Hello:

On 9 Nov 2025 at 16:40, ael via Dng wrote:

> ... vpn service using the Cisco Secure Client
--- snip ---

> ... installation script silently failed.
> Error: systemd required.      <=================
> So that seems to be the problem.

Evidently. 8^°
A quick look around the web shows me a lot of hits for Debian and
Ubuntu.

> ... although they do offer some linux support.
> ... prospect of having to give up devuan.
I can understand that but you are *not* there yet.

Take a deep breath and consider the following:

1.
try contacting the IT dept. and see what they have to say.
someone there must be using Devuan or a derivative.

2.
you cannot be the *only* case: I'm sure there are other Devuan users
at your Uni., see about posting for help / comments at whatever
student bulletin board there is available to you.

3.
there's also the possibility of being able to use a *different* vpn
client which will work just as well or better than the one offered by
Uni.

> ... any insight here.
Don't know about *insight*.
Or *outsight* for that matter.

Maybe just a Sunday afternoon's available $0.02

Best,

A.