How To Connect Ubuntu Linux to Cisco VPN

I have a client who uses a Cisco VPN to protect their network, and I exclusively use Ubuntu in my consulting work. At the moment, they don’t easily work together out-of-the-box, even though they should. To get access to their network, I was provided with a PCF file, used to configure VPN client software to connect to the VPN server. However, after importing the configuration file, I simply couldn’t connect.
In theory, you can use the standard NetworkManager utility to connect to your Cisco VPN, but it doesn’t actually work. I’ve outlined the process that’s supposed to work, and the one that’s necessary to actually make it happen. Read More