[Tutorial] Cisco Anyconnect sucks! How to add the UF VPN to your native OS in 60 seconds

Typically, to connect to the UF VPN, one must install the Cisco Anyconnect client (as per stated on https://it.ufl.edu/ict/documentation/network-infrastructure/vpn/).

If you didn’t know already, Windows, MacOS, and Linux already have native support for VPNs. No annoying background app necessary! And it only takes a minute to set up:

For Windows: https://it.ufl.edu/ict/documentation/network-infrastructure/vpn/l2tpipsec-configuration–operations-guide/

For MacOS: I don’t know! I don’t use mac, sorry ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

For Linux: Here’s how to do it in the GNOME desktop environment (used by Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.). It’ll be slightly different for other desktop environments.

Go to your network settings. Under VPN, click the + button:

Network settings

Choose the first option in the pop-up: “Multi-protocol VPN client (openconnect)”

Select Multi-protocol VPN client

Finally, give your VPN a name and set the Gateway to l2tp.vpn.ufl.edu . That’s it!


Add the VPN and press connect. You should be prompted to enter your GatorLink credentials. If all goes well, you’ll get a Duo authentication request, and accepting it will put you on the VPN! Congrats! Uninstall that Cisco trash.

Dang I gotta use this. Frick Cisco