OpenVPN client for the iPhone and iPad

agomboc

Hi folks,

I am interested in developing an OpenVPN client for the iPhone and iPad. There have been attempts to do this before, achieved by jailbreaking the iPhone and then implementing the tun API which takes care of the networking-layer stuff in the OS kernel (see tunemu - Tun device emulation for Darwin) This is, of course, is not sanctioned by Apple because the app does not use publicly available APIs.

With the release of iPhone OS 4, Juniper and Cisco announced that they'd develop and release clients for the iPhone for their SSL VPN systems . So I am hoping that there might now be iPhone API's available to permit the development of a proper client for OpenVPN in the new iPhone SDK.... is there such an API?

Anyone got one got any thoughts or comments on this (or want to help me with the project?)

Adriel

krzee

http://github.com/jfx2006/OpenVPN_iphone/downloads for precompiled iphone binaries
http://modmyi.com/cydia/package.php?id=15784 for a working port of openvpn (using tunemu) and an sbsettings toggle. Openvpn complied with tunemu patch using Rob Lemley's git tree.

This is as good as it can possibly get unless someone figures out how to build tuntap for the iphone
http://tuntaposx.sourceforge.net/ for osX tuntap drivers in case you would like to give that a shot!

GuizmOVPN

There is an easy-to-use GUI (based on the tunemu patch).
Check www.guizmovpn.com for more details.

freeman

Apparently there is an undocumented API that can be used to extend VPN support.
We need to pressure Apple into documenting it.

http://blog.michael.kuron-germany.de/2010/09/ios-4-1-undocumented-vpn-api-used-by-cisco-anyconnect/

[deleted]

freeman wroteApparently there is an undocumented API that can be used to extend VPN support.
We need to pressure Apple into documenting it.

http://blog.michael.kuron-germany.de/2010/09/ios-4-1-undocumented-vpn-api-used-by-cisco-anyconnect/

I concur that apple needs that pressure.

kurtpenter

I'm sorry if this is just a stupid idea, I'm a newbie of iOS and VPN.

The problem preventing OpenVPN to work without jailbreak seems to be related to routing/dns. Having OpenVPN integrated at the same level as supported VPNs seems not possible.

But iOS is able to open a socket to an OpenVPN server, then the application can set up the protocol and be configured to exchange data with a specific server available on the VPN network. It could then open a local port on the iDevice and tunnel traffic from that port to a port on the VPN server. Am I wrong?

I imagine something like an SSH tunnel: creating a connection from a local port to a server:port available only in the VPN network. This tunnel could then be used by the same app to open a terminal/browser/... or by another standard iOS app. No need to change anything at routing level. This looks to me a limited functionality but still very useful for people that need to access web servers or remote desktops/shells via VPN. Http, ssh, vnc, rdp clients should work fine...

I suppose there must something wrong in this, or really difficult to implement, but I don't know what.

Can you please give me some hints on this? Thanks!

hydrostarr

(bump) Any updated word on iPhone/iPad/IOS support/capability?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=358182759931
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1607496

[deleted]

I have an interest in this as well.

Is there a simple guide on how to get the client installed/configured on my iTouch? I want to VPN into home so I can use this other app.

dannylucas88

agomboc wroteHi folks,

I am interested in developing an OpenVPN client for the iPhone and iPad. There have been attempts to do this before, achieved by jailbreaking the iPhone and then implementing the tun API which takes care of the networking-layer stuff in the OS kernel (see tunemu - Tun device emulation for Darwin) This is, of course, is not sanctioned by Apple because the app does not use publicly available APIs.

With the release of iPhone OS 4, Juniper and Cisco announced that they'd develop and release clients for the iPhone for their SSL VPN systems . So I am hoping that there might now be iPhone API's available to permit the development of a proper client for OpenVPN in the new iPhone SDK.... is there such an API?

Anyone got one got any thoughts or comments on this (or want to help me with the project?)

Adriel

Is there any work if Apple will let VoIP service providers set up apps that allow iphone user to use SIP software, or do I still have to jailbreak my iphone in order to do anything like this? I would like to set up voip on my iphone, but it seems like the only way to do it at this point is through jailbreaking, which I do not want to do because it will void my warranty. Anyone know if there is any other way to get voip on the iphone? or if there are any good apps for this? Thanks.
-Danny

Mathieu

Is there any work if Apple will let VoIP service providers set up apps that allow iphone user to use SIP software, or do I still have to jailbreak my iphone in order to do anything like this? I would like to set up voip on my iphone, but it seems like the only way to do it at this point is through jailbreaking, which I do not want to do because it will void my warranty. Anyone know if there is any other way to get voip on the iphone? or if there are any good apps for this? Thanks.

Not sure if I understood well what you're searching for but I myself use iCall Free for which you do not need jailbreak.
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/icall-free-voip/id293837001?mt=8

I've also use Skype for a while and even if you got to pay, it's still great!

Have a nice day!

Mathieu

earlodom

I am not sure whether this answer Danny's query. From the face of it, Danny is looking for more details. I will be interested too to know more about VoIP in iPhone / iPad

curlygirl18

Hi, I'm new. Glad I found this thread and forum.

I've was lucky enough to get a new iPad2 for Xmas (lucky me!) but could really do with some VPN software for it.

Sounds like Apple have teased us but not let us have access to anything properly useful (or bug free, i.e I hate jailbreaking stuff!).

I'll stay tuned here and hope good news comes soon.

citynails

Glad I found this thread.... also been thinking of Open VPN on Iphone!

redmateria

try guizmoVPN...i saw it on youtube...

krzee

you can ONLY run openvpn on jailbroken iphones. This is apple's fault, not OpenVPN Technologies'

howardwize

Cisco’s new AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Apple iOS allows IT managers and end users to get what they both want: a secure, yet flexible, browsing experience. The client is designed to work with Cisco’s VPN and web security appliances to provide robust authentication, application controls, and policy enforcement; it uses SSL and DTLS for communication and can be configured manually, or by importing profiles created with Cisco AnyConnect or Apple’s iPhone Configuration Utility

smartype

Believe or not, I have reversed the Cisco AnyConnect App interfaces. So I have created a working prototype which running great on my iPhone/iPod touch.

So do not know if Apple will accept it.

Currently I am working on jailbreak app only. (Such as iBluever, AirBlue Sharing). Do not know if it is worthy for me to speed $99 to become an AppStore dev.

krzee

I do not think this will work without root or some sort of API from apple

Growlizing

smartype wroteBelieve or not, I have reversed the Cisco AnyConnect App interfaces. So I have created a working prototype which running great on my iPhone/iPod touch.

So do not know if Apple will accept it.

Currently I am working on jailbreak app only. (Such as iBluever, AirBlue Sharing). Do not know if it is worthy for me to speed $99 to become an AppStore dev.

If this works, I fucking love you man!

Any way to test it?
How does it integrate with the OS?

Darspire

smartype wroteB
Currently I am working on jailbreak app only.

This would be great. Any dates when the release is ready?