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djangofan
Asked: 2011-07-01 08:09:31 +0800 CST

How to configure Cisco VPNUI shortcut to open a specific host?

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How do I configure the Cisco VPNUI client as a shortcut to open a specific host? As far as I can tell, the program doesn't take an command line arguments, or does it?

The problem is that the VPNUI.exe doesn't remember a history of VPNs you have connected to in the past, as most other software programs would do.

vpn cisco-vpn cisco

4 Answers

  1. you need to create an usual text file like

    connect myvpnhost
myloginname
mypassword

    save it as myfile.dat (for example) and then call

    "%ProgramFiles%\Cisco\Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client\vpncli.exe" -s < myfile.dat
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  2. Best Answer

    Yeah, looks like AnyConnect's GUI is completely ignorant of what's on the command line.

    I can think of a couple options:

    1. Avoid the UI completely, and use vpncli.exe that's included by AnyConnect's installer
    2. Wrap a batch file around the vpnui.exe launch, swapping out the preferences.xml file with one containing the desired host. (on win7, my preferences.xml is in my profile at AppData\Roaming\Cisco\Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client)
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  3. I'm having a similar issue however I was able to get multiple profiles by adding a second profile.xml to C:\ProgramData\Cisco\Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client\Profile. The ProgramData folder is/was hidden.

    I originally had an AnyConnectVPN.xml file there, which I duplicated and renamed profile.xml with the information for my other connection. However when I run VPNCLI.exe connect <profile name> ... it still prompts for username and password which isn't very helpful...

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  4. Hi i tried a lot of things and the below is what worked for me

    To connect to cisco anyconnect vpn using commandline from windows:

    Install anyconnect using the installer

    In powershell

    create a file named vpn-cred.dat(any name would do) with following contents

        connect server-host
    y
    username
    password
    y

    Then create a .cmd file with following contents in it

        cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Cisco\Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client" & .\vpncli -s < <path to vpn-cred.dat>

    Then save it and execute it like .\vpn.cmd or whatever the filename is

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