Setting up VPN in Ubuntu

 

NOTE: (I'll be revising this tutorial in a few days to include screenshots)

 

vpnc installation

open Terminal (if you don't know how to do this or what Terminal is, STOP. You're not ready for this tutorial.)

type sudo apt-get install vpnc

provide your root password

follow prompts for installation

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scripts for connect & disconnect

Make an empty file, rename it to 'vpnc_connect'

Input the following text into the file:

#!/bin/bash

sudo vpnc-connect <NameofYourVPNFile>*

 

Make another empty file, rename it to 'vpnc_disconnect'

Input the following text into the file:

#!/bin/bash

sudo vpnc-disconnect

 

I suggest storing these files in a safe place that you won't mess with, and make a copy as well.

Next, we'll make launchers for these files, so that you can easily open them without fear of modifying the actual files:

 

1a. Right-click on your Desktop and click 'Create Launcher...'

1b. Type: Application in Terminal

1c. Name: vpnc_connect

1d. Click the 'Browse...' button and point to the vpnc_connect file you previously made.

 

2a. Right-click on your Desktop and click 'Create Launcher...'

2b. Type: Application in Terminal

2c. Name: vpnc_disconnect

2d. Click the 'Browse...' button and point to the vpnc_disconnect file you previously made.

 

Next, we'll be modifying our vpnc config file so that we have to input as little info as possible each time we connect/disconnect.

1. Open Terminal.

2. Type sudo cp /etc/vpnc/example.conf /etc/vpnc/<NameofYourVPNFile>.conf

eg. sudo cp /etc/vpnc/example.conf /etc/vpnc/helion.conf

3. Type sudo gedit /etc/vpnc/<NameofYourVPNFile>.conf

 

erase all ofthe text within or just alter the entries to match this template:

IPSec gateway xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
IPSec ID <group name>
IPSec secret <group password>
Xauth username <username>

 

You can get the IPSec gateway & IPSec ID from your PCF file if you open them in Text Editor (pic)

You'll need to resolve the FQDN using Terminal first, then use that value for the IPSec gateway.

eg. ping remote.yourcompany.com and use that IP for the IPSec gateway value.

***SAVE YOUR WORK***

 

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