Computing Science: VPN Instructions for Ubuntu
Modified on: Fri, 5 Jul 2024 10:17 AMIntroduction
This article describes how to connect Ubuntu systems to the central VPN service using the Cisco AnyConnect client. Instructions for other operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS, and mobile clients, can be found here.
Applicability
The article is intended for members of the Department of Computing Science who use Ubuntu. The instructions may also be useful as a general guide for other versions of Linux, but they have only been tested with Ubuntu 16.04 and 18.04.
Procedure
Ubuntu 16.04, 18.04
Installing the VPN Client
- Download the Cisco AnyConnect VPN client.
- From the Terminal, navigate to the Downloads folder [cd /Downloads].
- Unzip the file by typing [tar xzvf Ualberta_VPN_64.tar.gz].
- A folder with the same name as the file will appear in the current directory. Open the folder and go to the vpn directory, then type [sudo ./vpn_install.sh].
- The VPN client will be installed on your system and the vpnagentd process will be started. This process will be started each time your system is booted.
- Ubuntu/Debian users should also run this command to download a dependency for the VPN UI: [sudo apt-get install libpangox-1.0-0].
Starting the VPN Client
- From your desktop, you can find the VPN client by searching for “AnyConnect”.
- NOTE: If you’d like to start the client from the terminal, type [/opt/cisco/anyconnect/bin/vpnui]. If you are not running a GUI, you can enter interactive mode by entering [/opt/cisco/anyconnect/bin/vpn].
- In the “Connect to:” box, type vpn.ualberta.ca and press Enter on your keyboard.
- NOTE: In interactive mode type [connect vpn.ualberta.ca].
- Enter your CCID and password in the appropriate boxes and click “Connect”.
- Important: If you are a member of Computing Science, your username will be CCID@cs. For example, myccid@cs. You will still be able to connect without the @cs but you will not have access to Comp Sci resources.
Acknowledgement
This article is based heavily on instructions created by the IT department at the University of California - Irvine.
Keywords: computing science, computer science, comp sci, vpn, virtual private network, cisco, anyconnect, any connect, openconnect, open connect, client, ubuntu, linux