Connect Using OpenConnect on Linux
Last updated 14 Mar 2026 · 6 views
OpenConnect is the recommended AnyConnect-compatible client for Linux distributions.
Install
Ubuntu / Debian:
sudo apt install openconnect
Fedora / RHEL:
sudo dnf install openconnect
Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S openconnect
Connect
sudo openconnect uk.premiervpn.net --user=YOUR_VPN_USERNAME
Enter your VPN password when prompted.
Connect with Auto-Authentication
Create a password file (set permissions to 600):
echo "YOUR_VPN_PASSWORD" > ~/.vpn-pass
chmod 600 ~/.vpn-pass
Then connect:
sudo openconnect uk.premiervpn.net --user=YOUR_VPN_USERNAME --passwd-on-stdin < ~/.vpn-pass
Run as a Background Service
sudo openconnect uk.premiervpn.net --user=YOUR_VPN_USERNAME --background --pid-file=/var/run/openconnect.pid --passwd-on-stdin < ~/.vpn-pass
To disconnect:
sudo kill $(cat /var/run/openconnect.pid)
NetworkManager Integration
For a GUI experience on GNOME or KDE:
sudo apt install network-manager-openconnect network-manager-openconnect-gnome
Then go to Settings → Network → VPN → + and select "Multi-protocol VPN client (openconnect)". Enter the gateway hostname and your credentials.
Available Servers
| Location | Hostname |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | uk.premiervpn.net |
| Germany | de.premiervpn.net |
| Spain | sp.premiervpn.net |
| France | fr.premiervpn.net |
| Netherlands | nl.premiervpn.net |
| United States (Kansas) | ks.premiervpn.net |
| United States (New York) | ny.premiervpn.net |
| United States (Los Angeles) | la.premiervpn.net |
| Canada | ca.premiervpn.net |
| Australia | au.premiervpn.net |
| Japan | jp.premiervpn.net |
| Singapore | sg.premiervpn.net |
FAQs
Can I use OpenConnect with a systemd service?
Yes. Create a service file at /etc/systemd/system/premiervpn.service and configure it to run the openconnect command. This allows the VPN to start automatically on boot.
Does OpenConnect support split tunnelling?
Yes. Use the --no-default-route flag to prevent routing all traffic through the VPN, then add specific routes manually.