Cisco VPN

The Cisco VPN (virtual private network) client allows a computer to make secure network connections via specific equipment called VPN concentrators located on the campus network. Using the VPN, all network traffic between your computer and the VPN concentrator is encrypted. In addition, the VPN allows you to connect to other systems as if your computer were on campus, whether or not it actually is physically located on the campus network.

Note: Beginning July 13th 2009 a new Campus VPN service is available. All users of the current VPN service will need to switch to the new service. The current Campus VPN service will be disabled on August 12th. To use the new campus VPN service, users must remove the old VPN client and install the new AnyConnect VPN client. For more information please see: https://kb.berkeley.edu/kb2665

The "Start before login GINA for Windows" is only needed if you want to establish a VPN session before logging in to your Windows desktop, so that campus resources such as CalNetAD are available at login.