rotation become your responsibility |
| EAP through RADIUS | Credentials checked by a RADIUS service | Centralizes authentication and can reuse an existing identity system | Requires the eap-radius plugin, a RADIUS server, and reliable connectivity to it |
The gateway itself still needs a server certificate. For a certificate-client deployment, configure the remote side to trust your CA. For EAP, configure the selected EAP method and its credentials; do not leave a password-based method enabled merely because it is convenient.
Install strongSwan and use the swanctl directory
Install the strongSwan daemon, the VICI interface, the swanctl utility, and plugins required by your chosen authentication method. On some distributions these are separate packages. Verify that the installed build includes the certificate, kernel networking, EAP, and (if applicable) RADIUS plugins before writing the connection.
The modern layout normally places configuration and credentials below the swanctl directory, commonly /etc/swanctl:
/etc/swanctl/swanctl.confcontains connection, pool, and credential definitions./etc/swanctl/x509/contains public gateway or client certificates./etc/swanctl/x509ca/contains CA certificates used for trust./etc/swanctl/private/contains private keys./etc/swanctl/x509crl/can contain certificate-revocation lists when you distribute them.
File names are examples; use the paths created by your distribution’s package. Do not mix a swanctl deployment with an old ipsec.conf deployment unless you understand which service is loading each file. The strongSwan documentation describes the legacy interface this way: “The legacy stroke control interface and the ipsec command line tool may still be used with the deprecated ipsec.conf and ipsec.secrets configuration files. However, they are no longer built by default.”
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Create the CA and gateway certificate
You can use an enterprise CA, a public CA that permits server authentication, or strongSwan’s pki utility. The following example creates a local RSA CA and a gateway certificate. Run it in a protected working directory, not in a world-readable web directory.
-
Generate the CA private key:
pki --gen --type rsa --size 4096 --outform pem > ca-key.pem -
Create a self-signed CA certificate:
pki --self --ca --lifetime 3650 --in ca-key.pem --dn "CN=Example VPN CA" --outform pem > ca-cert.pem -
Generate the gateway private key:
pki --gen --type rsa --size 3072 --outform pem > server-key.pem -
Issue the gateway certificate. Replace the example DNS name with the name users will enter:
pki --pub --in server-key.pem | pki --issue --lifetime 1825 --cacert ca-cert.pem --cakey ca-key.pem --dn "CN=vpn.example.com" --san vpn.example.com --flag serverAuth --outform pem > server-cert.pem -
Copy the public files and private key into the corresponding swanctl directories, then restrict the key:
chmod 600 /etc/swanctl/private/server-key.pem
The serverAuth extended-key-usage flag identifies the certificate for server authentication. The SAN is not optional: the exact DNS name (or an IP address, if clients really connect by IP) must be present. A certificate with only a matching common name can still fail validation. Apple’s interoperability guidance states that the domain name or IP address of the server “MUST be contained in a subjectAltName extension,” and the entered server name must match it exactly.
For certificate-authenticated clients, issue a separate certificate for each device or user, include the appropriate client-authentication usage, and place the issuing CA certificate on the gateway and clients. Never distribute the CA private key to a client.
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Write a swanctl.conf connection
swanctl.conf is hierarchical. A connection has local and remote authentication blocks, one or more children for traffic selectors, and optional virtual-IP pools. This template shows password-based EAP and dual-stack pools; change it for EAP-TLS or certificate clients.
connections {
ikev2-vpn {
version = 2
pools = vpn4, vpn6
local {
auth = pubkey
certs = server-cert.pem
id = vpn.example.com
}
remote {
auth = eap-mschapv2
eap_id = %any
}
children {
tunnel {
local_ts = 0.0.0.0/0, ::/0
pools = vpn4, vpn6
start_action = trap
}
}
}
}
pools {
vpn4 {
addrs = 10.20.0.0/24
dns = 10.20.0.1
}
vpn6 {
addrs = fd42:20::/64
dns = fd42:20::1
}
}
secrets {
eap-user {
id = alice
secret = change-this-value
}
}Treat this as a structure to adapt, not a universal policy. The local.id value is the DNS name in the certificate SAN. The remote.auth value selects EAP-MSCHAPv2; for EAP-TLS or certificate authentication, use the corresponding public-key method and configure the trusted CA and client credentials. Keep secrets out of shell history and source-control repositories.
Full-tunnel selectors
0.0.0.0/0, ::/0 asks the client to send all IPv4 and IPv6 traffic through the tunnel. It provides consistent egress control but requires forwarding, NAT or routed return paths, and DNS that is reachable through the VPN.
Split-tunnel selectors
Replace the broad selectors with only the networks clients need, for example 10.50.0.0/16 and 2001:db8:50::/48. Split tunneling reduces gateway bandwidth and preserves local Internet access, but traffic outside those prefixes does not receive VPN protection. Do not advertise a private range that overlaps a client’s local LAN; the operating system may choose the local route instead.
DNS delivery
Set DNS addresses in the pool only when those resolvers are reachable from the VPN interface and are prepared to answer the client’s queries. An internal resolver can provide private names; a public resolver may be appropriate for Internet-only clients. If DNS works on the gateway but not on a client, check pool delivery, firewall rules, and whether the client accepted the pushed DNS settings.
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Enable forwarding, firewalling, and NAT
strongSwan negotiates security associations; it does not automatically make Linux route packets between the VPN pool and your LAN or Internet uplink.
- Enable forwarding. Set
net.ipv4.ip_forward=1for IPv4 andnet.ipv6.conf.all.forwarding=1when using IPv6. Persist the settings using your distribution’s sysctl mechanism. - Allow IKE and ESP traffic. Permit UDP 500 and UDP 4500 to the gateway. If your deployment carries native ESP rather than encapsulating it in UDP, permit ESP (IP protocol 50) as well. Restrict management ports separately.
- Allow forwarding. Add firewall rules from each VPN pool to the intended LAN prefixes and, for a full tunnel, to the Internet-facing interface. Add corresponding return traffic rules.
- Provide return routing or NAT. For routed access, add routes on internal routers back to the VPN pools through the gateway. For Internet breakout without upstream routes, masquerade the VPN pools on the egress interface. A NAT rule must use your actual interface and pool; copying a rule with the wrong interface silently breaks traffic.
- Account for IPv6 separately. IPv6 forwarding, filtering, and routing are independent of IPv4. Do not advertise an IPv6 pool unless the gateway and upstream network can route it.
Use the firewall framework already standard on your distribution. A syntactically valid rule in an empty nftables table does not create a complete policy, so review the active ruleset and default forward policy after making changes.
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- Place the CA certificate in the trust directory, the gateway certificate in the certificate directory, and the gateway key in the private directory. Check ownership and permissions.
- Validate and load the files with
swanctl, for exampleswanctl --load-all. Resolve parse errors before testing a client. - Confirm that the daemon is running and inspect its service logs. On systems using systemd,
journalctl -u strongswanis a starting point; the exact unit name can vary. - Connect one test client and inspect negotiated security associations with
swanctl --list-sas. You should see an IKE_SA and a CHILD_SA, the client identity, and assigned virtual address. - Test in layers: first the VPN-assigned gateway address, then an internal host, then DNS, and finally Internet access for a full tunnel. A working IKE_SA with no traffic normally indicates selectors, forwarding, firewall, routing, or NAT rather than certificate failure.
Reloading a corrected connection is safer than restarting the entire host, but follow your distribution’s service procedure when changing plugins or daemon startup settings.
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Windows 7 and newer
Microsoft’s Agile VPN implementation supports IKEv2 and MOBIKE on Windows 7 and later. In Windows, open Settings > Network & internet > VPN > Add VPN. Choose the built-in Windows provider, enter a connection name, set the server name to the exact certificate SAN, choose IKEv2, and select the sign-in method that matches the gateway: certificate or username/password. Install your CA certificate in the trust store when using a private CA. If the profile connects only when the server is entered by IP, the DNS name or SAN does not match the profile.
iPhone and iPad
Open Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN > Add VPN Configuration, choose IKEv2, and enter the server, remote ID, local ID (when required), and user authentication. The server field must match the certificate SAN exactly. For EAP-MSCHAPv2, enter the account credentials; for EAP-TLS, install the client identity and select it. Install and trust the CA certificate before connecting to a privately issued gateway certificate.
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In System Settings > VPN, add an IKEv2 configuration and provide the server address, remote ID, local ID if used, and user or certificate authentication. Apple clients support IKEv2 with EAP-MSCHAPv2 and EAP-TLS. Use the same server-name/SAN spelling as on iOS; a visually similar alias is not sufficient.
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The strongSwan Android client can use the documented gateway configuration. Create a profile with the gateway DNS name, select the matching EAP or certificate method, install the CA or client certificate as required, and request the VPN address. If an always-on profile is enabled, verify that the selected mode does not block local networks needed for enrollment or support.
NetworkManager on Linux
The NetworkManager strongSwan plugin can create an IKEv2 profile for Linux desktops. Enter the gateway address and server identity, select the EAP or certificate credentials, and import the CA certificate. Use the connection’s IPv4 and IPv6 routes to implement split tunneling; leaving routes automatic generally follows the selectors received from the gateway.
Troubleshoot by failure stage
| Symptom | Likely cause | Checks and corrective action |
|---|---|---|
| No response from the gateway | DNS, security group, firewall, or UDP reachability | Resolve the gateway name from the client, confirm UDP 500/4500 reaches the host, and inspect the host firewall and upstream router. |
| Certificate name or identity error | Server field, local.id, and SAN differ |
Use one exact DNS name everywhere. Inspect the certificate SAN and ensure the client trusts the issuing CA. |
| IKE_SA forms but authentication fails | Wrong EAP method, credentials, CA, or client certificate | Compare remote.auth with the client profile, verify the account secret, and inspect daemon logs for the rejected identity. |
| IKE_SA forms but no CHILD_SA | Traffic-selector or pool configuration mismatch | Check the child selectors, virtual-IP pool, and whether the client requested IPv4, IPv6, or both. |
| Connected, but internal hosts are unreachable | Forwarding, return route, or firewall policy | Ping the gateway’s tunnel address, then an internal host. Add a return route or NAT and permit forwarding in both directions. |
| Internet fails in full-tunnel mode | Missing NAT, DNS, or egress forwarding | Test an IP address and a DNS name separately. Verify masquerade or routed egress, DNS pool settings, and outbound firewall policy. |
| IPv4 works but IPv6 fails | IPv6 forwarding or route absent | Check the IPv6 pool, selectors, forwarding sysctl, firewall, and upstream route. Remove IPv6 selectors until the network is ready rather than advertising a dead path. |
Enable detailed daemon logging only for the troubleshooting window and protect logs because EAP identities and certificate subjects can be sensitive. Disable verbose output after the fault is isolated.
Operate the server safely
- Renew before expiry: Track CA, gateway, and client certificate expiration. Install a renewed gateway certificate with the same SAN and reload the connection before the old certificate expires.
- Revoke lost credentials: Revoke an individual client certificate or disable its EAP account instead of replacing the entire CA. Distribute updated trust or revocation data according to your client platform’s capabilities.
- Protect the CA: Keep the CA private key offline and use a separate, least-privileged process for day-to-day gateway operation.
- Monitor both layers: Alert on daemon availability and on forwarding/NAT health. A server can continue negotiating IKE while its firewall silently drops user traffic.
- Document identity and routes: Record the canonical gateway DNS name, SAN, pools, internal prefixes, DNS servers, authentication method, and plugin dependencies. This prevents a future administrator from changing one value and breaking every client.
- Plan mobility: Windows and Apple implementations support MOBIKE, which helps clients change networks without rebuilding every profile. Keep UDP 4500 reachable so mobile clients can use NAT traversal.
Decide between full tunnel and split tunnel
| Decision factor | Full tunnel | Split tunnel |
|---|---|---|
| Selectors | 0.0.0.0/0, ::/0 |
Only required internal prefixes |
| Security and control | Central egress filtering, logging, and DNS control | Local Internet traffic stays outside the VPN |
| Gateway load | All client traffic consumes gateway bandwidth | Only selected traffic crosses the gateway |
| Required networking | Forwarding plus NAT or complete upstream routing and reachable DNS | Routes and firewall rules for the selected networks |
| Typical failure | Connected tunnel with no Internet because NAT or DNS is missing | Private service unreachable because its prefix was omitted or overlaps a local LAN |
Start with split tunneling when the requirement is limited to private services; choose full tunneling when policy requires all traffic to use the gateway and you are prepared to operate egress routing, DNS, and capacity.
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The Bottom Line
A reliable strongSwan IKEv2 deployment is the combination of an exact SAN-matching gateway certificate, a correctly scoped swanctl.conf connection, deliberate client authentication, and ordinary Linux forwarding and firewall work. Verify each layer separately before adding more clients.
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