Using Ubuntu 64 10.10 to connect to a Cisco VPN Endpoint

Linux supports cisco VPN client via the vpnc application. To install, execute

sudo apt-get install vpnc

This installs the open source vpn client. The installation creates a folder in /etc called vpnc. In this folder is a sample connection file. Then:

1. As su, copy this file to another and name appropriately. Edit this file, remove the appropriate comments (#) and fill in the correct information.
2. In your home folder, create a vpn-up file and enter the following
   sudo vpnc-connect --local-port 0 /etc/vpnc/.conf
3. Change the attributes of this file to allow execution (chmod 770 vpn-up)
4. In your home folder, create a vpn-down file and enter the following
   sudo vpnc-disconnect
5. Change the attributes of this file to allow execution (chmod 770 vpn-down)

Now to create the connection, open a terminal session and execute ~/vpn-up to connect and ~/vpn-down to disconnect.