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I read a post on Joe Harris' blog (author of Cisco Network Security, Little Black Book), and he says Cisco isn't going to support Windows Vista 64-bit and he recommends using NCP Secure Entry Client.

Does anyone use NCPs product? If so, how is the support? And is it easy to configure? Thanks.

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Practical notes for running VPN on Windows Vista 64‑bit and evaluating NCP Secure Entry Client (followup to ).

Vista x64 enforces signed kernel drivers and has different networking stacks than 32‑bit Windows. Before buying or deploying any third‑party VPN client, confirm with the vendor that the specific build is certified for Vista x64 and ask for the release notes and driver signing details. For corporate rollout, request a test license and the vendor install guide so you can validate in a lab first.

A short installer/deployment checklist:

  • Remove any existing VPN client (Cisco VPN, older SSL/IPsec clients) and reboot to avoid driver/service conflicts.
  • Run the new installer as Administrator and watch Device Manager for the new virtual adapter; verify the driver is signed.
  • Temporarily disable personal firewalls/AV during install if the adapter fails to load; re-enable and add exceptions afterward.
  • Verify required Windows services (IPsec/IKE services) are running and that the VPN type (IPsec vs SSL) matches the server/ASA configuration.
  • Collect logs from the client and Windows Event Viewer if the tunnel fails to come up; those logs are the quickest route to a fix.

Alternatives and troubleshooting tips:

  • If the ASA supports it, Cisco AnyConnect (SSL) often has native x64 builds and avoids some kernel‑driver issues.
  • Open/free clients (e.g., Shrew Soft historically) or Windows native L2TP/IPsec can be fallback options if vendor clients fail.
  • For persistent failures, capture ipconfig/all, routes, and the VPN client logs, then compare a working client session to the failing machine.

Note: coordinate with the VPN server/ASA admin about authentication method, certificate requirements, and permitted clients before changing endpoint software.

Member Avatar for anipatil

I read a post on Joe Harris' blog (author of Cisco Network Security, Little Black Book), and he says Cisco isn't going to support Windows Vista 64-bit and he recommends using NCP Secure Entry Client.

Does anyone use NCPs product? If so, how is the support? And is it easy to configure? Thanks.

i have worked it is easy to configure and it is user friendly it is not vendor specific.

Member Avatar for VPN Haus

Thanks anipatil-- I'll check it out.

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