Amen, brother - I was totally appaled and surprised to see Cisco doesn't even *plan* to support Vista-64 with their VPN client. How can they be ignoring this trend that mostly advanced users who are the most likely users of Cisco VPN will be using?

For now, we have the choice of either sticking with XP 32-bit, or abandoning Cisco - not quite sure which route we'll take......

Cheers!

Marc

Just last night at a user group meeting, Adam was trying to convince me to load Vista x64 on my MacBook Pro, which is capable of running it, but currently I run Vista x86.  I'm glad I saw this post before I wiped that partition, only to find out that I wouldn't be able to connect to the office.

WOW...

don't abandon Cisco, because I own CSCO stocks, at a -20% loss :(

Andy, yes, to use the new AnyConnect, you will have to upgrade your PIX to an ASA appliance.  Upgrade = buy new Cisco product.

And yes, this really does suck.

If you can't afford to purchase a new Cisco device, you should look at NCP Secure Entry (http://www.ncp-e.com/en/vpn-szenarien-produkte/vpn-produkte/secure-entry-client.html); they have a 64bit VPN client that will work with Cisco devices and with Vista x64 (in fact, I'm using it right now).  It is a VERY stable VPN client (as opposed to the highly unstable Cisco VPN client).

Wait -- they're NEVER going to support 64-bit?  Are they trying to put themselves out of business??

Why can't you use Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client instead of Cisco IPSec ?

Maybe Cisco IPSec is dead and all new development will be done for Cisco AnyConnect VPN?

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/security/vpn_client/anyconnect/anyconnect21/release/notes/anyconnect21.html

Denis, my company has older Cisco gear, and is not going to spend money on it anytime soon.  Especially only so that I can use x64 remotely, since nobody else is keen on 64-bit at all.

todd, I'm all for alternatives, but I get this on your URL:

"Database Error

The current username, password or host was not accepted when the connection to the database was attempted to be established!"

Aaron,

I just tried the URL again and it worked for me.  Maybe a routing issue?  In any case, just go to http://www.ncp-e.com/en.html an dselect Universal IPSec VPN Client.  That is the link to their SecureEntry VPN Client.  Highly recommended compared to the Cisco software.

Denis,

you cannot use Cisco AnyConnect VPN client on a Cisco PIX.  It requires one of the newer ASA appliances.

You can blame the computer manufacturers for the unwillingness of other hardware and driver manufacturers to support Vista x64. Dell, HP and any other bulk sellers of PCs and laptops do not sell their product with an x64 OS installed which doesn't provide any incentive to the others to write drivers or provide hardware to support the x64 OS platform. They are willing to slap every 64 bit processor label on their product but they won't put the OS in place to support the speed that the processor will provide. So, what you get is a hunk of iron that is running at half speed or less.

This topic has been a burr under my saddle since Vista x64 has been released.