A laptop can have a working internet connection and still be unable to reach an office network. That distinction matters for some people considering Fedora Linux 45, released on 3 November. The project is retiring two pieces of software that NetworkManager uses to establish particular kinds of virtual private network, or VPN, connections.
The change concerns NetworkManager-vpnc and NetworkManager-fortisslvpn. Fedora says both plugins lack active maintenance. Its migration guide cites security problems involving malicious connection profiles and the privileges granted to older helper scripts. Users who do not rely on either plugin should not assume that every VPN connection on their computer must be replaced.
The right replacement depends on what is at the other end of the connection. For the older Cisco IPsec setup using IKEv1, the project points users towards NetworkManager-libreswan. For the Fortinet SSL VPN setup covered by its guide, it recommends NetworkManager-openconnect. These are two different paths. Knowing only that an employer uses a VPN is not enough to choose between them.
Fedora’s instructions describe setting up a new connection profile and verifying that it works before removing the older package. For someone working from home in Nigeria, opening an ordinary public website checks internet access. Reaching the organisation’s usual internal service through the new profile tests the part of the setup that has actually changed.
The release also changes what people can do when installing the system. Fedora has added support for Stratis in its Anaconda installer. People choosing a custom disk layout can create storage pools across one or more physical drives. That installation option is separate from the steps for restoring access to an office network.
What it means for you. If your employer manages the laptop, ask its support team which profile you use and how to test the replacement while assistance is available. If you are installing Fedora for the first time, choose the installation media for the edition you need. Existing users can follow the project’s separate upgrade instructions.