Packet tunnel provider fails to connect on iOS 10.3.2

Hi,


Since the release of the 10.3.2 beta, our packet tunnel provider extension fails to connect.


The behavior observed is that in the VPN settings in the Settings app, the VPN status will switch to "Connecting...", during which all connectivity is lost. The status does not change and the corresponding packet tunnel provider is never started.


I can confirm that on iOS 10.3 this is working as promised, both with a configuration profile and using the classic NETunnelProviderManager. On 10.3.2, this behavior is consistently shown for my own app, but also for a handful of packet tunnel provider-based apps I've seen in the wild.


The console logs at this time do not give any useful debugging information other than the following:


Mar 31 15:22:29 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Received a start command from Preferences[992]
Mar 31 15:22:29 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: status changed to connecting
Mar 31 15:23:30 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from apsd[83]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:23:33 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from routined[28]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:23:34 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from geod[99]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:24:20 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from timed[56]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:24:34 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from routined[28]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:25:13 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from apsd[83]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:25:33 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from apsd[83]: session in state connecting
Mar 31 15:25:34 iPhone nesessionmanager(NetworkExtension)[198] <Notice>: NESMVPNSession[MyApp]: Skip a start command from apsd[83]: session in state connecting

Could this be related to the IKEv2 troubles observed on 10.3.2?

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Cougnes
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The bug is marked as a duplicate of 31315576, which is still open.

Thanks for the pointer (and the bug report). It seems that this is definitely a regression in iOS, not in the code itself but in the way the OS was built. You should continue to re-test this as new seeds are released.

Share and Enjoy
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Quinn “The Eskimo!”
Apple Developer Relations, Developer Technical Support, Core OS/Hardware 

let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@apple.com"
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eskimo
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Since the release of the 10.3.2 beta, our packet tunnel provider extension fails to connect.

If you’rev having compatibility problems in a pre-release system then your first step should be filing a bug report, especially in a situation like this were things worked with the previous release.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!”
Apple Developer Relations, Developer Technical Support, Core OS/Hardware 

let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@apple.com"
Posted by
eskimo
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Thanks, Eskimo!


The bug is marked as a duplicate of 31315576, which is still open.

Posted by
Cougnes
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The bug is marked as a duplicate of 31315576, which is still open.

Thanks for the pointer (and the bug report). It seems that this is definitely a regression in iOS, not in the code itself but in the way the OS was built. You should continue to re-test this as new seeds are released.

Share and Enjoy
—
Quinn “The Eskimo!”
Apple Developer Relations, Developer Technical Support, Core OS/Hardware 

let myEmail = "eskimo" + "1" + "@apple.com"
Posted by
eskimo
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Hello Sir,


We are wondering if this bug is still active under ios 11.3 ?

Posted by
uannoymejo
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I'm still getting the same symptom in at least iOS 12.5.1 and iOS 14.4

nesessionmanager NESMVPNSession[...]: got On Demand start message from pid 97
nesessionmanager NESMVPNSession[...]: Received a start command from apsd[97]
nesessionmanager NESMVPNSession[...]: Skip a start command from apsd[97]: session in state connecting

The VPN is perpetually stuck in the "Connecting..." state. Toggling aeroplane mode on and off again usually does its job as a workaround for the bug.
Posted by
markw@familyzone.com
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