How to add or remove local users for use with Cisco VPN client on IOS

This article assumes you have some basic networking knowledge. It also assumes that your Cisco router is configured to properly authenticate local user accounts.

How to add a user account for VPN client access

  • Telent or SSH to the local ip address of your Cisco router and login with your admin username and password
  • Type “config t” to put you in config mode
  • Type “username test password test” (basically if you wanted to add the username then username password then password) and hit enter 
  • Type “exit” (this will get you out of config mode
  • Type “wr” (this will save the running config)
  • Type “exit” (this will exit the telnet or SSH session)

Example:

Router# config t

Router(config)# username test password test

Router(config)# exit

Router# wr

Router# exit

How to Remove a user account for VPN client access

  • Telent or SSH to the local ip address of your Cisco router and login with your admin username and password
  • Type “config t” to put you in config mode
  • Type “no username test” (basically if you wanted to remove the username) and hit enter 
  • Type “exit” (this will get you out of config mode
  • Type “wr” (this will save the running config)
  • Type “exit” (this will exit the telnet or SSH session)

Example:

Router# config t

Router(config)# no username test password test

Router(config)# exit

Router# wr

Router# exit

To review the local user accounts:

  • Type “show run” (the usernames will be listed in the configuration)
  • Type “exit” (this will exit the telnet or SSH session)

Router# show run

Router# exit