AWS VPN Client: "VPN process quit unexpectedly"

Question

I can't use AWS VPN Client, as it fails with the error message in the title.

The first time I uninstall & re-install the AWS VPN Client, it fails saying that "The VPN process failed to start. The port is already in use by another process." though. Subsequent clicks on the "Connect" button fails saying that "VPN process quit unexpectedly".

I've restarted my laptop, thinking that whatever is using the port would stop, however it didn't resolve the issue either. It was working before by the way, I can't remember how long ago though.

Platform: MacOS

App version: 3.2.0

OS version: Unix 22.3.0.0

When it says "port already in use" in the log file I see:

2023-04-03 13:58:09.877 +02:00 [WRN] Acs did not stop correctly!
2023-04-03 13:58:09.877 +02:00 [ERR] Process died signal sent
ACVC.Core.OpenVpn.OvpnPortTakenException: The VPN process failed to start. The port is already in use by another process.
  at ACVC.Core.OpenVpn.OvpnOsxProcessManager.Start (System.String openVpnConfigPath, System.String managementPortPasswordFile, System.Int32 timeoutMilliseconds) [0x002fb] in <421df7becdc8450287ee7993b2ed23f8>:0 
  at ACVC.Core.OpenVpn.OvpnConnectionManager.Connect (ACVC.Core.Metadata.OvpnConnectionProfile configProfile, ACVC.Core.GetCredentialsCallback getCredentialsCallback, System.Int32 timeout) [0x0020f] in <421df7becdc8450287ee7993b2ed23f8>:0

When it says "VPN process quit unexpectedly", in the log file I see:

2023-04-03 13:59:31.048 +02:00 [DBG] Helper app --start output: pid write failed
2023-04-03 13:59:31.055 +02:00 [DBG] DeDupeProcessDiedSignals: The client failed to connect.
2023-04-03 13:59:31.056 +02:00 [WRN] Acs did not stop correctly!
2023-04-03 13:59:31.057 +02:00 [ERR] Process died signal sent
ACVC.Core.OpenVpn.OvpnProcessFailedToStartException: The client failed to connect.
  at ACVC.Core.OpenVpn.OvpnOsxProcessManager.Start (System.String openVpnConfigPath, System.String managementPortPasswordFile, System.Int32 timeoutMilliseconds) [0x0035f] in <421df7becdc8450287ee7993b2ed23f8>:0 
  at ACVC.Core.OpenVpn.OvpnConnectionManager.Connect (ACVC.Core.Metadata.OvpnConnectionProfile configProfile, ACVC.Core.GetCredentialsCallback getCredentialsCallback, System.Int32 timeout) [0x0020f] in <421df7becdc8450287ee7993b2ed23f8>:0

The VPN process failed to start. The port is already in use by another process. VPN process quit unexpectedly

Answer

The error message you are seeing is related to the port being used. So it seems that the port used for the AWS Client VPN is already used by perhaps by another VPN process running on the client machine. Rebooting a laptop will usually stop any processes running in your machine. If another VPN ( e.g OpenVPN) process was using the port, then after rebooting, the port will become available for the AWS client to use and hence user will be able to connect again.

When the issue happens and error message is displayed, can you please ask the user to list the available ports on the machine using the command prompt or terminal?.

- For Mac run:

sudo lsof -i -P -n | grep -i listen

- For Windows run:

netstat -ab

netstat -aon
		This will help to identify to which process is the port tied up to.

Note: also, check the availibility of port 35001. The AWS provided client reserves TCP port 35001 on users' devices for the SAML response. The above will help you to find out the process using the port and ask the user to perform the necessary changes to reserve the port for the AWS Client.

AWS VPN Client: "VPN process quit unexpectedly"

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