It is hard to connect from an Arach Linux machine to the VPN provided by UCLA Statistics. We assume that you have Gnome and NetworkManager installed. Even then, you have to push the right buttons, and here are those buttons (as of the writing of this post):

  1. Intsall networkmanger-l2tp and libreswan packages in Arch Linux.
  2. Go to Settings | Network and click + to add a VPN network.
    • Select Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP)
  3. Name the network however you like.
  4. Enter vpn.stat.ucla.edu for the Gateway.
  5. Under User Authentication, leave the type as Password and enter your Stat. UCLA username and password. (God knows what these are, but the staff can help.)
  6. Leave the checkbox Use L2TP ephemeral source port unchecked.
  7. Click on the IPSec Settings button:
    • Enter 3des-sha1-modp1024 for the Phase1 Algorithms.
    • Enter 3des-sha1 for the Phase2 Algorithms.
  8. Click on the PPP settings button:
    • Only check MSCHAPv2 for the authentication.
  9. You may still not be able to connect. (You didn’t think it was that easy, did you?) Then,
    • Disable PFS in IPSec settings (PFS stands for Perfect Forward Secrecy).

This guide may also work for other Linux distributions.

DISCLAIMER: This guide is provided for purely educational purposes. I take no responsibility for any consequences the may result from following these instructions.