Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect) VPN Setup

Owned by Sean Hanson
Last updated: Oct 11, 2024
7 min read

How to set up or troubleshoot your AnyConnect VPN connection.
This is for members with IT Services support and Marmot Meraki Firewalls at your location.

 

AnyConnect Client Download and Deployment - Cisco Meraki
Has documentation for other versions of Windows and Linux not listed here.

Table of Contents

Windows

Windows 11 VPN setup

  • Run the downloaded file and click through the promprs:

  • Open Cisco Secure Client from your Start Menu → All Apps

 

  • Obtain the appropriate VPN connection URL from the Marmot Helpdesk

  • Copy and paste the DDNS URL into the Cisco Secure Client prompt and select Connect

 

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Windows Map Network Drive

When trying to access a network drive from the VPN it will ask for credentials to authenticate you. This happens because the laptop is not on the domain and is expected.

  • When you double click on the network drive it will display this message.

     

  • Click on “More choice” at the bottom.

  • Select “Use a different account”

     

  • YourWindowsUserName and WindowsPassword

Normally with the Windows login name is firstinitialLastname so John Doe is jdoe and use the password you use to log into the Windows workstation

 

  • Click OK

You are in.

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Windows Remote Desktop (RDP) to a Windows PC

To create an RDP desktop link

  • Click Windows key type: "RDP"

  •  Click on the "Remote Desktop Connection"

 

  • Once the program opens click “Show Options”

  • Enter your computer name in the “Computer” field
    The computer name will be like "ABC-9999.marmot.shared" Note you have to append the .marmot.shared to the end.

Note you will have to append the ".marmot.shared" to the end.

  • User name: will be "marmot\userName"

  •  Click the "Local Resources" tab and uncheck the Printer box.

 

  • Back on the General tab click "Save as..." and select the desktop name of "Remote Connection to ABC-9999" replace ABC-9999 with your computer name.

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Mac

Mac OS Ventura VPN Setup

  • Download the “cisco-secure-client-macos-*” Cisco Secure Client (Formerly AnyConnect) from AnyConnect VPN - Marmot Library Network - Google Drive (please request access if you do not already have it)

  • Select “Download Anyway” if you receive a warning

  • Double-click on the downloaded file

  • Double-click on the .pkg

  • Follow the prompts of the installer

  • After completing all the prompts you will receive an action required window. Click on “Open System Settings”

  • In the system settings locate the following section and click “Allow”

  • After clicking the allow button the following window will pop up. Click “Allow” here as well.

  • You should receive a success window

    • Open Cisco Secure Client from your applications window

    • Obtain the appropriate URL for the location you wish to connect to from this spreadsheet: VPN Servers - Google Sheets

    • Copy and paste the DDNS URL into the Cisco Secure Client prompt and select Connect

     

  • After accepting the duo authentication you will get a confirmation that the Anyconnect client connected successfully and you will see a new icon in your top bar

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Mac OS Map Network Drive

How to access a network drive from the VPN.

To map the server drives you open finder then press command+k

It will give you this window. Enter your server-name.marmot.shared after the smb://

 

Click Connect

 

 

 

Enter your Windows/Domain login credentials, click “Connect”.

 

select the share you want to map, and click “OK”

and you are connected.

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Mac OS Remote Desktop (RDP) to a Windows PC

 

  • Make sure you write down your work desktop number, it will be something like ABC-9999 where the last four numbers are unique to your workstation, the first three letters are your district code.

  • Open the app

  • Click the "+" icon and click "add pc"

 

  • the hostname will be "ABC-999.marmot.shared" or whatever your number is.

  • For the "User account" click the drop-down menu and select "Add a User account. 

     

  • Your "Username" will be "marmot\yourWindowsLoginName" enter your Windows password then click add

  • click the add button

  • double click on the newly created PC, it will display a cert box, click "Continue"

  • You will now be remoted into your office computer.

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Linux

Ubuntu VPN

  • Download the “cisco-secure-client-win-*” AnyConnect client from AnyConnect VPN - Marmot Library Network - Google Drive (please request access if you do not already have it)

  • Open a terminal to the location of your download and make sure it is executable, then sudo ./vpn_install.sh and accept the terms in the license agreement

     

  • Open the VPN Client from your app list

     

  • Obtain the appropriate URL for the location you wish to connect to from this spreadsheet: VPN Servers - Google Sheets

  • Copy and paste the DDNS URL into the Cisco Secure Client prompt and select Connect

  • Complete the login by using the MFA

  • Log in using your Windows account (username@marmot.org) and your Duo MFA

 

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Chrome OS

  1.  

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Android

To configure an Android device to connect to the client VPN, follow these steps:

 

 

Troubleshooting steps

Windows Troubleshooting steps:
If you have deleted and recreated the VPN connection and verified all the passwords/IPs then try this.

  • Open Device Manager (right-click on the Windows start icon)

  • Find Network Adapters in the list

  • Uninstall WAN Miniport (IP), WAN Miniport(IPv6) and WAN Miniport (PPTP). 4. Click Action > Scan for hardware changes.

  • The adapters you just uninstalled should come back.

  • Try connecting again.

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