Setting up your L2TP VPN connection on MacOS v13 and newer
Screencast Tutorial
1. System Settings
Go to the Apple menu and select ‘System Settings’.
2. Network
Select ‘Network’ from the left menu.
3. L2TP over IPSec
Click onto the dropdown menu and select ‘Add VPN Configuration’ followed by ‘L2TP over IPSec’.
4. Enter Details
Enter a name for the connection in the ‘Display Name’ field, your vpnuk server address or IP into the ‘Server Address’ field and the VPN account username in the ‘Account Name’. You can find the server information in your ‘Welcome to VPNUK’ email or in the members area on the VPNUK website.
5. Authentication and Shared Secret
Enter your VPN login password in the ‘Password’ field and enter the Shared Secret ‘69000903‘.
6. Send all traffic
Enable the option to ‘Send all traffic over the VPN’ then click ‘Create’.
7. Connect
Toggle the connection to connect or go to the VPN Connection in the taskbar and click ‘Connect’.
Troubleshooting Guide
To display the full list of available hardware enter the following command: sudo networksetup -listallhardwareports
You now need to disable IPv6 on your network connections and VPNUK account.
The command for disabling IPv6 on your Wi-Fi connection is usually: sudo networksetup -setv6off Wi-Fi
The command for disabling IPv6 on your Ethernet connection is usually: sudo networksetup -setv6off Ethernet
The command for disabling IPv6 on your VPNUK connection is usually: sudo networksetup -setv6off VPNUK
Run all of the necessary commands and then go to your networking overview: Launchpad > Network
Select your Ethernet connection and click onto the Advanced button.
Go to the TCP/IP tab and ensure IPv6 is set to: Off.
Repeat the procedure for your other connections (Wi-Fi and VPNUK).
ISP DNS Hijack / DNS Leak Protection
Some ISPs will attempt to hijack your DNS settings which hinders the VPN connection from functioning correctly. If you find that your VPNUK connection does not route your traffic correctly you can try changing your Public DNS server to the VPNUK DNS server or to an alternative like Google DNS.
1. Right click onto your network connection icon in the menu bar and select Open Network Preferences.
2. Click onto your active internet connection from the left hand menu and then click ‘Advanced’.
3. Go to the DNS tab.
4. Enter a DNS IP into the DNS server box. Google DNS is 8.8.8.8. VPNUK Public DNS is: 109.169.6.2
5. Click ‘OK’ and ‘Apply’ the change.
Send all traffic over the VPN (PPTP and L2TP connections only)
Mac OS X requires that you instruct it to Send traffic over the VPN connection. Follow this tutorial if you do not appear to be on the VPN when connected.
1. Right click onto your network connection icon in the menu bar and select Open Network Preferences.
2. Click onto your VPNUK connection from the left hand menu and then click ‘Advanced’.
3. Select the option to ‘Send All Traffic Over The VPN’.
4. Click ‘OK’ and ‘Apply’ the change.