How to setup VPN connection Oxford University Ubuntu (Linux)

I needed to connect to Oxford University via a VPN connection from my Ubuntu 13.10 laptop.  They have some instructions by they are quite complicated and not very clear. Here is how I did it:

1 – Install a Cisco compatiable VPN Client
Oxford University uses the Cisco VPN. You can install this directly from the repositories.

sudo apt-get install network-manager-vpnc vpnc <code>network-manager-vpnc-gnome</code></pre>
<pre>

2 – Update the VPN service

sudo nano /etc/dbus-1/system.d/nm-vpnc-service.conf

Add a new policy before the </busconfig>

<policy at_console="true">
     <allow own="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.vpnc"/>
     <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.vpnc"/>
</policy>

You can save and close nano by ctrl-o (for saving files) and ctrl-x (for exiting).

3 – Get the settings…
Go to https://register.it.ox.ac.uk/self/index and follow these steps to get the settings. Note: you will need to login using your account details (these will be the same as your emails etc).

Login then select “Register for and download site-licensed software (Sophos, VPN)”

oxford_university_vpn_ubuntu_step1

Select “VPNC Client for Linux/Unix”

oxford_university_vpn_ubuntu_step2

Client the “vpnc configuration file”

oxford_university_vpn_ubuntu_step3

… and up pops this window.

oxford_university_vpn_ubuntu_step4

You will need all this information for the following steps.

4 – Configure the VPN Connection Locally

Click on the network icon at the top right of the screen.  Select VPN connections -> Configure VPN…

configuring_vpn_connections_ubuntu

In the Network Connections dialog box – click “Add”

vpn_connection_add

Select “Cisco Compatitble VPN (vpnc)”.  It you can’t see this option then you need to go back and install the VPNC client.

vpn_choose_a_connection_type

Fill in the fields as show below.  You will need your University login and also the setting which we found before.

oxford_university_VPN

Then click “Save”.  You can connect…

5 – Connect…

Click on the network icon and under “VPN Connections” – select the VPN connection that you have just created.  The network icon will pulse and you should see this icon:

Selection_012

Let me know if this works or doesn’t work for you.

Happy VPN’ing.