Important note about SSL VPN compatibility for 20.0 MR1 with EoL SFOS versions and UTM9 OS. Learn more in the release notes.

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OpenVPN Service Not Available - Windows Server 2016

Installed the Sophos Connect version 2.2.90.1104 on three machines today, Windows 10, Windows server 2019 and Windows Server 2016. Windows 10 and Server 2019 had no issues. Windows Server 2016 is giving the OpenVPN Service Not Available error. 

Here's what I've tried:

  • I've reinstalled several times and rebooted. 
  • I've uninstalled the older Sophos client (that was working on Server 2016) and manually deleted some files that the installer did not delete in the C:\Program Files (x86) folder. 
  • I've uninstalled a separate installation of OpenSSL.
  • I've whitelisted the app in our EDR
  • I've read through a number of support documents on this topic 

None of the above helped.

The Windows 2016 Server is version 1607, build 14393.6351.

Any help would be much appreciated!



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  • Here's the scvpn.log file. I've replaced the IP address with "XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX" and the actual server username with "username" for privacy reasons.

    2023-11-26 01:17:13PM [13604] inf Starting Sophos Sophos Connect version 2.2.90.1104
    2023-11-26 01:17:13PM [13604] dbg Initializing protected storage
    2023-11-26 01:17:13PM [13604] inf Logged on user is username
    2023-11-26 01:17:13PM [13604] dbg Starting the auto-importer
    2023-11-26 01:17:13PM [13604] inf Initializing strongSwan
    2023-11-26 01:17:17PM [13604] dbg strongSwan version 5.9.5 has been started
    2023-11-26 01:17:17PM [13604] inf Initializing open vpn service
    2023-11-26 01:17:20PM [13604] dbg Starting the communications module
    2023-11-26 01:17:20PM [13604] dbg Starting HTTP server on 127.0.0.1:60110
    2023-11-26 01:17:20PM [13604] inf Sophos Connect started
    2023-11-26 01:17:25PM [15780] dbg Sending telemetry data to sftelemetry.sophos.com:443
    2023-11-26 01:17:26PM [15504] dbg XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX VPN state changed to connecting
    2023-11-26 01:17:26PM [15504] dbg Starting tunnel (connecting)
    2023-11-26 01:17:26PM [15504] dbg Can't create tunnel - failed to start ovpn
    2023-11-26 01:17:26PM [15504] dbg State is connecting, setting to disconnected
    2023-11-26 01:17:26PM [15504] dbg XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX VPN state changed to disconnected
    2023-11-26 01:17:26PM [15504] dbg Sending notification: OpenVPN service is not available

  • Hi RyanW,

    Thank you for reaching out to Sophos Community.

    Have you tried to install it on another Windows 2016 machine? 

    Also kindly try to check the following post which has a similar case

     Sophos Connect on Windows Server 

    Erick Jan
    Community Support Engineer | Sophos Technical Support
    Sophos Support Videos Product Documentation  |  @SophosSupport  | Sign up for SMS Alerts
    If a post solves your question use the 'Verify Answer' link.

  • Hi  Sophos Connect client as of today officially supports (Windows 10, 11, including LTSB, and LTSC). For more info please refer to the release note section and click on the tab "Supported platforms".

    https://docs.sophos.com/releasenotes/index.html?productGroupID=nsg&productID=connect&versionID=allVersions





    Note: On the mentioned server where it fails to work and you are using it to connect "SSL VPN"  then as in workaround you may try the OpenVPN installer if that works and helps.

    Regards,

    Vishal Ranpariya
    Technical Account Manager | Sophos Technical Support

    Sophos Support Videos | Knowledge Base  |  @SophosSupport | Sign up for SMS Alerts |
    If a post solves your question use the 'Verify Answer' link.

  • Thanks for the information. We've decided we will move to another solution and stop using the Sophos Connect client.