All posts tagged DPC

Always On VPN DPC 5.2.0 Now Available

I’m pleased to announce that Always On VPN Dynamic Profile Configurator (DPC) version 5.2.0 is now available. My good friend Leo D’Arcy has been hard at work for the last few months squashing some bugs and adding a few new features to DPC. If you are running a previous release of Always On VPN DPC, either open source or commercial, it’s time to upgrade.

Important!! DPC 5.2.0 has a bug that prevents the service from stopping. This has been addressed in DPC 5.2.1. Guidance for upgrading from DPC 5.2.0 to 5.2.1 can be found here.

Reminder: We’re on Discord. Join the conversation today!

What’s New in DPC 5.2.0

Always On VPN DPC 5.2.0 has some compelling new features.

  • Exclude Routes from DNS – DPC has a feature that allows administrators to add routes to the routing table using DNS. When this setting is enabled, DPC will attempt to resolve the specified hostname to an IP address and add it to the VPN’s routing table when creating the profile. With 5.2.0, this capability has been extended to exclusion routes, allowing administrators to exclude resources by host name.
  • Write Event Logs to Disk – This setting allows administrators to optionally write DPC event information to a text file in addition to logging them in the event log. Writing event log information to a text file on disk can make troubleshooting easier in some scenarios.
  • Delay Profile Updates – This new feature ensures reliable VPN profile creation after group policy updates take place.

Bug Fixes

In addition to new capabilities, Always On VPN DPC 5.2.0 includes fixes for many outstanding issues.

  • DPC name resolution issue where duplicate IP addresses are returned, resulting in failed route additions when using ‘Allow Routes from DNS’.
  • Missing events in the DPC operational event log.
  • Enabling ‘Disable Disconnect Button’ or ‘Disable Advanced Edit Button’ settings results in a profile mismatch warning.
  • Added resiliency to DPC name resolution when one or more name resolution requests fail.

Group Policy Template

As a reminder, any time there are new features in DPC, there will be corresponding changes to Group Policy administrative template and template language files. Be sure to update your ADMX and ADML files in the group policy central store to take advantage of these new capabilities in DPC 5.2.0.

Recommendation

If you are running any release of Always On VPN DPC, commercial or open source, consider upgrading now to gain access to new features and operational reliability improvements. You can find DPC v5.2.0 on GitHub here.

Additional Information

Always On VPN DPC v5.2.0 Available Now

Always On VPN Dynamic Profile Configurator (DPC)

Always On VPN DPC Now Open Source

Migrating from Always On VPN DPC Commercial to Open Source

Always On VPN DPC with Microsoft Intune

Microsoft Always On VPN on Discord

Always On VPN DPC

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by Richard M. Hicks on August 12, 2025  •  Permalink
Posted in administration, Always On VPN, AOVPN, AovpnDPC, Device Management, device tunnel, Discord, DNS, DPC, Dynamic Profile Configurator, Enterprise, enterprise mobility, Group Policy, Microsoft, Mobility, Name Resolution, Open Source, Operational Support, ProfileXML, Remote Access, systems management, troubleshooting, Update, user tunnel, VPN, Windows 10, Windows 11
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on August 12, 2025

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2025/08/12/always-on-vpn-dpc-5-2-0-now-available/

Always On VPN Discord Channel

I’m excited to announce the launch of a brand-new Discord channel dedicated to administrators working with Always On VPN! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, this community is designed to be your go-to hub for collaboration, troubleshooting, and staying up to date on all things Always On VPN. The channel was established by my good friend Leo D’Arcy, the creator of the popular Always On VPN Dynamic Profile Generator (DPC) software.

Why Discord?

Always On VPN is a powerful solution for secure, seamless remote connectivity, but managing it comes with its own set of challenges. From configuration quirks to deployment strategies, administrators often need a space to share insights, ask questions, and learn from one another in real time. That’s where our new Discord channel comes in.

Community Forum

Discord offers a dynamic, user-friendly platform for instant communication and community building. Unlike forums or email threads, it’s a place where you can start a conversation, jump into live discussions, share resources, ask questions, share important insights or experiences, and much more.

Channels

Today, the Always On VPN Discord channel is part of the Microsoft Remote Access User Group Discord Server. It consists of multiple channels divided into the following topics.

General – This is a great place to introduce yourself and say hello to everyone!

DPC-Development – Here, you can ask questions about DPC, provide feedback, and suggest new features and functionality.

DPC-Chat – This channel is for administrators to discuss all things DPC, including deployment strategies, operation, support, and more.

Aovpn-Chat – If you’ve deployed Always On VPN but aren’t using DPC, this is your channel! Although DPC is fantastic, not everyone is using it. In this channel, you can submit questions and share general information about Always On VPN.

Gsa-Chat – We’ve also included a Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access channel for the new Microsoft Security Service Edge (SSE) solution, which includes Entra Private Access. This channel is pretty quiet right now. Hopefully, it will grow in the future!

DirectAccess-Chat – Yes, we realize some of you are still running DirectAccess, so there’s also a channel for you! Feel free to drop in and ask questions here, hopefully about migrating soon. 😉

Who Is This For?

This channel is open to anyone managing Microsoft secure remote access products. Whether you’re an IT administrator in a small business, an enterprise network engineer, or a consultant helping clients stay connected. If you’re working with Microsoft remote access technologies, this is the place to be!

Why Not Reddit?

Funny story: I tried to create an Always On VPN subreddit a few years ago. It lasted one day before it was banned! No reason was given, and I couldn’t get anyone from Reddit to respond. I answer questions ad hoc on Reddit all the time, but there’s no dedicated space for Always On VPN or Microsoft remote access in general.

How To Join

Joining our Discord channel is easy.

  1. Click this link.
  2. Set up your Discord account if you don’t already have one. It’s free and only takes a minute!
  3. Optionally, you can download the Discord app here.
  4. Say hello and introduce yourself in the #general channel.
  5. Explore the other channels, ask questions, give feedback, and share your expertise!

See You There!

Leo and I, along with many other experienced Always On VPN administrators, are on the forums daily. We encourage you to share your expertise, ask questions, and help others along the way. The more we contribute, the stronger this resource becomes for everyone. Join us today!

Additional Information

Always On VPN Discord Channel

Always On VPN Dynamic Profile Configurator (DPC)

DPC on GitHub

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by Richard M. Hicks on March 10, 2025  •  Permalink
Posted in administration, Always On VPN, Always On VPN DPC, AOVPN, AovpnDPC, Community, Deployment, Device Management, DirectAccess, Discord, DPC, Dynamic Profile Configurator, Enterprise, enterprise mobility, Entra, Entra Global Secure Access, Entra Private Access, Forum, GitHub, Global Secure Access, GSA, Microsoft, Microsoft Entra, Microsoft Entra Global Secure Access, Microsoft Entra Private Access, Mobility, Operational Support, Remote Access, Secure Access Service Edge, Secure Service Edge, Security, Security Service Edge, SSE, systems management, troubleshooting, user tunnel, VPN, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2025
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on March 10, 2025

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2025/03/10/always-on-vpn-discord-channel/

Migrating from Always On VPN DPC Commercial to Open Source

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.

We’re on Discord! Join the conversation: https://discord.aovpndpc.com/.

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.

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Additional Information

PowerON Platforms Are No More

Always On VPN DPC Open Source

Always On VPN DPC Advanced Features

Always On VPN DPC with Microsoft Intune

1 Comment
by Richard M. Hicks on January 6, 2025  •  Permalink
Posted in Active Directory, administration, Always On VPN, Always On VPN DPC, AOVPN, AovpnDPC, Deployment, Device Management, device tunnel, DPC, Dynamic Profile Configurator, Enterprise, enterprise mobility, GitHub, Group Policy, Infrastructure, InTune, MDM, MEM, Microsoft, Microsoft Endpoint Manager, Microsoft Intune, Mobile Device Management, Mobility, Open Source, Operational Support, PowerShell, ProfileXML, Remote Access, RSAT, SCCM, System Center Configuration Manager, systems management, user tunnel, VPN, Windows 10, Windows 11
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on January 6, 2025

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2025/01/06/migrating-from-always-on-vpn-dpc-commercial-to-open-source/

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