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.

2 thoughts to “How to setup VPN connection Oxford University Ubuntu (Linux)”

  1. I’ve just had to use my own blog post to remember how to get VPN working for my wife’s computer. Found the the Cisco VPN options didn’t appear.

    I’ve just added an extra step.

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

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