VPN service
Remotely connect your device to the University network
Warning: Your internet traffic will go through University servers
Your internet traffic will route through University servers when connected to the VPN, so you are bound by our IT Rules and Regulations.
The VPN (virtual private network) service allows devices to remotely connect to the University network, required by some web pages and online resources.
Windows
University devices
Cisco Secure Client may already be installed on devices provided by your college or department
- Download the appropriate Cisco Secure Client for Windows from our software downloads page
- Run the installer and complete the installation
- Open the Cisco Secure Client
- Enter vpn.ox.ac.uk into the dropdown box
- Select Connect
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Open the Cisco Secure Client
- Type vpn.ox.ac.uk into the dropdown box
- Select Connect
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Select the VPN icon in the system tray
- Select Disconnect
macOS
Orchard devices
For Managed Mac (Orchard) devices, please refer to the service's own installation instructions
- Download Cisco Secure Client for macOS from our software downloads page
- Run the installer and complete the installation
- Open the Cisco Secure Client
- Enter vpn.ox.ac.uk into the dropdown box
- Select Connect
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Open the Cisco Secure Client
- Type vpn.ox.ac.uk into the dropdown box
- Select Connect
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Select the VPN icon in the system tray
- Select Disconnect
iOS
- Download Cisco Secure Client from your device’s app store
- Open Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect)
- Select Connections > Add VPN Connection...
- Select Server Address then provide vpn.ox.ac.uk
- Select Save
- Open Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect)
- Select the AnyConnect VPN toggle
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Open Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect)
- Select the AnyConnect VPN toggle so it shows as disconnected
Android
- Download Cisco Secure Client from your device’s app store
- Open Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect)
- Select Connections > Add New VPN Connection
- Select Server Address then provide vpn.ox.ac.uk
- Select Done
- Open Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect)
- Select the AnyConnect VPN toggle
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Open Cisco Secure Client (AnyConnect)
- Select the AnyConnect VPN toggle so it shows as disconnected
Linux
- Our software downloads page provides Cisco Secure Client for Linux, for:
• Linux Red Hat 8 and 9
• Ubuntu 20.04 and 22.04
The requirements for Linux distributions are detailed in the Cisco Secure Client release notes. - If not extracted automatically, unpack the downloaded file using an archive manager or type tar -xzvf filename from a terminal window (replacing filename with the file's name)
- In a terminal window, navigate to the newly created directory beginning anyconnect, then to its VPN subdirectory
- Start the installation by typing sudo ./vpn_install.sh
- To start the client either:
• Select Cisco Secure Client from the Applications menu
• Type vpnui at the command line in the installation directory (for Ubuntu this is /opt/cisco/bin) - Provide vpn.ox.ac.uk then Connect
- Provide your Oxford username in the format abcd1234@ox.ac.uk and your single sign-on (SSO) password
- Select the VPN icon in the system tray
- Select Disconnect
Get support
If you cannot find the solution you need here then we have other ways to get IT support