Cisco Anyconnect Not Connecting



  1. Cisco Anyconnect Could Not Connect To Server
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  1. Cisco AnyConnect used to work on my laptop. Now when it starts, the dialog pops up for a moment, but the VPN location dropdown and Connect button are disabled. Then the dialog goes away and no connection is made. Internal support said my profile is probably the problem and that I should re-image the machine, which is not a viable option.
  2. But could not find the Cisco AnyConnect secure mobility client connection. Here’s the message ffrom the the cisco anyconnect client ver 4.3.03xxx on Windows10 11:47:31 PM Contacting xxx country 11:47:32 PM Posture Assessment: Required for access 11:47:32 PM Posture Assessment: Checking for updates 11:47:33 PM Posture Assessment.

Overview

Cisco AnyConnect used to work on my laptop. Now when it starts, the dialog pops up for a moment, but the VPN location dropdown and Connect button are disabled. Then the dialog goes away and no connection is made. Internal support said my profile is probably the problem and that I should re-image the machine, which is not a viable option.

Stanford's VPN allows you to connect to Stanford's network as if you were on campus, making access to restricted services possible. To connect to the VPN from your Windows computer you need to install the Cisco AnyConnect VPN client.

Two types of VPN are available:

  • Default Stanford (split-tunnel). When using Stanford's VPN from home, we generally recommend using the Default Stanford split-tunnel VPN. This routes and encrypts all traffic going to Stanford sites and systems through the Stanford network as if you were on campus. All non-Stanford traffic proceeds to its destination directly.
  • Full Traffic (non-split-tunnel). This encrypts all internet traffic from your computer but may inadvertently block you from using resources on your local network, such as a networked printer at home. If you are traveling or using wi-fi in an untrusted location like a coffee shop or hotel, you may wish to encrypt all of your internet traffic through the Full Traffic non-split-tunnel VPN to provide an additional layer of security.

You can select the type of VPN you want to use each time you connect to the Stanford Public VPN.

Install the VPN client

  1. Download the Cisco AnyConnect VPN for Windows installer.
  2. Double-click the InstallAnyConnect.exe file.
  3. When a message saying the Cisco AnyConnect client has been installed, click OK.

Connect to the Stanford VPN

  1. Launch the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client client.
    If you don't see Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client in the list of programs, navigate to Cisco > Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
  2. When prompted for a VPN, enter su-vpn.stanford.edu and then click Connect.
  3. Enter the following information and then click OK:
    • Group: select Default Stanford split- tunnel (non-Stanford traffic flows normally on an unencrypted internet connection) or Full Traffic non-split-tunnel (all internet traffic flows through the VPN connection)
    • Username: your SUNet ID
    • Password: your SUNet ID password

  4. Next, the prompt for two-step authentication displays. Enter a passcode or enter the number that corresponds to another option(in this example, enter 1 to authenticate using Duo Push to an iPad). Then click Continue.
    • You may have to scroll down the list to see all of your options.
    • If your only registered authentication method is printed list, hardware token, or Google Authenticator, the menu does not display. Enter a passcode in the Answer field and click Continue.
  5. Click Accept to connect to the Stanford Public VPN service.
  6. Once the VPN connection is established, a message displays in the lower-right corner of your screen, informing you that you are now connected to the VPN.

Disconnect from the Stanford VPN

  1. In the notification area, click the Cisco AnyConnect icon if it is displayed. Otherwise, go to your list of programs and click Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client.
  2. At the prompt, click Disconnect.

I was trying to log into work but had trouble making a VPN connection. I use Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client. This post describes how to fix the following error messages when using Windows 8 Pro:

  • AnyConnect was not able to establish a connection to the specified secure gateway. Please try connecting again.
  • The VPN client driver encountered an error. Please restart your computer or device, then try again.

The steps to fix this problem are as follows:

1. Edit a registry entry by running a program called regedit. Right-click on it and Run as administrator. Note that I use Start8, by Stardock, to have a Start button and menu. After you left-click on Run as administrator, your computer might ask you to enter the admin password.

2. Go to the appropriate VPN registry directory called ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesvpnva

3. Double left-click the DisplayName key.

An Edit String pop-up window will appear.

The text under the Value data: field on my computer looked like this.

Connecting

@oem20.inf,%vpnva_Desc%;Cisco AnyConnect VPN Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

4. Change the field to

Cisco AnyConnect VPN Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

by removing all the text and characters that are on the left of the word Cisco.

The end result should look like this:

5. Left-click the ‘OK’ button.

6. Exit the Registry Editor

7. Run Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client and reconnect.

That’s all there is to it. Good luck!

Update : 2/13/2014

I recently updated my computer on February 13, 2014 with Microsoft’s updates and saw that the text under the Value data: field on my computer looked like this:

@oem10.inf,%VPNVA64_Desc%;Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

It is different from what I had originally posted. I’m not really sure how or why it changed and I don’t have time to find out. I also updated to Cisco AnyConnect Secury Mobility Client Version 3.1.04066. As far as I can tell, the value of …

@oem10.inf,%VPNVA64_Desc%;Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

.. works, but the value of

Cisco AnyConnect VPN Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

does not work with Cisco AnyConnect Secury Mobility Client Version 3.1.04066.

Update : 2/15/2014

Changing the Value data: field to

Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client Virtual Miniport Adapter for Windows x64

without

Cisco Anyconnect Could Not Connect To Server

@oem10.inf,%VPNVA64_Desc%;

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seems to work better, too.