MIKAELF  No I don't. The non existing doc doesn't mention it and my interpretation of a supported protocol is that the product has this feature. Not that I need to install the original product so that it can support itself.

Sigh....  
(Version 2.2.1)

MIKAELF  Can someone tell me how to use this with Hamachi? All the profiles except Cisco are greyed out.

I have the latest version and I paid the license fee.

Documentation is non existing...

/Mikael  
(Version 2.2.1)

OZEAN  Just as a FYI: the venerable 1.0.7 version of Shimo (the last freeware version) continues to work under Snow Leopard. Yay!  
(Version 2.2.1)

ANOTHERSPOT  Fantastic product - especially when managing multiple VPN connections and replacing need of CISCO client highly recommended up to Leopard

Snow Leopard now has Cisco VPN option built-in so may not be required if you are happy with Apple's implementation of VPN connections.  
(Version 2.2)

MUTANT  If you are frustrated with your CiscoVPN client for not integrating with your keychain, this is a great app. Whenever I need to fire up a CiscoVPN connection this Shimo does it quickly and with mouseclicks, it stores your information in the secure keychain, which is a wonderful.

I love the Hamachi integration as well.

My only desire is for a more well rounded SSH tunnel handler. I keep all my tunnels in .ssh/config, using shortcuts to fire them off and it works well. Shimo doesn't pay any attention to your ssh-agent or any ssh configurations, so if you want to replace terminal for your tunnel management you'll have to maintain .ssh/config and Shimo.. Shimo doesn't make use of the ssh-agent, so I don't even bother using it for ssh functions.

All that aside, I couldn't be happier with this product. It is a great replacement for CiscoVPN & Hamachi, 2 clients I use daily.  
(Version 2.1.1)

STAR-AFFINITY  Does Shimo use the Cisco .kext's (I guess it does)?

We occasionally get Kernel Panics when using the Cisco VPN Client, and it seems to be the Kernel Extensions from Cisco that's causing it... :(

Both on Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.5..  
(Version 2.0.7)

PIRX  It is supposed to be a one-fits-all solution, however, it is not there yet and looking at all the open support tickets, there still seems to be quite a bit of work in progress.

I you are on a run-of-the-mill VPN, chance is that you will be happy, even totally excited with Shimo.

Good idea & concept, if fully implemented Shimo will be great.  
(Version 2.0.7)

PAULNOJUSTPAUL  I'm a fan of the v1.x releases of this critter and applaud the developers for creating such an unobtrusive, elegant, and convenient interface to Cisco's VPM client. I use it almost daily.

I really wish I could justify ponying up the dosh for v2 (and completely respect the developers wanting a return for their hard work) but since my work provides the Cisco VPN client app, is pretty anti-mac, and therefor would only cover the purchase if Hades was ice skating, I'll have to stick with v1. Sorry, devs!  
(Version 2.0.6)

BUZZARD  I upgraded to this latest version of Shimo and was disappointed to find that the connection times are really slow, sometimes taking as long as a couple of minutes to complete the VPN connection. This is true from both my Macbook Pro and iMac. I never experienced this problem with the earlier (free) version of Shimo. I have found Shimo to be very useful and much simpler to use than the Cisco client; however, the slow connection times I am experiencing make me wish I could downgrade to the earlier free version, which was working fine for me.  
(Version 2.0.3)

FREEBSD  I won't be upgrading. I donated to this project when it was free, and the developer didn't so much as acknowledge it with an e-mail, though that's clearly not why I donated.

In my opinion, the upgrade/pay version of Shimo is an incredibly poor value compared to the original. At perhaps 10 USD per license, it might be reasonable, considering its one-trick pony status.

As always, it's the developer's time and money that may go into this project, so it's totally his/her prerogative to charge whatever he wants. Same goes for those who pay. But I just want to point out that vpnc software compatible with Cisco is not new and has been available free and open source on GNU/Linux for awhile.   
(Version 2.0.3)

SIDDHARTHA  It's really a great program for VPN connectivity on the Mac.

I use it every day to check on patients, and to review data, labs, etc. It works well, very macish, and replaces the Cisco client for me.

Well worth the $, though a slightly discounted price would be nice. I'd happily pay $10, less happily pay the 20$ (which I did).

all in all, worth it, as it does what it says quite well indeed  
(Version 2.0.2)

JONO  v2.0.1 breaks connectivity with our corporate VPN server; it just repeatedly asks for my PIN. Had to revert to v2.0 which works fine...  
(Version 2.0.1)

.GURU  I can understand your resistance to the fact that Shimo 2.X costs € 12,95 Euros. But please think of it from another standpoint: Version 2 supports many new VPN protocols and you can not only control Cisco's client, but even replace it completely! Shimo 2 is a standalone VPN client and on the Mac there's no other client that has that many features. Compare it with equinux VPN Tracker, which costs more than € 120 (factor of 10) and supports less protocols than Shimo 2!

Try it and you will see what I am speaking of...

For some weeks you can continue using Version 1.X, because I don't know yet what to do with the old version. Send me an email if you have any suggestions!  
(Version 2.0)

HAZMAT  I agree that this is too much for simply using it to launch the VPN connection every once in a while. Plus, I actually donated money to the developer a while back. No acknowledgment for that?  
(Version 2.0)

DANA SUTTON  I'll still stand by the glowing review of v.1 I've already written. But I agree. Shimo v.1 does just what I want it to, and I don't see a reason in the world to pay twenty dollars for a bunch of bells and whistles I don't really need. So as long as the price stays that high I'll probably stick with v.1.  
(Version 2.0)

ATRAINDD  As those below me have said it's a cool freeware program that cleans up ciscos VPN client a bit but $20 seems like way too much.  
(Version 2.0)

MNTBIGHKER  As an alternative front end to our Cisco VPN client it is no way worth $20 for a little less screen clutter. We will be removing it from our Tiger build unless the EULA allows us to keep using the 1.x version.

--Sorry  
(Version 2.0)

SUNBURN  I've been happily using Shimo for a while, though I only connect to VPN about once a month. It's a nice program and all, but $20 seems incredibly steep for a program whose main feature (for me) is just launching my VPN connection in a few less keystrokes. I would certainly pay $5 for it, but $20? Too steep for me.  
(Version 2.0)

MKULTRA  FYI, upgraders- this version is no longer donationware.  
(Version 2.0)

DANA SUTTON  Shimo is a real winner. My university distributes a pre-configured version of Cisco VPN (for such purpose as off-campus access to restricted library resources), and I've recommended to our computer people that they post a link to Shimo on their computer resources site.  
(Version 1.0.6)

VORTEXFIVE  Excellent!

Makes the un-mac-like cisco client an easy to use application.  
(Version 1.0.4.1)

FREEBSD  I am running Shimo coupled with Cisco's VPN client software 4.9.01.0080, and it runs flawlessly. Its 'killer feature' is simply the fact that it works exactly as advertised -- an unobtrusive menubar util that allows me to instantly make sure my VPN is connected.

Its load times are incredibly fast. Profiles are easy to set up and maintain, and they required zero hassle.

Shimo utilizes Growl, which allows you further visual verification when the connection is established or dropped.

I am incredibly pleased with this solution, with many thanks to the developer. Like many others, I am glad that it is located in the menubar rather than the dock.

I'm not sure if it's due to a different version of the cisco VPN or perhaps the way something was set up previously, but my VPN connection these days is considerably more reliable. I have been able to maintain a constant connection (crucial for running my sims) for upwards of eight consecutive hours trouble free.

One tiny feature request would be to make an option that clicking on a particular profile in the icon's menu would automatically start connecting to it, but it's an incredibly minor quibble.  
(Version 1.0.3)

KLKTRK  This is fantastic! So so so much nicer than Cisco's GUI. Only complaint is that I wish there were the option to have it in the dock instead of the menu. Some of us don't have that much room for more in the menu bar.

Thanks to the developer for the hard work in giving us this great tool. Hats off!  
(Version 1.0.3)

MARTINP  Amazing program. Great functionality.  
(Version 1.0.3)

FERALCHIMP  The developer provided me with a debug build to help diagnose the problems I was seeing. The problems disappeared mysterious, which unfortunately provided the developer with no usable information, but I'm now enjoying the simplicity and slick UI that have made Shimo so popular.

Overall I'd rate this about a '4', but I'm marking it a '5' to balance my earlier review (which for some reason MacUpdate seems to provide no way for me to modify).

Thanks again to Fabian for his eagerness to solve my earlier problem.  
(Version 1.0.2)

FERALCHIMP  Very nice UI and good use of Growl. Unfortunately, I can connect to my office VPN using the standard Cisco GUI, but Shimo is unable to connect using the same profile.

Cisco client version: 4.9.01 (0080)

Machine: Santa Rosa MBP

When the software starts working with my machine and client version, I'd gladly try it again.  
(Version 1.0.2)

COPILOTO  Shimo 1.0 was working perfectly for me. When I installed this new version, it asks me for several confirmations (that I don't know) in order to connect. I don't really know what to do, since I used it because of its simplicity.  
(Version 1.0.1)

VORTEXFIVE  Very good front-end for cisco!

This is realy the mac way.

Still needs some fixes.  
(Version 0.9.8)

MICKANGEL  Worked flawlessly on PowerBook 10.4.8 but on intel MacBook Pro 10.4.8 it just sits there.

The app finds the cisco profiles. When choosing 'connect' it simply does not do anything. Nothing in the logs to indicate what is going on.

Shame, because it's a great application and a breath of fresh air after the cisco-ugliest-UI-in-the-world front-end.  
(Version 0.9)

MNTBIGHKER  No joy on my Macbook as admin user or otherwise. Nothing of value in the logs.  
(Version 0.9)

ARVIDTP  Yes! This is the best little utility! I hate having to enter my password manually into the terrible default CiscoVPN interface every time I want to connect to my university's network. Fantastic! Nice looking and unobtrusive software, too :)  
(Version 0.9)