Connecting to LRDC Fileserver Remotely Using Windows Vista/7 & SRemote VPN October 2013
In order to access the LRDC file server remotely/off campus, or from Wireless Pittnet, you must first authenticate to LRDC using Pitt s Secure VPN. Connecting to the Secure VPN Service To connect to the Secure VPN service, open Internet Explorer (IE 10 and other browsers are not guaranteed compatible with this service). In the address field, type https://sremote.pitt.edu and then press the Enter key. You may want to add this address to your Favorites. Authenticating to the Secure VPN You will need to enter your University Computer Account username and password in order to authenticate to the Secure VPN. Please make sure you use the username and password for your Pitt email and NOT the LRDC file server at this screen. 1 Type your username and password. 2 Click the Log In button to continue. Note: If after clicking the Log In button you see an error message, click the browser s Back button and make sure that you have typed in all information correctly. 1
Install Juniper Network Connect In order to connect to the SRemote Secure VPN, Java must be installed on your computer. If it is not, you will see the following message: To install Java, go to http://www.java.com and click on the red Free Java Download button, then follow the instructions. The first time you access the Secure VPN, you must install the Juniper client. 1. Click on the yellow Information bar. 2. Click on Install this Add-on for All Users on This Computer. 2
3. You will then be prompted to install the Juniper Setup Client; click Yes You may also see the following Internet Explorer Security screen pop up more than once if so, just check Do not show me the warning for this program again, and click Allow, each time you see it. The next step will be the Juniper Client executing a Health Check, which verifies that your computer complies with the University of Pittsburgh requirements for remote access. For more information on these requirements, you can go here: http://technology.pitt.edu/documents/network/secure-remoteaccess/ssl_vpn_requirements.pdf 3
When the checker tries to run for the first time, you will get a Setup Control Warning just click Always when this pops up. The checker will then download and run. Network Connect Launch 1. You will see an initial screen that indicates the various access groups available to you (see Fig. #1 below). Click on Firewall-LRDC-Users-NetworkConnect. (If you do not see this, please contact LRDC Computing Services at x4-7033 to request access to the LRDC Network Connect Mode on Pitt s Secure VPN) 4
2. You will then see the Welcome screen for the Secure VPN service (see figure on next page) To connect to the VPN, click the Start button across from Network Connect. Network Connect Load Process After you have clicked the Start Session button, the Network Connect program will be loaded onto your workstation. This process may take several minutes depending on the configuration of your workstation and the performance of your network connection. You will see one or more of the following popups answer Yes to any that appear. 5
Once the Network Connect software is fully loaded, there will be a new icon in the Windows system tray. Doubleclicking on this icon will bring up the Network Connect status window. 6
If the load and program initiations were successful, the Network Connect Status will change from Connecting to Connected, as in the following window: Disconnecting from the Secure VPN Double-clicking on the Network Connect icon in the system tray area of your workstation desktop provides an option to terminate the connection. (See above.) Prior to ending the connection you should terminate any applications running on your workstation that use the secure connection, and click the Sign Out button to terminate all connections to the Secure VPN. Note: You may use the Secure VPN service for a maximum of four hours at a time. After four hours you will be automatically disconnected from the service. You will also be automatically disconnected from the Secure VPN service if you are idle for thirty minutes. 7
Connecting to the LRDC File Server Once connected to the Secure VPN, you may access the LRDC File Server one of two ways: 1) Connecting on a one-time basis through the Run command. 2) Connecting through a permanent desktop shortcut. Connecting through the Run command Connecting to the file servers through the Run command is best for situations where you want to gain quick access to a file server for a single use. For example, it can be helpful when you need access to your files from another LRDC computer. To bring up the Run box, press and hold the Windows Key and R. You can also bring up Run by pressing the Start button and typing Run in the search box. In the Run dialog box, enter: \\fileserver.lrdc.nt.pitt.edu You may notice a delay after hitting OK. This is not unexpected, just wait until the dialog box appears to prompt you for your user name and password. Do not launch the Run menu a second time, as it will just attempt to connect a second time. When prompted, enter your file server username and password. When typing your username, you will need to precede it with the domain LRDC\ - for example, if your username is tomj, you will need to type LRDC\tomj. 8
You are now connected to the file server. A server window will open with all available server shares (Most users will select Project, unless they are specifically directed to open another one.) 9
Connecting through Desktop Shortcut You can also add a permanent shortcut to the fileserver on your Windows desktop, however be advised you must always connect to the SRemote VPN first before trying to click on it, otherwise it will not work properly. To create a desktop shortcut, use the following steps: 1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop (avoid click on icons, or the task bar), and select New, and then Shortcut. 2. On the Create Shortcut screen, type in the location: \\fileserver.lrdc.nt.pitt.edu\ and click Next. 10
3. When prompted, enter your file server username and password. When typing your username, you will need to precede it with the domain LRDC\ - for example, if your username is tomj, you will need to type LRDC\tomj. 4. When asked to name the shortcut, type in: LRDC Fileserver, or whatever shortcut name you prefer to identify it, and click Finish. If you have any questions regarding connecting to the LRDC File Server on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 computer, please call Computing Services at x4-7033. 11