Setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection (Windows 7)

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Handleiding een Virtual Private Network (VPN) verbinding opzetten Versie 1.3 – 18-11-2009

1 Setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection (Windows 7)

The VPN client works on Windows XP, Vista and 7, as well as on MacOS X and Linux. More information can be foundhere.

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 pc’s 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 the Universiteit Maastricht.

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2 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:

Log in with your UM account.

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3 Step 3:

The setup program will start automatically and analyze your computer. It will then ask to install a ActiveX file.

If you don’t accept this file, you will enter Step 4.

Step 4:

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4 Step 4:

Press ‘yes’ to accept the warning.

Step 5:

Press ‘run’ to start the setup program.

Step 6:

The client will be installed

automatically. Please wait until the process is completed.

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5 After installation the ‘Cisco autoconnect VPN 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!

To establish a VPN connection, start the program ‘Cisco autoconnect VPN client’. You’ll find this program under Start, Programs, Cisco, Cisco autoconnect VPN client.

Step 7:

After the VPN connector has started, make sure that is set to connect to ‘vpn.maastrichtuniversity.nl’.

Enter the username and password of your UM account.

For students: ID number + password For employees: firstname.lastname as login + password

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6 Step 8:

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

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7 FAQ

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 another webbrowser (like Google Chrome, Opera, Safari or Internet Explorer) will also solve the problem.

Problem:

In Windows 7 lukt het me niet via de Internet explorer met activex de anyconnect client te installeren.

In Windows 7 I cannot install de Anyconnect 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 VPN connection. Solution: