L2TP

VyOS utilizes accel-ppp to provide L2TP server functionality. It can be used with local authentication or a connected RADIUS server.

Configuring L2TP Server

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication mode local
set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication local-users username test password 'test'
set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ip-pool L2TP-POOL range 192.168.255.2-192.168.255.254
set vpn l2tp remote-access default-pool 'L2TP-POOL'
set vpn l2tp remote-access outside-address 192.0.2.2
set vpn l2tp remote-access gateway-address 192.168.255.1
set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication mode <local | radius>

Set authentication backend. The configured authentication backend is used for all queries.

  • radius: All authentication queries are handled by a configured RADIUS server.

  • local: All authentication queries are handled locally.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication local-users username <user> password <pass>

Create <user> for local authentication on this system. The users password will be set to <pass>.

set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ip-pool <POOL-NAME> range <x.x.x.x-x.x.x.x | x.x.x.x/x>

Use this command to define the first IP address of a pool of addresses to be given to l2tp clients. If notation x.x.x.x-x.x.x.x, it must be within a /24 subnet. If notation x.x.x.x/x is used there is possibility to set host/netmask.

set vpn l2tp remote-access default-pool <POOL-NAME>

Use this command to define default address pool name.

set vpn l2tp remote-access gateway-address <gateway>

Specifies single <gateway> IP address to be used as local address of PPP interfaces.

Configuring IPsec

set vpn ipsec interface eth0
set vpn l2tp remote-access ipsec-settings authentication mode pre-shared-secret
set vpn l2tp remote-access ipsec-settings authentication pre-shared-secret <secret>
set vpn ipsec interface <INTERFACE>

Use this command to define IPsec interface.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ipsec-settings authentication mode <pre-shared-secret | x509>

Set mode for IPsec authentication between VyOS and L2TP clients.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ipsec-settings authentication mode <pre-shared-secret | x509>

Set predefined shared secret phrase.

If a local firewall policy is in place on your external interface you will need to allow the ports below:

  • UDP port 500 (IKE)

  • IP protocol number 50 (ESP)

  • UDP port 1701 for IPsec

As well as the below to allow NAT-traversal (when NAT is detected by the VPN client, ESP is encapsulated in UDP for NAT-traversal):

  • UDP port 4500 (NAT-T)

Example:

set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 40 action 'accept'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 40 protocol 'esp'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 41 action 'accept'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 41 destination port '500'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 41 protocol 'udp'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 42 action 'accept'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 42 destination port '4500'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 42 protocol 'udp'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 43 action 'accept'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 43 destination port '1701'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 43 ipsec 'match-ipsec'
set firewall name OUTSIDE-LOCAL rule 43 protocol 'udp'

To allow VPN-clients access via your external address, a NAT rule is required:

set nat source rule 110 outbound-interface name 'eth0'
set nat source rule 110 source address '192.168.255.0/24'
set nat source rule 110 translation address masquerade

Configuring RADIUS authentication

To enable RADIUS based authentication, the authentication mode needs to be changed within the configuration. Previous settings like the local users, still exists within the configuration, however they are not used if the mode has been changed from local to radius. Once changed back to local, it will use all local accounts again.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication mode radius
set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius server <server> key <secret>

Configure RADIUS <server> and its required shared <secret> for communicating with the RADIUS server.

Since the RADIUS server would be a single point of failure, multiple RADIUS servers can be setup and will be used subsequentially. For example:

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius server 10.0.0.1 key 'foo'
set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius server 10.0.0.2 key 'foo'

Note

Some RADIUS severs use an access control list which allows or denies queries, make sure to add your VyOS router to the allowed client list.

RADIUS source address

If you are using OSPF as IGP, always the closest interface connected to the RADIUS server is used. With VyOS 1.2 you can bind all outgoing RADIUS requests to a single source IP e.g. the loopback interface.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius source-address <address>

Source IPv4 address used in all RADIUS server queires.

Note

The source-address must be configured on one of VyOS interface. Best practice would be a loopback or dummy interface.

RADIUS advanced options

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius server <server> port <port>

Configure RADIUS <server> and its required port for authentication requests.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius server <server> fail-time <time>

Mark RADIUS server as offline for this given <time> in seconds.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius server <server> disable

Temporary disable this RADIUS server.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius acct-timeout <timeout>

Timeout to wait reply for Interim-Update packets. (default 3 seconds)

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius dynamic-author server <address>

Specifies IP address for Dynamic Authorization Extension server (DM/CoA)

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius dynamic-author port <port>

Port for Dynamic Authorization Extension server (DM/CoA)

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius dynamic-author key <secret>

Secret for Dynamic Authorization Extension server (DM/CoA)

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius max-try <number>

Maximum number of tries to send Access-Request/Accounting-Request queries

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius timeout <timeout>

Timeout to wait response from server (seconds)

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius nas-identifier <identifier>

Value to send to RADIUS server in NAS-Identifier attribute and to be matched in DM/CoA requests.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius nas-ip-address <address>

Value to send to RADIUS server in NAS-IP-Address attribute and to be matched in DM/CoA requests. Also DM/CoA server will bind to that address.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius source-address <address>

Source IPv4 address used in all RADIUS server queires.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius rate-limit attribute <attribute>

Specifies which RADIUS server attribute contains the rate limit information. The default attribute is Filter-Id.

Note

If you set a custom RADIUS attribute you must define it on both dictionaries at RADIUS server and client.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius rate-limit enable

Enables bandwidth shaping via RADIUS.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication radius rate-limit vendor

Specifies the vendor dictionary, dictionary needs to be in /usr/share/accel-ppp/radius.

Received RADIUS attributes have a higher priority than parameters defined within the CLI configuration, refer to the explanation below.

Allocation clients ip addresses by RADIUS

If the RADIUS server sends the attribute Framed-IP-Address then this IP address will be allocated to the client and the option default-pool within the CLI config is being ignored.

If the RADIUS server sends the attribute Framed-Pool, IP address will be allocated from a predefined IP pool whose name equals the attribute value.

If the RADIUS server sends the attribute Stateful-IPv6-Address-Pool, IPv6 address will be allocated from a predefined IPv6 pool prefix whose name equals the attribute value.

If the RADIUS server sends the attribute Delegated-IPv6-Prefix-Pool, IPv6 delegation pefix will be allocated from a predefined IPv6 pool delegate whose name equals the attribute value.

Note

Stateful-IPv6-Address-Pool and Delegated-IPv6-Prefix-Pool are defined in RFC6911. If they are not defined in your RADIUS server, add new dictionary.

User interface can be put to VRF context via RADIUS Access-Accept packet, or change it via RADIUS CoA. Accel-VRF-Name is used from these purposes. It is custom ACCEL-PPP attribute. Define it in your RADIUS server.

Renaming clients interfaces by RADIUS

If the RADIUS server uses the attribute NAS-Port-Id, ppp tunnels will be renamed.

Note

The value of the attribute NAS-Port-Id must be less than 16 characters, otherwise the interface won’t be renamed.

Configuring LNS (L2TP Network Server)

LNS are often used to connect to a LAC (L2TP Access Concentrator).

set vpn l2tp remote-access lns host-name <hostname>

Sent to the client (LAC) in the Host-Name attribute

set vpn l2tp remote-access lns shared-secret <secret>

Tunnel password used to authenticate the client (LAC)

To explain the usage of LNS follow our blueprint PPPoE over L2TP.

IPv6

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options ipv6 <require | prefer | allow | deny>

Specifies IPv6 negotiation preference.

  • require - Require IPv6 negotiation

  • prefer - Ask client for IPv6 negotiation, do not fail if it rejects

  • allow - Negotiate IPv6 only if client requests

  • deny - Do not negotiate IPv6 (default value)

set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ipv6-pool <IPv6-POOL-NAME> prefix <address> mask <number-of-bits>

Use this comand to set the IPv6 address pool from which an l2tp client will get an IPv6 prefix of your defined length (mask) to terminate the l2tp endpoint at their side. The mask length can be set from 48 to 128 bit long, the default value is 64.

set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ipv6-pool <IPv6-POOL-NAME> delegate <address> delegation-prefix <number-of-bits>

Use this command to configure DHCPv6 Prefix Delegation (RFC3633) on l2tp. You will have to set your IPv6 pool and the length of the delegation prefix. From the defined IPv6 pool you will be handing out networks of the defined length (delegation-prefix). The length of the delegation prefix can be set from 32 to 64 bit long.

set vpn l2tp remote-access default-ipv6-pool <IPv6-POOL-NAME>

Use this command to define default IPv6 address pool name.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options ipv6 allow
set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ipv6-pool IPv6-POOL delegate '2001:db8:8003::/48' delegation-prefix '56'
set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ipv6-pool IPV6-POOL prefix '2001:db8:8002::/48' mask '64'
set vpn l2tp remote-access default-ipv6-pool IPv6-POOL

IPv6 Advanced Options

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options ipv6-accept-peer-interface-id

Accept peer interface identifier. By default is not defined.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options ipv6-interface-id <random | x:x:x:x>

Specifies fixed or random interface identifier for IPv6. By default is fixed.

  • random - Random interface identifier for IPv6

  • x:x:x:x - Specify interface identifier for IPv6

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options ipv6-interface-id <random | x:x:x:x>

Specifies peer interface identifier for IPv6. By default is fixed.

  • random - Random interface identifier for IPv6

  • x:x:x:x - Specify interface identifier for IPv6

  • ipv4-addr - Calculate interface identifier from IPv4 address.

  • calling-sid - Calculate interface identifier from calling-station-id.

Scripting

set vpn l2tp remote-access extended-scripts on-change <path_to_script>

Script to run when session interface changed by RADIUS CoA handling

set vpn l2tp remote-access extended-scripts on-down <path_to_script>

Script to run when session interface going to terminate

set vpn l2tp remote-access extended-scripts on-pre-up <path_to_script>

Script to run before session interface comes up

set vpn l2tp remote-access extended-scripts on-up <path_to_script>

Script to run when session interface is completely configured and started

Advanced Options

Authentication Advanced Options

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication local-users username <user> disable

Disable <user> account.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication local-users username <user> static-ip <address>

Assign static IP address to <user> account.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication local-users username <user> rate-limit download <bandwidth>

Download bandwidth limit in kbit/s for <user>.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication local-users username <user> rate-limit upload <bandwidth>

Upload bandwidth limit in kbit/s for <user>.

set vpn l2tp remote-access authentication protocols <pap | chap | mschap | mschap-v2>

Require the peer to authenticate itself using one of the following protocols: pap, chap, mschap, mschap-v2.

Client IP Pool Advanced Options

set vpn l2tp remote-access client-ip-pool <POOL-NAME> next-pool <NEXT-POOL-NAME>

Use this command to define the next address pool name.

PPP Advanced Options

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options disable-ccp

Disable Compression Control Protocol (CCP). CCP is enabled by default.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options interface-cache <number>

Specifies number of interfaces to keep in cache. It means that don’t destroy interface after corresponding session is destroyed, instead place it to cache and use it later for new sessions repeatedly. This should reduce kernel-level interface creation/deletion rate lack. Default value is 0.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options ipv4 <require | prefer | allow | deny>

Specifies IPv4 negotiation preference.

  • require - Require IPv4 negotiation

  • prefer - Ask client for IPv4 negotiation, do not fail if it rejects

  • allow - Negotiate IPv4 only if client requests (Default value)

  • deny - Do not negotiate IPv4

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options lcp-echo-failure <number>

Defines the maximum <number> of unanswered echo requests. Upon reaching the value <number>, the session will be reset. Default value is 3.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options lcp-echo-interval <interval>

If this option is specified and is greater than 0, then the PPP module will send LCP pings of the echo request every <interval> seconds. Default value is 30.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options lcp-echo-timeout

Specifies timeout in seconds to wait for any peer activity. If this option specified it turns on adaptive lcp echo functionality and “lcp-echo-failure” is not used. Default value is 0.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options min-mtu <number>

Defines minimum acceptable MTU. If client will try to negotiate less then specified MTU then it will be NAKed or disconnected if rejects greater MTU. Default value is 100.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options mppe <require | prefer | deny>

Specifies MPPE negotiation preference.

  • require - ask client for mppe, if it rejects drop connection

  • prefer - ask client for mppe, if it rejects don’t fail. (Default value)

  • deny - deny mppe

Default behavior - don’t ask client for mppe, but allow it if client wants. Please note that RADIUS may override this option by MS-MPPE-Encryption-Policy attribute.

set vpn l2tp remote-access ppp-options mru <number>

Defines preferred MRU. By default is not defined.

Global Advanced options

set vpn l2tp remote-access description <description>

Set description.

set vpn l2tp remote-access limits burst <value>

Burst count

set vpn l2tp remote-access limits connection-limit <value>

Acceptable rate of connections (e.g. 1/min, 60/sec)

set vpn l2tp remote-access limits timeout <value>

Timeout in seconds

set vpn l2tp remote-access mtu

Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) (default: 1436)

set vpn l2tp remote-access max-concurrent-sessions

Maximum number of concurrent session start attempts

set vpn l2tp remote-access name-server <address>

Connected client should use <address> as their DNS server. This command accepts both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. Up to two nameservers can be configured for IPv4, up to three for IPv6.

set vpn l2tp remote-access shaper fwmark <1-2147483647>

Match firewall mark value

set vpn l2tp remote-access snmp master-agent

Enable SNMP

set vpn l2tp remote-access wins-server <address>

Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) servers propagated to client

Monitoring

vyos@vyos:~$ show l2tp-server sessions
 ifname | username |      ip       | ip6 | ip6-dp | calling-sid | rate-limit | state  |  uptime  | rx-bytes | tx-bytes
--------+----------+---------------+-----+--------+-------------+------------+--------+----------+----------+----------
 l2tp0  | test     | 192.168.255.3 |     |        | 192.168.0.36 |            | active | 02:01:47 | 7.7 KiB  | 1.2 KiB
vyos@vyos:~$ show l2tp-server statistics
 uptime: 0.02:49:49
cpu: 0%
mem(rss/virt): 5920/100892 kB
core:
  mempool_allocated: 133202
  mempool_available: 131770
  thread_count: 1
  thread_active: 1
  context_count: 5
  context_sleeping: 0
  context_pending: 0
  md_handler_count: 3
  md_handler_pending: 0
  timer_count: 0
  timer_pending: 0
sessions:
  starting: 0
  active: 0
  finishing: 0
l2tp:
  tunnels:
    starting: 0
    active: 0
    finishing: 0
  sessions (control channels):
    starting: 0
    active: 0
    finishing: 0
  sessions (data channels):
    starting: 0
    active: 0
    finishing: 0