Connecting to a Cisco VPN from Linux

The folks at the new job are running a Cisco VPN. While it's very straight forward to connect using the AnyConnect client from Windows, the steps to do it in Linux are not so clear cut, because the AnyConnect client for Linux constantly drops the connection for me and won't hold it for more than 30 seconds. So, this is how you do it from a Debian-based Linux:

1. Install the "network-manager-openconnect-gnome" package

   sudo apt-get install network-manager-openconnect-gnome
   

2. Open the Network Manager applet from the task bar

3. Click on VPN Connections

4. Click Configure VPN...

   

5. Click the Add button

6. VPN Connection Type should be Cisco AnyConnect Compatible VPN

   

7. Enter a name for your connection

8. Enter a value for the Gateway (IP or Host Name)

9. Click Save

   

10. Then go back to the Network Manager applet on the task bar

11. Select VPN Connections and then select the one you just created
12. On the Connect to VPN dialog, choose the VPN host and
13. Click the Conect button
14. Enter your Username and Password
15. Lastly, click Login

This approach has been working really well and reliably for me and I hope it will for you too.