Cisco Anyconnect Start Before Logon Windows 10

Hi, Intune/autopilot noob here. Looking for a good solution for removing of the OEM bloatware and OOB Office install on my HP. Ive used SCCM and MDT in the past and the intial configuration that would run would allow you remove apps and bloatware to get a clean 'image' before app deployment. Cisco AnyConnect VPN Start before Logon Note: if your device is already configured for start before login, skip to step 8. Launch the “Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client” 2. Connect to vpn.njit.edu 3. Type in your UCID and password 4. VPN Start Before Login - Windows 10 start the Cisco AnyConnect VPN before signing into Windows Start Before Login is required to download windows updates and sync files, stored on your IT Services Managed Desktop, with the Server.

This post describes how to configure the Cisco ASA and AnyConnect VPN to use the Start-Before Logon (SBL) feature. This allows the user to connect to the VPN before logging onto Windows, thus allowing login scripts and Windows Group Policies to be applied.

Create/Modify the AnyConnect Profile

  • Open the AnyConnect VPN Profile Editor
  • Open the existing VPN Profile or create a new file
  • Under VPN > Preferences (Part 1) select User Start Before Logon
  • Ensure the Certificate Store is All
  • If creating a new profile navigate to Server List
  • Click Add to define a new server
  • Define the Display Name (required)
  • Define the FQDN or IP Address
  • Select the Primary Protocol
  • Save the AnyConnect Profile to the local computer, named appropriately e.g. RAS.xml

ASA Configuration

  • Copy the AnyConnect Profile RAS.xml to the ASA, with a Profile Name of RASProfile
  • Modify the Group Policy in use by the tunnel-group and reference the AnyConnect Profile previously created.
Before
  • Modify the Group Policy in use by the tunnel-group and enable SBL vpngina
  • Save the ASA configuration

Testing/Verification

  • Connect to the VPN tunnel, upon first connection the client should detect that SBL has been enabled and automatically download
  • It will automatically install
  • Reboot the computer
  • After reboot the SBL icon should be visible at the login prompt, at the bottom right of the screen
  • Press the button and wait to be prompted for authentication

If connected to the VPN successfully you will notice the Disconnect button appear at the bottom right of the login screen. You should now be able to login to the computer as normal with full network connectivity, dependant on an ACL (DACL or VPN Filter) applied to the VPN session.

Troubleshooting

AnyConnect Client Downloads

Cisco Anyconnect Start Before Logon Windows 10 Download

Make sure the Local AnyConnect VPN Policy permits downloads of client, otherwise you will receive the following error “Automatic profile updates are disabled and the local VPN profile does not match the secure gateway VPN profile.”

If you receive this error run the AnyConnect Profile Editor – VPN Local Policy application

  • Open the file C:ProgramDataCiscoCisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility ClientAnyConnectLocalPolicy.XML
  • Untick the box Bypass Downloader
  • Alternatively edit the same file in notepad an change to <BypassDownloader>false<BypassDownloader>

ASA Identity Certificate

You must ensure that the Windows client trusts the certificate presented to the client as part of the authentication process. If you receive a certificate error when connecting to the VPN normally, you will be unable to connect using SBL.

If you attempt to connect to the VPN using SBL with an invalid certificate on the ASA or the Windows client does not trust the certificate you will receive the following error:- “AnyConnect cannot confirm it is connected to your secure gateway“. It does NOT present the option to Connect Anyway.

This post describes how to configure a CA Trustpoint on the ASA and install the identity certificate and root certificate.

After installing the certificate on the ASA, connect to the VPN and confirm you do not receive any certificate warnings before attempting to connect using SBL.

Machine Certificate

If the tunnel-group is configured to use certificate or aaa + certificates authentication, ensure the Windows computer has a Machine Certificate. Without a machine certificate you will receive the following error: – “No valid certificates available for authentication”.

Cisco Anyconnect Start Before Logon Windows 10Cisco anyconnect start before logon module windows 10 download

Certificate Store

Cisco Anyconnect Start Before Logon Windows 104

If the tunnel-group is configured to use certificate or aaa + certificates authentication, the AnyConnect Profile must be configured to check All Certificate Store (as mentioned in the previous configuration section) for SBL to work.

Cisco Anyconnect Start Before Logon Windows 101

If you connect to the SBL and the AnyConnect client does not check the Machine Store, you will receive the error “Certificate Validation Failure“.


We use Cisco AnyConnect VPN to provide remote users with access to servers behind a firewall. AnyConnect also has a utility that enables users to logon to VPN before logging on to the computer. This is very useful for laptops. The utility is called Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client Start Before Login Components.

Once you have the utility installed, you will be prompted to logon to VPN first on Windows XP. However, it does not prompt you to logon on Windows 7. Here are the steps to get to the VPN prompt on Windows 7 Enterprise:

  1. Press Ctl+Alt+Del at the logon screen.
  2. Click on Switch User.
  3. Click on the new button that now appears beside the power button.
  4. Now you can use the VPN dialog to logon.

How To Start Cisco Anyconnect Before Windows Login


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