Remote VPN: Remote access for personal devices
Documentation Team. March 2013.
About Remote VPN
Remote VPN1 provides staff and students with secure, authenticated remote access to personal and
shared network filespace and to web-based resources via their personal device.
Whether on campus over the University wireless network, at home, or in a wireless hotspot, all you need is an internet connection – open your web browser and login to the VPN with your usual University username and password.
Vendor supported platforms include:
• Windows 7 and 8 (IE 9 and 10, Firefox 19) • Mac OS X 10.7 and 10.8 (Safari)
• Linux kernel 2.4.20 or later (32-bit/64-bit) and kernel 2.6.0 or later (64-bit), Firefox 18.0 and JRE 1.6.0 or 1.7.0
• Smart devices including iPhones and iPads, Windows Mobile and Android devices
- Note that client apps for iPhone/iPad and Android devices will not work – please use the relevant web interface for these devices.
Other browser/OS combinations, though not formally supported, are also compatible.2
Accessing filespace and resources
Once logged in, use the VPN’s browser-based file explorer to download and upload files securely from and to your home (H:) filespace.
To access shared network filespace, please submit an email request to [email protected], marking the Subject line of your email: Remote VPN – request access to Shared Filespace.
You can also securely access University web-based, protected, resources, e.g. MyHR for staff. Note however that corporate applications such as CMIS and Student Records are not accessible using the Remote VPN.
How do I get started?
Follow our step–by-step guidelines to install the VPN components on your personal device and to connect to the VPN.
Note: These guidelines and the accompanying screenshots are from a Windows 7 laptop. Depending on your device platform and OS, your experience may differ.
BEFORE you install
• you must be connected to the internet
• you must have a current University of Aberdeen username and password
• your web browser’s Java version must be up-to-date and Java must be enabled – check you have the recommended version for your OS at www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp
• you must have up-to-date antivirus software. • you must ensure your Windows updates are current
If in doubt, or if you would like guidance, please contact the Service Desk – [email protected]
1 Remote VPN is a Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network (SSL VPN) provided by Dell SonicWALL.
2Remote VPN has been tested by IT Services staff on a variety of platforms and operating systems. However, IT Services is not
Download and install VPN components
Disclaimer and Conditions of useBefore installing, you will be asked to read and accept the installation and security guidelines outlined in the VPN Disclaimer.
When connected to the University of Aberdeen network via the VPN, you are bound by the University's
Conditions for using IT Facilities.
Before using Remote VPN for the first time, you will need to download and install Aventail Access Manager components. You will only need to do this once.
1. If you are using internet security software on your device (e.g. Norton, ZoneAlarm, McAfee, or similar), you may have to temporarily disable firewalls and/or other internet security settings for the duration of the VPN component installation. Don’t forget to enable these again once
installation is complete.
This will depend on the security software you are using and how you have set it up.
If in doubt, or if you would like guidance, please contact Service Desk –[email protected] 2. Open a web browser, and go to remote.abdn.ac.uk
3. Before installing, you will be asked to read and accept the installation and security guidelines outlined in the VPN Disclaimer.
4. Click Accept to continue.
5. At the prompt, login using your usual University username and password.
6. Click Install to run the Aventail Access Manager setup program.
Note: You may need to ‘unblock’ or ‘allow’ a permission request from your personal firewall.
7. At the prompt, click Run.
8. The VPN components start to download onto your device.
Note: There are three components in total – please wait until all three have installed. Installation may take up to 10 minutes, depending on network traffic and the speed of your connection. This is normal and to be expected.
If you are prompted to accept the ActiveX add-on, follow the onscreen instructions.
If you are presented with a Security Warning asking if you want to install this software, click on Install.
9. Once the VPN components are successfully installed you will see the VPN Home screen.
Using the VPN
The VPN Home screen
Once you have logged in to the VPN, the first screen you will see is the VPN Home.
All staff and students will see the Log out, Help and Details links at the top of the VPN screen. Staff view
All staff will see two tabs – Home and Network Shares. • Under the Home tab are links to:
o Home file space – your H: drive
o General Web Resources, e.g. MyHR, The Finance System, etc.
[Note that the exact contents of your screen will depend on the resources that have been made available to you and so may not look exactly like the one illustrated below.]
• Under the Network Shares tab are links to any shared network drives you have access to. Student view
All students will see the Home tab providing a link to their Home filespace (H: drive).
Access Home filespace
1. Under the Home tab, click on the Home filespace link. 2. A new browser tab or window opens.
The new screen displays:
o My Computer (on the left), i.e. your local drives on your device o Remote Network (on the right), i.e. your HOME network filespace
Access Shared filespace (staff only)
1. Under the Network Shares tab, click on the relevant shared filespace link, e.g. \\uoa.abdn.ac.uk\global\xxxx
2. A new browser tab or window opens. The new screen displays:
o My Computer (on the left), i.e. your local drives on your device o Remote Network (on the right), i.e. your Shared network filespace
3. You can browse the contents of your local drives and your HOME network filespace in the same way you would with Windows Explorer or My Computer on your Desktop. Simply double-click on a folder to open it.
Working with files/folders
We recommend you copy files or folders from your HOME or Shared network filespace to your local hard drive before editing them:
1. Under the My Computer tab, Browse to the area on your local hard drive that you want to copy your file or folder to.
2. Under the Remote Network tab, browse to the area on your HOME or Shared network filespace that you want to copy your file or folder from.
3. Click and drag the file or folder from your HOME or Shared network filespace onto your local hard drive.
5. When you’re done, save your changes and click and drag the file or folder back onto your HOME or Shared network filespace.
You may prefer to use the toolbar shortcuts when working with files and folders:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Use these to:
1. Go Back 6. Refresh
2. Go Forward 7. Create a New Folder 3. Access Bookmarks 8. Copy
4. Go Up a directory 9. Delete
5. Sort 10. Personal Bookmarks (Remote Network only)
Note: If, instead of copying a file to your local drive to work on, you open it on the network drive (under the Remote Network tab) you will be prompted to download and open it from a temporary location:
When you click Open, you will see the file’s temporary location:
• Click on OK to open the file.
• Before working with the file, save it onto your device’s local drive in a location that you will easily find later.
• When you have finished working with the file, save your changes and copy the file from its location on your local drive back to the network drive.
Access General Resources (staff only)
1. Under the Home tab, click on the resource you want to access, e.g. MyHR.
• Note: If a resource you think you should have access to is not displayed, please contact the Service Desk – [email protected]
2. A new browser tab or window opens.
Create Bookmarks
You may find it useful to add bookmarks (shortcuts) to frequently accessed folders on your HOME or Shared network filespace.
1. Browse to the directory you want to bookmark and copy the directory path.
2. Return to the VPN Home screen and click on the Personal Bookmarks edit icon.
3. In the Manage bookmarks dialog, select New > Network shortcut…
4. Type in a name for your bookmark, paste in the directory path you copied in step 1 above, type in a description.
5. Click OK, then Save.
6. Your saved bookmark appears listed under Personal Bookmarks on the VPN Home screen.
Ending a session
1. Making sure you leave the VPN Home screen tab/window open, close all additional browser tabs or windows.
