Connecting to Softether Server

Discussion about VPN Client Pro
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JCV
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:43 am

Connecting to Softether Server

Post by JCV »

My previous tablet was compatible to our Softether using other VPN protocol. Now I upgraded to newer Android 12 and they removed old vpn protocols so I search for alternative VPN for me to connect. I'm currently on trial and checking if VPN Client Pro is a good alternative for us.

I'm wondering why I cannot connect via ****.softether.net:443 but I can connect via ****.vpnazure.net:443 in VPN Client Pro.
On my windows PC, I can connect ****.softether.net:443 without a problem. Using vpnazure.net is very slow due to relay and not having direct connection. Is there there any way to solve this?
admin
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Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by admin »

Please, can you check the VPN log and tell me the error?
  • start the app
  • tap on VPN profile name
  • tap on LOG tab
JCV
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:43 am

Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by JCV »

This is the log when I connect the ip address of the *.softether.net address.
2022-06-28 13:12:39 VpnClientPro-google-api27-release-1.01.12 (23010112)
2022-06-28 13:12:39 Connecting request by user
2022-06-28 13:12:39 OpenSSL 3.0.3 3 May 2022
2022-06-28 13:12:39 Connecting to X.XX.XXX.209:443
2022-06-28 13:12:49 connection timeout
2022-06-28 13:12:49 Could not connect
2022-06-28 13:12:49 Wait 5 seconds...
2022-06-28 13:12:55 Connecting to X.XX.XXX.209:443
2022-06-28 13:13:05 connection timeout
2022-06-28 13:13:05 Could not connect
2022-06-28 13:13:05 Wait 5 seconds...
2022-06-28 13:13:10 Connecting to X.XX.XXX.209:443
2022-06-28 13:13:20 connection timeout
2022-06-28 13:13:20 Could not connect
2022-06-28 13:13:20 Wait 5 seconds...
2022-06-28 13:13:25 Connecting to X.XX.XXX.209:443
2022-06-28 13:13:35 connection timeout
2022-06-28 13:13:35 Could not connect
2022-06-28 13:13:35 Wait 5 seconds...
2022-06-28 13:13:44 Disconnecting request by user
2022-06-28 13:13:44 Disconnecting...
2022-06-28 13:13:44 Disconnected
I use the same address above on my desktop and it connects without issue.
softether_desktop.png
softether_desktop.png (18.06 KiB) Viewed 4961 times

If I use the *.vpnazure.net address (relay), i can connect.
2022-06-28 13:09:40 VpnClientPro-google-api27-release-1.01.12 (23010112)
2022-06-28 13:09:40 Connecting request by user
2022-06-28 13:09:40 OpenSSL 3.0.3 3 May 2022
2022-06-28 13:09:46 Connecting to XXX.XXX.XX.104:443
2022-06-28 13:09:46 Set TLS SNI extension to "XXXXXXXXX.vpnazure.net"
2022-06-28 13:09:46 Sending client signature
2022-06-28 13:09:48 TLSv1.3 connection established with cipher TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384
2022-06-28 13:09:50 Sending client authentication
2022-06-28 13:09:50 DHCP client started
2022-06-28 13:09:50 Connected
2022-06-28 13:09:51 set DHCP server "192.168.XX.XX"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 set lease time "57600"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 add address "192.168.XX.XX/24"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 add route "0.0.0.0/1 via 192.168.XX.XX"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 add route "128.0.0.0/1 via 192.168.XX.XX"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 add dns "192.168.XX.XX"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 add dns "192.168.XX.XX"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 add search domain "XXXXXXXX.LOCAL"
2022-06-28 13:09:51 DHCP client completed
2022-06-28 13:09:51 TapEmulator started

If I use *.vpnazure.net which is a relay, my connection is much slower. Ping goes 1000ms instead of the usual <20ms when connected to VPN.
My issue is why I cannot connect directly using the app?
admin
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Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by admin »

In my opinion the problem is related to connectivity, perhaps a firewall blocking the connection.
Can you try to start the web browser on your tablet and open the URL https://X.XX.XXX.209 (your VPN server address)?
If the server is reachable you should see the SoftEther server web page, otherwise it means that the server is not reachable and therefore the VPN connection cannot be established.
JCV
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:43 am

Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by JCV »

No i cannot access in browser both https://XXX.XXX.XX.104 and https://X.XX.XXX.209 but I can connect the VPN Client Pro via XXX.XXX.XX.104:443 (azure relay). I can connect both IP using my softhether windows client. I also tested on other softether server and its the same issue.
admin
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Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by admin »

Regarding the ip address of * .vpnazure.net it is normal that you are unable to open the web page, because the proxy used as a relay only responds to requests that set the TLS SNI extension to a valid host in the vpnazure.net domain.
On the other hand, if you connect directly to your server, normally it must also respond using the ip address.
By default SoftEther servers are also listening on port 5555, have you tried connecting the VPN using port 5555?
JCV
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2022 6:43 am

Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by JCV »

In my windows desktop, it connects via port 5555.
In my VPN Client Pro, using *.softether.net does not connect but *.vpnazure.net connects.
Both desktop and my android are on the same lan network. :?
2022-06-28 16:28:24 VpnClientPro-google-api27-release-1.01.12 (23010112)
2022-06-28 16:28:24 Connecting request by user
2022-06-28 16:28:24 OpenSSL 3.0.3 3 May 2022
2022-06-28 16:28:24 Connecting to X.XX.XXX.209:5555
2022-06-28 16:28:34 connection timeout
2022-06-28 16:28:34 Could not connect
2022-06-28 16:28:34 Wait 5 seconds...
2022-06-28 16:28:39 Connecting to X.XX.XXX.209:5555
2022-06-28 16:28:49 connection timeout
2022-06-28 16:28:49 Could not connect
2022-06-28 16:28:49 Wait 5 seconds...
Attachments
softether_desktop.png
softether_desktop.png (69.09 KiB) Viewed 4934 times
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 669
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:04 pm
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Re: Connecting to Softether Server

Post by admin »

I'm sorry but the "Connection timeout" error means that the client is not receiving any response.
The fact that the web browser cannot reach the VPN server also indicates that there is some connectivity problem.
With the web browser the SoftEther server should show a web page like this:
SoftEther VPN Server / Bridge
For VPN users:

Connect to this VPN Server
by Official SoftEther VPN Client (download)
by L2TP/IPsec, OpenVPN or SSTP traditional clients
For VPN administrators:

Manage this VPN Server or VPN Bridge
by SoftEther VPN Server Manager GUI for Windows / macOS (download) (Recommended)
by SoftEther VPN Command Line Management Utility (vpncmd) for CUI
by JSON-RPC API from your favorite programming language (JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, Python, Ruby, C#, ... etc.)
(ID: 'administrator', Password: same to the VPN Server's password. Default: empty)
by Built-in HTML5 Web Administration Console (New, under construction)
(ID: 'administrator', Password: same to the VPN Server's password. Default: empty)

If you want to disable this embedded web server and JSON-RPC server:
Stop the daemon.
Modify the value of "bool DisableJsonRpcWebApi" from "false" to "true" on the vpn_server.config or vpn_bridge.config.
Restart the daemon.
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