I have spent the better part of 3 hours talking to various support personnel @ Microsoft - none of whom seem to be able to answer my question without wanting to "set up an appointment and schedule a paid support call" which I find silly for such a simple question....so here goes:

1. OS Environment - Windows 8.1 (NOT pro or enterprise)
2. VPN Client - Sonicwall NetExtender

When I purchased my desktop, it originally came with Windows 8 installed as an OEM license.  I wanted to connect to my work network through VPN.  I installed the stand-alone Sonicwall Netextender VPN client and everything worked perfectly.  I then updated my PC to 8.1 Preview edition. This disabled the Netextender client and was a known issue.

I recently updated my PC to 8.1 Release Edition and have been told by Windows Support on Twitter, Dell's SonicWall Tech Support and my company's IT support that I no longer need a stand-alone VPN client because the Sonicwall NetExtender client was now embedded into the OS as part of the preconfigured VPN "providers" list that are available from the drop-down selector when I go to setup the VPN connection.

However, when I go to setup the VPN connection and click on the VPN provider list, I do not see the SonicWall NetExtender Client as one of my options. See the image below for the options that I have available.

1. Should the SonicWALL NetExtender be in this list - as I am being told it should be ?
2. If so, why is it not there ? Are more providers available in different versions of 8.1 (enterprise or pro) ?
3. If it shouldn't be there, what are my options?  I have tried to negotiate a connection to the VPN but NONE of the 5 listed providers can make the connection.

Please HELP !  After hours on the phone with MS Windows Support in a variety of different departments (level 1, level 2, online premium chat and commercial/pro - who just wants to sell me a tech call), no one is even willing to answer my questions. If I knew it should be there and isn't, I would consider paying for the commercial support but no one is even willing (or can't) tell me that it should even be there.

Hi,

Based on my research, SonicWALL Mobile Connect is a free component that comes included as part of Windows 8.1, but still requires a concurrent user license on the Dell SonicWALL appliance. It not refer to SonicWALL NetExtender client.

On our lab machine, there are the same 5 providers.

Please try to reinstall SonicWALL NetExtender client then confirm the result.

I'm having the same issue.   Did you ever get a solution to this?   Does anyone know if it's possible to setup an L2TP connection on a surface?

I'm having the same issue.   Did you ever get a solution to this?   Does anyone know if it's possible to setup an L2TP connection on a surface?

I have run into the same situation with folks that have moved to Win 8.1.  I got the Netextender to load successfully though and connect successfully.  However, I have found that those users do not get the routes passed to them as they should.  So they connect just fine, show up in the connections section, but are not able to traverse the networks as they should.  This is why I am out tonight searching, trying to find the solution.  It has been frustrating as more users are moving to Win 8.1 with they home PC's and laptops.

I have run into the same situation with folks that have moved to Win 8.1.  I got the Netextender to load successfully though and connect successfully.  However, I have found that those users do not get the routes passed to them as they should.  So they connect just fine, show up in the connections section, but are not able to traverse the networks as they should.  This is why I am out tonight searching, trying to find the solution.  It has been frustrating as more users are moving to Win 8.1 with they home PC's and laptops.

'SonicWALL Mobile Connect' is the correct VPN Provider for SonicWALL NetExtender connections to Dell SonicWALL secure remote access or firewall products.

Please refer to the SonicWALL Mobile Connect for Windows 8.1 User Guide on the Dell SonicWALL web site: http://www.sonicwall.com/app/projects/file_downloader/document_lib.php?t=PG&id=605

• Edited by Dave Telehowski Thursday, January 16, 2014 8:20 PM

'SonicWALL Mobile Connect' is the correct VPN Provider for SonicWALL NetExtender connections to Dell SonicWALL secure remote access or firewall products.

Please refer to the SonicWALL Mobile Connect for Windows 8.1 User Guide on the Dell SonicWALL web site: http://www.sonicwall.com/app/projects/file_downloader/document_lib.php?t=PG&id=605

• Edited by Dave Telehowski Thursday, January 16, 2014 8:20 PM

Thank You Dave! It works fine.

But there is one big issue with this method. On my SRA virtual Appliance (Sonicwal VPN SSL), I allow the saving of the user name only.

It would be a lot more secure if these rules weren't bypassed.

Thank You Dave! It works fine.

But there is one big issue with this method. On my SRA virtual Appliance (Sonicwal VPN SSL), I allow the saving of the user name only.

It would be a lot more secure if these rules weren't bypassed.