Always On VPN Dynamic Profile Configurator (DPC) is a software solution that enables administrators to deploy and manage Always On VPN client configuration settings using Active Directory and Group Policy or Microsoft Intune. DPC began life as a commercial product. Recently, DPC has been released to the public via open source. DPC open source allows administrators everywhere to deploy the solution without cost. If you’re not using DPC today, I’d strongly recommend it. If you were previously a DPC commercial customer, you’ll want to migrate to DPC open source soon.
Migration
Migrating from DPC commercial to open source requires the administrator to deploy a Group Policy Object (GPO) and client software in a specific order to avoid disruption to end users. Perform the following steps to complete the migration.
GPO Files
Download the DPC v5.0 (open source) group policy settings file (ADMX) file here and the language definition (ADML) file here.
After downloading the files, copy dpc.admx to the following location.
\\<DC name>\sysvol\<domain name>\Policies\PolicyDefinitions
Next, copy dpc.adml to the following location.
\\<DC name>\sysvol\<domain name>\Policies\PolicyDefinitions\en-US
Once complete, allow domain controller replication to finish before deploying DPC group policy settings.
New GPO
Create a new GPO that will contain the VPN client configuration settings. Do NOT copy the original DPC commercial GPO. Starting with a blank GPO is best to ensure proper operation and prevent conflicts. Also, please note the location for DPC settings has changed. The new location for DPC v5.0 settings is:
Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > DPC Client
You can now link the GPO to the applicable OU(s) or complete this task before deploying the new software.
Migration Tool
The easiest way to migrate from DPC commercial to open source is to migrate the settings from the current GPO to a new one. A PowerShell script is available to simplify this task. You can download the Migrate-DpcConfig.ps1 PowerShell script here.
Note: It is not strictly required to migrate your current settings from DPC commercial. Although this migration script makes importing settings easier, nothing prevents you from creating a new GPO for DPC open source and starting from scratch if you wish.
Prerequisites
The PowerShell migration script requires the installation of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). Specifically, the Group Policy Management tools are needed. Although it’s possible to run this script on a domain controller, it is not recommended. The best practice is to install the RSAT tools on an administrative workstation or server.
You can install the necessary RSAT feature on Windows 11 by opening an elevated PowerShell or command window and running the following command.
dism.exe /Online /add-capability /CapabilityName:Rsat.GroupPolicy.Management.Tools~~~~0.0.1.0
On Windows Server, you can install the Group Policy Management tools by opening an elevated PowerShell command window and running the following command.
Install-WindowsFeature -Name GPMC
Once complete, restart the server to complete the installation process.
Import Settings
To migrate the DPC settings, open an elevated PowerShell command window and run the following command.
.\Migrate-DpcSetting.ps1 -PreviousGPOName <name of old DPC GPO> -NewGPOName <name of new DPC GPO>
For example,
.\Migrate-DpcSetting.ps1 -PreviousGPOName ‘Always On VPN DPC’ -NewGPOName ‘Always On VPN DPC – Open Source’
Apply GPO
If not done earlier, link the new DPC open-source GPO to the applicable OU(s). Do NOT unlink or delete the old GPO until all endpoints have been upgraded to the DPC v5.0 client.
Install Software
Once the new GPO has been configured and applied in Active Directory, the next step is to upgrade the DPC commercial client to the DPC open source client (v5.0). Software can be deployed via GPO using Active Directory software installation, SCCM, or any other method you use in your environment to deploy software. No switches or additional parameters are required to perform the upgrade. Simply run the .MSI file on the device, and the upgrade will occur automatically.
Important Note: Administrators must ensure that the new GPO settings are applied to the endpoint before installing the DPC v5.0 client.
Clean Up
After all endpoints have been upgraded to DPC v5.0, administrators can remove the DPC commercial GPO from AD. In addition, the commercial DPC ADMX and ADML files can be removed from domain controllers if desired.
Need Help?
If you’d like assistance migrating DPC commercial to open source, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m available to answer questions or provide remote assistance if necessary. You can reach me on the DPC-Chat channel on Discord here. Alternatively, you can fill out the form below, and I’ll provide more information.
