Setting up a VPN Connection (Cisco Secure Client) with macOS

Requirements:

  • Installation of the VPN-Client

    1. Software Download

    Download the Cisco Secure Client. You may need to sign in with your university ID and password again.

    1. Software Download
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    2. Opening the File

    Double-click on the downloaded dmg file to open it. If you use a browser other than Safari, you will find the file in the respective download area or in your local download folder.

    2. Opening the File
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    ! Important: Close the Settings-App

    Please close the Settings-App during the installation. Otherweise, the last steps after the installation are not shown to you and no connection can be established.

    3. Starting the Installation

    Start the Installation by double clicking the installation file Cisco Secure Client.pkg.

    3. Starting the Installation
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    4. Executing the Installer Package

    Start the Secure Client Installer by clicking "Continue".

    4. Executing the Installer Package
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    5. Accepting the License Agreement

    Continue the installation by clicking "Continue".
     

    5. Accepting the License Agreement
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    6. Scope of Installation

    Only install the package "AnyConnect VPN".

    6. Scope of Installation
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    7. Drive Selection

    Click "Install" to perform a standard installation on your Mac

    7. Drive Selection
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    8. Security Settings

    Depending on your security settings, you may need to enter your Mac username and password or share this with a current Mac via Touch ID. Then click on "Install software".

    8. Security Settings
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    9. Allow system extension

    Click on "Open the settings".

    9. Allow system extension
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    10. Allow editing of system settings

    Click on "Allow". You may have to enter the system password again or confirm it with Touch ID.

    macOS 12 and older: The System Preferences window looks different. Click on the lock there to release the system settings for editing and click on the "Allow" button.

    10. Allow editing of system settings
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    11. Set up last preset for cisco

    Click Allow to set up the final prerequisite for full Cisco functionality and click Reject on the Cisco Secure Client installer notification.

    11. Set up last preset for cisco
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  • Starting & Ending the VPN Connection

    1. Starting the Cisco AnyConnect Client

    Open the Cisco Secure Client.

    1. Starting the Cisco AnyConnect Client
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    2. Entering the VPN Server-Address

    Insert the server address vpn.uni-muenster.de and start the connection by clicking "Connect".

    2. Entering the VPN Server-Address
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    3. Entering your User Data

    Enter your university ID for user name, for password your password for network access and for OTP / second password your one time password and klick on "OK" afterwards. (Note: The network access password this is not your normal university password. You can set it in the IT Portal.)
     

    3. Entering your User Data
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    4. Disconnecting the VPN-Connection

    The ball with the closed lock in the status bar indicates that you are connected to the VPN network now. If the connection is no longer needed, click on the icon in the taskbar and click "Disconnect".
     

    4. Disconnecting the VPN-Connection
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  • Special VPN-Profile for Exchange and OWA

    To use Exchange on personal devices, you need the following dedicated VPN connection. This connection only manages Exchange traffic and does not have access to your other data traffic. On work devices, you can use the "Standard" connection listed above.

    1. Enter Server

    Enter the following server address in the field:

    https://vpn.uni-muenster.de/exchange

    1. Enter Server
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    2. Login

    Log in using your university ID, your net-access password and your one-time-password.

    2. Login
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    You are connected and can use Exchange. The Connection is saved as "Exchange".

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  • Problems during downloading

    The file ends with .man or .download

    If the Cisco Secure Client installation file ends with ".man" or ".download" after downloading, a download error has occurred. Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

    1. Open Finder and locate the installation file in the Downloads folder
    2. Select the file and change the ending to ".dmg"
    3. Proceed with the installation as usual.

    If this or other download errors occur frequently, try the following...

    ... reboot your computer
    --- clear the browser cache (especially for the specific website where you're downloading from)
    ... Use a different browser

  • Problems during installation/uninstallation

    Important!

    Some people accidentally move Cisco to the trash - the normal way to uninstall something on the Mac. This doesn't work for some apps outside the Appstore (usually when you have an install dialog, like Cisco, SPSS, Matlab).

    If you can't uninstall the Cisco package completely or the “Anyconnect VPN” package can't be unchecked after repeated installation, please follow the instructions below:

    1. Uninstalling all Cisco software

    1. open terminal.
    2. Paste und press enter: sudo /opt/cisco/anyconnect/bin/anyconnect_uninstall.sh 
    3. enter Mac password (input not visible).
    4. Paste und press enter: sudo rm -R /opt/cisco/anyconnect
    5. Paste und press enter: sudo rm -R /Applications/Cisco
    6. Paste und press enter: sudo pkgutil --forget com.cisco.pkg.anyconnect.vpn
    8. Restart

    The installation should work again.

    1. Uninstalling all Cisco software
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