Setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection Windows 8 A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is best described as a tunnel to MAASnet, the university network. After having configured the VPN connection, the pc will only communicate with the VPN server. Consequently, this server handles all network traffic to and from the pc, as if this pc were physically located on the university. MAASnet and VPN: The university network contains many pages and provisions that can be accesses only from a computer within MAASnet, in which all PCs receive a unique IP address. These addresses always look like this: 137.120.xxx.xxx, where the last six numbers are unique. MAASnet: Through the use of the VPN connection, users will now be able to access the restricted content from other pc s connected by other means as well. In practice, this means that users that are accessing the internet through another internet provider can now access, for example: Microsoft Exchange/Outlook environment; Library services such as the E-journal database. This manual will help you configure your pc for the use of the VPN client of Maastricht University. BEWARE: The UM VPN connection cannot be used on a computer that is connected through some other VPN connection at the same time. 1
Instructions: What do you need? A pc connected to the internet A Maastricht University student or employee account Step 1: Open your browser and go to vpn.maastrichtuniversity.nl Step 2: Give in the Username and Password. Employee: Firstname.Lastname (abc.jansen) + password For students: ID number (i123456) + password Click: Login. 2
Step 3: Download the file. The setup program will start automatically and begin to analyse your computer. Note: the installer is not capable to automatically install the file in 64- bit IE versions. If this problem persists go to step 4. If you are running a lower bit version of IE the problem will not appear. In that case, go to step 11 Step 4: Manually install the file. Click on the install link below to manually install the VPN package. 3
Step 5: Run exe.file On the bottom of your screen a menu will appear asking you to install the executable file. Click Run. Step 6: Start setup file. The setup file will now start. Click next. 4
Step 7: Accept the License Agreement. Click on I Accept the terms in the License Agreement, and then click Next. Step 8: Begin the installation. Click Install. Note: If there is a warning from the user account control system to allow the program to make changes on the computer, click Yes. 5
Step 9: Completing the installation wizard Setup will now begin installing the file. When the installation is done you will get a message to complete the installation by clicking on Finish. Click Finish. Step 10: Starting the VPN connection. Click in the windows 8 start page on the VPN button. Step 11: The client will be installed automatically. Please wait until the process is completed. The VPN connector will be launched automatically after installation. Installation is complete when the icon below is displayed in the taskbar area. 6
After installation the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client (the VPN program) is already running and connected. When you restart your computer or when you become disconnected you will have to re-establish the connection. You do not have to go to the vpn.maastrichtuniversity.nl website every time you want to use a VPN connection! 7
To establish a VPN connection, start the program Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client. You ll find this program under Start, All Programs, Cisco, Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client. Step 12: After the VPN connector has started, make sure that is set to connect to vpn.maastrichtuniversity.nl. Give in the Username and Password. Employee: Firstname.Lastname (abc.jansen) + password For students: ID number (i123456) + password Click: Ok. 8
Step 13: You have successfully established a VPN connection when the lock icon is displayed in the taskbar. You are now connected to the UM network through the VPN client. Your pc will now function as if it were physically part of MAASnet, allowing you to browse all pages within the university network. You now have access to: Microsoft Outlook Exchange environment Library services Access to internet through VPN is restricted to WWW (surfing) access. For other internet applications (such as FTP or NEWS), please use your own internet provider. To do this, you will first need to end the VPN connection. To end the VPN connection please follow the instructions on the next page. 9
Disconnect from VPN: Step 1: Click at the triangle on the taskbar (bottom right). In the pop-up screen choose the icon in the red circle. Step 2: Choose Disconnect 10
Frequently Asked Questions Problem: Firefox report the warning: This Connection is Untrusted when I go to http://vpn.maastrichtuniversity.nl. This is a known problem that can occur when using Firefox. Solution: First click on I understand the risks and then click Cancel and finally click Confirm Security Exception. Using a different web browser (like Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Opera) will also solve the problem. Problem: In Windows 7 I cannot install the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client with ActiveX while using Internet Explorer. Solution: Make sure you are either logged in as administrator or that Internet Explorer is running in administrator mode. You can accomplish this by using the run as commando. Problem: The VPN connection gets terminated automatically after 60 minutes of inactivity. Solution: Log in again. The VPN environment is configured to terminate the connection automatically after 60 minutes of idle time. Problem: After having used the VPN connection for 8 hours, it gets terminated. Solution: Log in again. The VPN environment is configured to terminate the connection automatically after 8 hours of session time. Problem: I cannot operate a server behind the VPN connection. Solution: Operating a server behind the VPN connection is not allowed. 11