PS 5.3.6 and Network List service

[aeckensweiler]

I just recently pushed out an update to my clients running 5.3.5 to 5.3.6, and since then I've noticed that many of them are reporting mobile broadband (Cellular) connection drops when securing a connection. I then noticed that when connected to Wifi, it removes the available wireless networks from a Win 7 and Win 10 (1703) client.

Further investigating i found that the Network List service (NetProFM) was switching to disabled - thus cutting off any wifi connections and cellular connections. 

I did see that in 5.3.6 PS introduced a fix to Domain profile assignment (https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Secure_Article/KB43776) which restarts the Network Location Awareness service- that the NLS is dependent on.

Unfortunately this renders the VPN client essentially useless for my on the road sales and tech users, has anyone else found a way to supress this or stop the NLA/NLS services from shutting off?

Right now the only fix I have is removing 5.3.6 and installing 5.3.5

Thanks!

[mjo]

see also here: https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Secure_Article/KB43805/?q=dns&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=2&atype...

[Hermanbrood]

Same issue here with the 9.0.2 Pulse Connect Secure client for Windows. 

Symptoms:

- User connects to VPN

- In services.msc we see "network list service" being disabled for a short time and then change to manual, causing issues when the laptop or desktop restarts

- In network centre no networks are shown (required service not running) 

- No wifi networks in 'available networks'

- Starting the network list service brings back functionality, but when Pulse Secure client connects the network list service gets disabled again

- This occurs on multiple laptops and workstations in our environment

Workaround:

- Reverting back to the 9.0.1 Pulse Secure Client fixes the issue immediately

[hbrenner]

Same issue here... just upgraded to 9.0R2 for other reasons and now we have a few folks seeing this issue... not everyone though.

[RossT76]

I'm seeing the same thing. Upgraded to 9.0.2 and started having issues with the Network List Service. Some users effected, some not. Same laptops, O/S, domain etc...

[aeckensweiler]

hey everyone, just an update on this.

I reached out to the support team, and they informed me that they are aware of the issue and will be rolling out a fix shortly.

the fix will essentially revert the NLA service restart functionality.

We should be seeing PS 5.3.6.1 and 9.0.2.1 coming hopefully shortly, which "should" fix that issue.

[sksksk]

Any update on this?

[aeckensweiler]

Nothing from the support guys as of yet - there is however a newer release 9.0R2.1 (im not deploying this track) which looks to address the missing wireless icon and networks.

PRS-363544 Summary: DNS access may fail for 2 minutes when the VPN tunnel is created. PRS-368115 Summary: Users may not be able to change Wi-Fi networks from the system tray on Windows 10 <— please check this. I don’t understand why this was marked as a duplicate of PRS-363544.

PRS-368112 Summary: The Wi-FI selector is not available on Windows 10.

I'm going to try and deploy this to myself and see how it goes.

[mjo · Accepted solution]

seems to be fixed now. see https://kb.pulsesecure.net/articles/Pulse_Secure_Article/KB43897/?q=KB43897&l=en_US&fs=Search&pn=1&a...

[aeckensweiler]

sweet - I'll wait for the client to be released (5.3R7), I do find that 9.0R2.1 is working well - no disabling of services upon connection