This document describes the basic configuration of a Cisco IOS Router as an AnyConnect SSLVPN Headend.

Cisco recommends that you have knowledge of these topics:

• Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS)
• AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client
• General Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Operation

The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:

• Cisco 892W Router running 15.3(3)M5
• AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client 3.1.08009

• The securityk9 feature set is required to use the SSLVPN features, regardless of which IOS version is used.
• IOS 12.x - the SSLVPN feature is integrated into all 12.x images that start with 12.4(6)T which have at least a security license (ie. advsecurityk9, adventerprisek9, and so on).
• IOS 15.0 - earlier versions require an LIC file to be installed on the router which will allow for 10, 25, or 100 user connections. Right to Use* licenses were implemented in 15.0(1)M4
• IOS 15.1 - earlier versions require an LIC file to be installed on the router which will allow for 10, 25, or 100 user connections. Right to Use* licenses were implemented in 15.1(1)T2, 15.1(2)T2, 15.1(3)T, and 15.1(4)M1
• IOS 15.2 - all 15.2 versions offer Right to Use* licenses for SSLVPN
• IOS 15.3 and beyond - earlier versions offer Right to Use* licenses. Starting in 15.3(3)M, the SSLVPN feature is available after you boot into a securityk9 technology-package

For RTU licensing, an evaluation license will be enabled when the first webvpn feature is configured (that is, webvpn gateway GATEWAY1) and the End User License Agreement (EULA) has been accepted. After 60 days, this evaluation license becomes a permanent license. These licenses are honor based and require a paper license to be purchased in order to use the feature. Additionally, rather than being limited to a certain number of uses, the RTU allow for the maximum number of simultaneous connections which the router platform can support concurrently.

These bugs IDs resulted in significant features or fixes for AnyConnect:

• CSCti89976: Added support for AnyConnect 3.x to IOS
• CSCtx38806: Fix for BEAST Vulnerability, Microsoft KB2585542

The first step when AnyConnect is configured on an IOS Router headend is to confirm that the license has been correctly installed (if applicable) and enabled. Refer to the licensing information in the previous section for the licensing specifics on different versions. It depends on the version of code and platform whether show license lists an SSL_VPN or securityk9 license. Regardless of the version and license, the EULA will need to be accepted and the license will show as Active.

To upload an AnyConnect image to the VPN headend serves two purposes. Firstly, only operating systems which have AnyConnect images present on the AnyConnect headend will be permitted to connect. For example, Windows clients require a Windows package to be installed on the headend, Linux 64-bit clients require a Linux 64-bit package, and so on. Secondly, the AnyConnect image installed on headend will automatically be pushed down to the client machine upon connection. Users that connect for the first time will be able to download the client from the web portal and users that return will be able to upgrade, provided the AnyConnect package on the headend is newer than what is installed on their client machine.

AnyConnect packages can be obtained through the AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client section of the Cisco Software Downloads website. While there are many options available, the packages which are to be installed on the headend will be labeled with the operating system and Head-end deployment (PKG). AnyConnect packages are currently available for these operating system platforms: Windows, Mac OS X, Linux (32-bit), and Linux 64-bit. Note that for Linux, there are both 32 and 64-bit packages. Each operating system requires the proper package to be installed on the headend in order for connections to be permitted.

Once the AnyConnect package has been downloaded, it can be uploaded to the Router's flash with the copy command via TFTP, FTP, SCP, or a few other options. Here is an example:

copy tftp: flash:/webvpn/

Address or name of remote host []? 192.168.100.100
Source filename []? anyconnect-win-3.1.08009-k9.pkg
Destination filename [/webvpn/anyconnect-win-3.1.08009-k9.pkg]?
Accessing tftp://192.168.100.100/anyconnect-win-3.1.08009-k9.pkg...
Loading anyconnect-win-3.1.08009-k9.pkg from 192.168.100.100 (via GigabitEthernet0): !!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[OK - 37997096 bytes]

37997096 bytes copied in 117.644 secs (322984 bytes/sec)
		

After you copy the AnyConnect image to the flash of the Router, it must be installed via command line. Multiple AnyConnect packages can be installed when you specify a sequence number at the end of the installation command; this will allow for the Router to act as headend for multiple client operating systems. When you install the AnyConnect package, it will also move it to the flash:/webvpn/ directory if it was not copied there initially.

crypto vpn anyconnect flash:/webvpn/anyconnect-win-3.1.08009-k9.pkg sequence 1

SSLVPN Package SSL-VPN-Client (seq:1): installed successfully
		

On versions of code which were released before 15.2(1)T, the command to install the PKG is slightly different.

webvpn install svc flash:/webvpn/anyconnect-win-3.1.08009-k9.pkg sequence 1
	

ip http server
ip http secure-server

When you configure SSL or any feature which implements Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates, a Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) keypair is required for the signing of the certificate. The follow command will generate an RSA keypair which will then be used when the self-signed PKI certificate is generated. When you make use of a modulus of 2048 bits, it is not a requirement, it is recommended to use the largest modulus available for enhanced security and compatibility with the AnyConnect client machines. To use a descriptive label is also recommended as it will allow for ease of key management. The key generation can be confirmed with the show crypto key mypubkey rsa command.

Note: As there are many security risks associated with making RSA keys exportable, the recommended practice is to ensure keys are configured to be not exportable which is the default. The risks that are involved when you make the RSA keys exportable are discussed in the this document: Deploying RSA Keys Within a PKI.

crypto key generate rsa label SSLVPN_KEYPAIR modulus 2048

The name for the keys will be: SSLVPN_KEYPAIR

% The key modulus size is 2048 bits
% Generating 2048 bit RSA keys, keys will be exportable...
[OK] (elapsed time was 3 seconds)




show crypto key mypubkey rsa SSLVPN_KEYPAIR

% Key pair was generated at: 14:01:34 EDT May 21 2015
Key name: SSLVPN_KEYPAIR
Key type: RSA KEYS
 Storage Device: not specified
 Usage: General Purpose Key
 Key is exportable.
 Key Data:
 30820122 300D0609 2A864886 F70D0101 01050003 82010F00 3082010A 02820101
 00C4C7D6 F9533CD3 A5489D5A 4DC3BAE7 6831E832 7326E322 CBECC41C 8395A5F7
 4613AF70 827F581E 57F72074 FD803EEA 693EBACC 0EE5CA65 5D1875C2 2F19A432
 84188F61 4E282EC3 D30AE4C9 1F2766EF 48269FE2 0C1AECAA 81511386 1BA6709C
 7C5A2A40 2FBB3035 04E3770B 01155368 C4A5B488 D38F425C 23E430ED 80A8E2BD
 E713860E F654695B C1780ED6 398096BC 55D410DB ECC0E2D9 2621E1AB A418986D
 39F241FE 798EF862 9D5EAEEB 5B06D73B E769F613 0FCE2585 E5E6DFF3 2E48D007
 3443AD87 0E66C2B1 4E0CB6E9 81569DF2 DB0FE9F1 1A9E737F 617DC68B 42B78A8B
 952CD997 78B96CE6 CB623328 C2C5FFD6 18C5DA2C 2EAFA936 5C866DE8 5184D2D3
 6D020301 0001
		

Once the RSA keypair has successfully been generated, a PKI trustpoint must be configured with our router's information and RSA keypair. The Common Name (CN) in the Subject-Name should be configured with the IP address or Full Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) which users use to connect to the AnyConnect gateway; in this example, the clients use the FQDN of fdenofa-SSLVPN.cisco.com when they attempt to connect. While it is not mandatory, when you correctly enter in the CN, it helps reduce the number of certificate errors that are prompted at login.

Note: Rather than using a self-signed certificate generated by the router, it is possible to use a certificate issued by a third-party CA. This can be done via a few different methods as discussed in this document: Configuring Certificate Enrollment for a PKI.

crypto pki trustpoint SSLVPN_CERT
 enrollment selfsigned
 subject-name CN=fdenofa-SSLVPN.cisco.com
 rsakeypair SSLVPN_KEYPAIR
		

After the trustpoint has been correctly defined, the router must generate the certificate by using the crypto pki enroll command. With this process, it is possible to specify a few other parameters such as serial number and IP address. However, this is not required. The certificate generation can be confirmed with the show crypto pki certificates command.

crypto pki enroll SSLVPN_CERT

% Include the router serial number in the subject name? [yes/no]: no
% Include an IP address in the subject name? [no]: no
Generate Self Signed Router Certificate? [yes/no]: yes

Router Self Signed Certificate successfully created




show crypto pki certificates SSLVPN_CERT

Router Self-Signed Certificate
  Status: Available
  Certificate Serial Number (hex): 01
  Certificate Usage: General Purpose
  Issuer:
    hostname=fdenofa-892.fdenofa.lab
    cn=fdenofa-SSLVPN.cisco.com
  Subject:
    Name: fdenofa-892.fdenofa.lab
    hostname=fdenofa-892.fdenofa.lab
    cn=fdenofa-SSLVPN.cisco.com
  Validity Date:
    start date: 18:54:04 EDT Mar 30 2015
    end   date: 20:00:00 EDT Dec 31 2019
  Associated Trustpoints: SSLVPN_CERT
		

While it is possible to use an external Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server, for this example local authentication is used. These commands will create a user name VPNUSER and also create an AAA authentication list named SSLVPN_AAA.

aaa new-model
aaa authentication login SSLVPN_AAA local
username VPNUSER password TACO

A local IP address pool must be created in order for AnyConnect client adapters to obtain an IP address. Ensure you configure a large enough pool to support the maximum number of simultaneous AnyConnect client connections.

By default, AnyConnect will operate in full tunnel mode which means that any traffic generated by the client machine will be sent across the tunnel. As this is typically not desirable, it is possible to configure an Access Control List (ACL) which then defines traffic which should or should not be sent across the tunnel. As with other ACL implementations, the implicit deny at the end eliminates the need for an explicit deny; therefore, it is only necessary to configure permit statements for the traffic which should be tunneled.

ip local pool SSLVPN_POOL 192.168.10.1 192.168.10.10
access-list 1 permit 192.168.0.0 0.0.255.255

Dynamic VTIsprovide an on-demand separate Virtual-Access interface for each VPN session that allows highly secure and scalable connectivity for remote-access VPNs. The DVTI technology replaces dynamic crypto maps and the dynamic hub-and-spoke method that helps establish tunnels.Because DVTIs function like any other real interface they allow for more complex Remote Accesss deployment because they support QoS, firewall, per-user attribtues and other security services as soon as the tunnel is active.

interface Loopback0
 ip address 172.16.1.1 255.255.255.255
!
interface Virtual-Template 1
 ip unnumbered Loopback0

The WebVPN Gateway is what defines the IP address and port(s) which will be used by the AnyConnect headend, as well as the SSL encryption algorithm and PKI certificate which will be presented to the clients. By default, the Gateway will support all possible encryption algorithms, which vary depending on the IOS version on the router.

webvpn gateway SSLVPN_GATEWAY
 ip address 209.165.201.1 port 443
 http-redirect port 80
 ssl trustpoint SSLVPN_CERT
 inservice

The WebVPN Context and Group Policy define some additional parameters which will be used for the AnyConnect client connection. For a basic AnyConnect configuration, the Context simply serves as a mechanism used to call the default Group Policy which will be used for AnyConnect. However, the Context can be used to further customize the WebVPN splash page and WebVPN operation. In the defined Policy Group, the SSLVPN_AAA list is configured as the AAA authentication list which the users are a member of. The functions svc-enabled command is the piece of configuration which allows users to connect with the AnyConnect SSL VPN Client rather than just WebVPN through a browser. Lastly, the additional SVC commands define parameters which are relevant only to SVC connections: svc address-pool tells the Gateway to handout addresses in the ACPool to the clients, svc split include defines the split tunnel policy per ACL 1 defined above, and svc dns-server defines the DNS server which will be used for domain name resolution. With this configuration, all DNS queries will be sent to the specified DNS server. The address which is received in the query response will dictate whether or not the traffic is sent across the tunnel.

webvpn context SSL_Context
 gateway SSLVPN_Gateway
 inservice
 policy group SSL_Policy
  aaa authentication list SSLVPN_AAA
  functions svc-enabled
  svc address-pool "SSLVPN_POOL" netmask 255.255.255.0
  svc split include acl 1
  svc dns-server primary 8.8.8.8
 virtual-template 1
 default-group-policy SSL_Policy

Unlike on ASAs, Cisco IOS does not have a built-in GUI interface that can assist admins in creating the client profile. The AnyConnect client profile needs to be created/edited separately with the Stand-Alone Profile Editor.

Tip: Look for anyconnect-profileeditor-win-3.1.03103-k9.exe

Follow these steps to have the Router deploy the profile:

1. Upload it to IOS Flash using ftp/tftp
2. Use this command to identify the profile that was just uploaded:

1. crypto vpn annyconnect profile SSL_profile flash:test-profile.xml

   Tip: On IOS versions older than 15.2(1)T, this command needs to be used:
   webvpn import svc profile <profile_name> flash:<profile.xml>

    3. Under the context, use this command to link the profile to that context:

1. webvpn context SSL_Context
    policy group SSL_Policy
    svc profile SSL_profile

Note: Use the Command Lookup Tool (registered customers only) in order to obtain more information on the commands used in this section.

Once the configuration is complete, when you access the Gateway address and port via browser, it will return to the WebVPN splash page.

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