Cannot run Any Connect - VPN service is not available

[mullein mouser]

Hi, 

after installing Any Connect (anyconnect-macos-4.9.00086-predeploy-k9.dmg) on Mac M1 / Ventura I got repeating alert windows -  The VPN client agent was unable to create the client DNS plugin manager. I've installed only VPN in the wizard.

I have found some discussions here that I should remove the folder /opt/cisco. For safety I just rename it, but than I got an error that I cannot run Any Connect because of missing file in that folder. So I put the folder back. 

When I run Any Connect directly I got error message The VPN Service is not available. Exiting..

Can you please navigate me how to install run Any Connect and get rid of the dialog? 

[Kasun Bandara]

seems like anyconnect service is down/not responding. try completely remove anyconnect and reinstall. also check if anyconnect service is running or not

[mullein mouser]

I already remove it once but no luck. I have also found found that this might help - sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist . But it didn't

How can I check that anyconnect service is running? Do I need to install it separately?

[DominicMorara]

Hi Kasun,

I encountered the same issue (The VPN Service is not available. Exiting.) on windows PCs. Whenever a user restarts the the PC the AC services does not start automatically even though they have set to Auto.
Please try to upgrade to secure client 5.0.0275 and monitor the user experience. 

[princus]

I encountered the same problem on my Mac M1 / Ventura.

Running the command: sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist

and enabling any outgoing connection for the vpnagentd service solved the problem for me.