Workflow for VPN services

[schoeps]

Dear all, 

 

I have written a worklflow that shows a list of all available VPN services and allows to connect or disconnect via Alfred:

 

VPN_Toggle.alfredworkflow (Latest Version: 1.2 as of 2013-11-03)

 

Enjoy, Sebastian

Edited November 3, 2013 by Sebastian

[Gehirnfussel]

Nice thing - works like a charm

[chrstn.rchl]

That's damn cool thanks!

[countdrachma]

Nice one.  Thanks Sebastian!

[gattaca]

Perfect..thanks for sharing this.

[jjasghar]

Works great, thanks!

[cLarnhof]

very nice, thanks!

[mnewt]

good stuff, thanks!

[schoeps]

The VPN_Toggle workflow has been updated to include Alleyoop updates and it shows the current ip address. 

Edited April 1, 2013 by Sebastian

[oliverwaters]

Hey Sebastian,

 

Nice work. Thanks!

 

Out of interest, why are you returning the external IP address of the computer your using to connect to the VPN? This isn't required for the workflow to complete and is really slowing the workflow down (taking roughly 5 seconds to return the IP).

 

Cheers,

Ollie

[xandrik]

Awesome! Thank you for your brilliance! 

[schoeps]

Hey Sebastian,

 

Nice work. Thanks!

 

Out of interest, why are you returning the external IP address of the computer your using to connect to the VPN? This isn't required for the workflow to complete and is really slowing the workflow down (taking roughly 5 seconds to return the IP).

 

Cheers,

Ollie

 

Dear Ollie, 

 

I obtain the new IP address via a web download and this is rather slow. It is not really important but I like to see the new address.

I modified the workflow in version 1.1 such that it does not slow down the process anymore. Only the notification is delayed such that the new IP address has time to become active. Is this more convenient?

 

Bye

Sebastian

[ridogi]

Thanks, works great.

 

Would VPN Tracker support be possible?

[schoeps]

Thanks, works great.

 

Would VPN Tracker support be possible?

 

I will have a look but I cannot promise anything. I do not use VPN Tracker myself since IPSec and PP2P are directly supported by Mac OS.

Does VPN Tracker support Applescript?

Edited April 5, 2013 by Sebastian

[jjlawren]

Any chance for Tunnelblick support for OpenVPN? Looks like there is documented Applescript here: http://code.google.com/p/tunnelblick/wiki/cAppleScriptSupport.

[TruckTurner]

What a time saver! I constantly need to connect and disconnect throughout my workday since our main customer's DB is behind a VPN.

Thank you so much! 

[Richman777]

Not really sure if this is a mavericks problem or what but doesn't seem to be working.  It will correctly list my VPN and then say connect.  I'll get a notification saying it is connected, but it definitely isn't.

 

I have a keyfob for my work VPN and when I hit connect, nothing happens (I'd expect the login prompt to open) and then get the notification via Alfred.

[schoeps]

I do not have mavericks hence debugging is difficult for me but since you must be a developer to get 10.9, you can probably help me Just run the following code in the applescript editor (of course replace VPNCONNECTION with the correct string as given in the system preferences) and see what is happening...   

tell application "System Events"
	tell current location of network preferences
		set VPNservice to service "VPNCONNECTION"
		set isConnected to connected of current configuration of VPNservice
		if isConnected then
			disconnect VPNservice
			set output to "Disonnected"
		else
			connect VPNservice
			set output to "Connected"
		end if
	end tell
end tell

[Richman777]

It always says "Connected" despite not actually connecting.... 

 

It's definitely attempting to connect to the correct VPN as if I name it something that isn't the correct VPN it throws an error on the variable.

 

 

Actually viewed the events and saw this, "missing value" (I changed the VPN name to hide it as it does contain company name)

tell application "System Events"
	get service "<VPN NAME>" of current location of network preferences
		--> service id "2F9448AF-DFE9-4F77-9828-33905B42D4E4" of network preferences
	get connected of current configuration of service id "2F9448AF-DFE9-4F77-9828-33905B42D4E4" of network preferences
		--> false
	connect service id "2F9448AF-DFE9-4F77-9828-33905B42D4E4" of network preferences
		--> missing value
end tell 

Found this on open radar which seems to be the same thing: http://openradar.appspot.com/14697626

Edited August 16, 2013 by Richman777

[schoeps]

Thanks for posting. The post at open radar seems to further indicate that there is a bug in Mavericks. I am afraid that we need to wait since I am not aware of any other way to start the VPN connection Sorry!

[Richman777]

No problem - I'll keep an eye out on it and update if its fixed in one of the next developer previews.

[Richman777]

FYI - looks like Developer Preview 6 fixed this issue.  

 

Edit: I will say, that if you cancel a VPN connect that asks for a token auth, you'll still get that vpn connection popup after.  Check IP before and after to see if it connects maybe?

Edited August 22, 2013 by Richman777

[schoeps]

Hi, I have uploaded version 1.2. It should fix problems with firewire showing up as vpn. 

[Guest atomkraft]

Hi Sebastian.

I'm having some instability issues with this nice workflow. I have currently two connections added and i can connect to them "sometimes" and it will never disconnect using your workflow. I might have fucked something up since it worked without issues a couple days ago, but atm its not reliable for me. 

 

Do you want me to supply you with further info? 

Thank you for your work mate.

[schoeps]

Hi atomkraft, 

 

is the problem still present?