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Over the past few months I have been annoyed by ASDM bug CSCsv12681 which causes pretty much all versions of ASDM to fail on any machine that gets upgraded to a recent Java version:

Error while loading ASDM: “Unconnected sockets not implemented”

Symptom:
While loading ASDM, a dialog is displayed that says:
“ASDM cannot be loaded. Click OK to exit ASDM.
Unconnected sockets not implemented”

This occurs when using Java 6 Update 10 or later.

Conditions:
ASDM version 5.0 or later running on ASA, PIX or FWSM and using Java 6
Update 10 or later.

Workaround:
Use Java 6 Update 7.

I have a couple Pix devices running 8.0(4) code that I have not been able to manage with ASDM 6.1.3 since I re-built my laptop with Windows Vista and the latest JVM.  Today I decided to fix this by upgrading to ASDM interim release 6.1(5)51.  After the upgrade, I ran into a different issue where the software would load (progress bar would finish), but it would get stuck trying to open the main window and just sit there spinning.

I went to Cisco’s download page for the pix and looked for even newer interim releases (the 6.1(5)51 version had been listed on the main download page) and discovered bug CSCsw43498:

ASDM is not working with Java 1.6.0_11 and Vista OS. 

Symptom:

ASDM on Vista OS with Java 1.6.0_11 unable to load

Conditions:

Windows Vista OS and Java 1.6.0_10/Java 1.6.0_11

Workaround:
1. Right-click on the Cisco ASDM Launcher shortcut.
2. Select “Property”
3. Click on “Compatibility”
4. Click on the box “Disable Visual Theme”
5. Restart ASDM

Alternatively, users can downgrade to Java version 1.6.0_07 (download from http://java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/6u7/) 

I opted for the workaround rather than running an even more bleeding edge interim release 6.1(5)57.  Note that it did not work the first time, so I set it “for all users” rather than just for myself and then it seemed to work.

ASDM Vista Compatibility Mode

-Eric

UPDATE: 5/30/09

Cisco has release ASDM 6.2 which I believe fixes all the bugs listed above and it works with PIX/ASA code 8.0.2, 8.0.2, 8.0.4 and 8.2.  Check out the release notes for the full compatability guide.  This release corresponds with version 8.2 of the ASA code which has a number of new exciting features including the AnyConnect Essentials license pack which supports 64 bit Windows.