Migrating from Other VPN Solutions to SoftEther VPN Print

Hello there! I’m Corels from Emmanuel Corels Creatives, and in today’s guide, we’re going to explore how to migrate from your current VPN solution to SoftEther VPN. Whether you’re using an older OpenVPN setup, L2TP/IPsec, or any other VPN technology, this guide will walk you through the benefits of SoftEther, the key steps in a smooth transition, and practical tips to ensure minimal downtime and a secure, robust VPN environment.

Why Migrate to SoftEther VPN?

SoftEther VPN offers several advantages over traditional VPN solutions:

• Multi-Protocol Support: It supports SoftEther’s native protocol, OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, and EtherIP—all in a single server.
• Ease of Management: With an intuitive management console (vpncmd and GUI), configuration and troubleshooting become simpler.
• Enhanced Flexibility: SoftEther’s Virtual Hub architecture allows for dynamic configuration changes, bridging, and multi-protocol integration.
• Cost-Effective: Being open-source and feature-rich, it can often replace expensive, dedicated hardware solutions.
• Improved Performance: SoftEther VPN is designed for high throughput and low latency, making it ideal for both small offices and enterprise environments.

Step 1: Evaluate Your Current VPN Setup

Before migrating, take an inventory of your existing VPN configuration:

• Document Configuration Details: List your VPN protocols, authentication methods, IP addressing schemes, and any custom settings (such as routing rules or NAT configurations).
• Review User Accounts: Note how users are authenticated and how many active users you support.
• Backup Configurations: Save copies of your current VPN server configuration and user credentials. This serves as a fallback in case you need to revert any changes.

Step 2: Prepare Your SoftEther VPN Server

1. Install SoftEther VPN Server:
   Download the appropriate SoftEther VPN Server package for your platform (Linux, Windows, etc.) from the SoftEther VPN Download Page. Follow the installation instructions to set up SoftEther on your new server or VPS.

2. Initial Configuration:
   Use vpncmd or the SoftEther VPN Server Manager GUI to:

   • Set a strong administrator password.
   • Create a Virtual Hub (e.g., MyVPNHub).
   • Configure basic settings like Virtual Hub name, description, and default policies.

3. Set Up Virtual NAT and Virtual DHCP (If Needed):
   If you want SoftEther to manage IP address assignment and NAT for VPN clients, enable these features. They allow you to create a self-contained network without relying on external DHCP or NAT devices.

Step 3: Replicate VPN Protocol Settings

One of SoftEther’s strengths is its multi-protocol support. Recreate the functionality of your old VPN setup within SoftEther:

• OpenVPN:
  Enable OpenVPN support:

  OpenVpnEnable
  

  Follow the prompts to choose TCP or UDP. Generate a client configuration file with:

  OpenVpnMakeConfig <username>
  

• L2TP/IPsec:
  Enable L2TP/IPsec:

  L2tpEnable
  

  When prompted, enter a strong IPsec pre-shared key. Verify settings with:

  L2tpStatusGet
  

• SSTP:
  For environments where Windows clients are predominant, enable SSTP:

  SstpEnable
  

  Confirm its status with:

  SstpStatusGet
  

Configure these protocols with settings that match your current environment, ensuring that encryption, authentication, and port numbers are appropriately set.

Step 4: Migrate User Authentication

You can migrate your user authentication seamlessly:

• Wildcard User for External Authentication:
  If you use an external RADIUS or Active Directory for user management, create a wildcard user in SoftEther:

  UserCreate * /AUTHENTICATION:radius
  

  This allows any login attempt for a username not found in SoftEther’s database to be authenticated via your external system, without having to manually recreate every user.

• Local User Migration:
  For users managed directly in your old VPN, create equivalent user accounts in SoftEther:

  UserCreate vpnuser1 /GROUP:none /REALNAME:"User One"
  UserPasswordSet vpnuser1
  

  Repeat for each user, or use scripting to import them if you have many.

Step 5: Integrate Routing and Firewall Policies

Replicate any routing, NAT, and firewall rules from your old setup:

• Routing:
  Set up static routes as needed:

  RouteCreate /DESTINATION:<Subnet> /NEXT_HOP:<Gateway>
  

• Firewall:
  Allow VPN traffic on the required ports (e.g., TCP 1194 for OpenVPN, UDP 500/4500 for L2TP/IPsec):

  /ip firewall filter add chain=input protocol=tcp dst-port=1194 action=accept
  

• NAT:
  Configure NAT so that VPN clients can access the internet:

  /ip firewall nat add chain=srcnat src-address=<VPN_Pool> action=masquerade
  

Ensure that these rules align with your overall network security policy.

Step 6: Test the Migration

1. Pilot Testing:
   Before a full rollout, test the new SoftEther VPN setup with a small group of users or a single client device.
2. Verify Connectivity:
   Ensure that clients receive an IP address, connect securely, and can access required resources.
3. Monitor Logs:
   Use SoftEther’s logging (via vpncmd or the GUI) to verify that authentication, connection, and data transfer processes are working as expected.

Final Thoughts

Migrating from an existing VPN solution to SoftEther VPN can be a smooth process when you carefully replicate your settings and thoroughly test each component. With SoftEther’s multi-protocol support, advanced features like Virtual NAT and Virtual DHCP, and streamlined user management (including wildcard user integration for external authentication), you gain a flexible and powerful VPN solution that’s ready to scale with your needs.

Take your time to plan, test, and refine your configuration. If you have any questions or need further assistance during your migration, feel free to reach out. Happy migrating, and here’s to a secure, efficient VPN environment!

Explained with clarity by
Corels – Admin, Emmanuel Corels Creatives