Using a VPN Connection

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Bullis School

Using a VPN Connection

Access Files and Resources While Off Campus

Mark Smith

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What is a VPN?

A VPN is also called a virtual private network and allows people to connect to their files and resources when they are not physically located on campus. VPN’s are similar to Citrix access but there is no special software to install on the computer and when a computer is connected via a VPN connection, it acts as if it is physically located on the network to which it is connected. This means that all resources are

available to you while away from campus, not just the resources that the Technology Office has installed on the Citrix server.

A second benefit to VPN access is that there is a direct connection between the software installed on your Laptop/Desktop computer and the resource which it is connected. For example, if you install a printer here at work and use a VPN connection from home, you will be able to print to the printer from home. The fact that you are not physically located on campus does not prohibit you from using

resources located on campus.

Can I set up my home computer to use a VPN connection?

This is the best part. No matter what computer you are using, you can set up a VPN connection to Bullis network. Both Windows and MAC computers have VPN connection software built into the core

operating system, so there is no need for any special software. No matter if you have a Windows XP, Windows 7, or MAC computer, they all are VPN ready.

So how do I set up my computer?

Just follow the simple steps below to set up a VPN connection on your computer.

Windows 7 computers – Install VPN Connection

1. Begin by clicking the start button, typing “VPN” into the search box and selecting the “Set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection” option.

Select the Start Button Type VPN in search box Select this Option

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2. In the box that appears, enter “vpn.bullis.org” in the box titled “Internet Address”. Enter “Bullis VPN Connection” in the box titled “Destination Name”. Leave all other check boxes unchecked and click the “Next” button.

3. In the box that appears, enter your user name in the box titled “User name”. Enter your

password in the box titled “Password”. Enter “Bullis” in the box titled “Domain (optional)”. Click the “Connect” button.

4. A box should appear verifying a successful connection was made.

Enter vpn.bullis.org here

Enter Bullis VPN Connection Here

Leave boxes unchecked

Enter your User Name Here

Enter “Bullis” Here Enter your Password Here

vpn.bullis.org

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Windows XP computers – Install VPN Connection

1. Begin by clicking the “Start” button and then click “Control Panel”.

2. In control panel, double-‐click “Network Connections" then click “Create a new connection”.

3. In the “Network Connection Wizard” box that appears, click “Next”.

4. Click “Connect to the network at my workplace”, and then click “Next”.

5. In the box that appears, click “Virtual Private Network connection” and then click “Next”.

Click “Create a new connection”

Click “Connect to the network at my workplace”

Click “Virtual Private Network connection”

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6. If you are prompted to, do one of the following:

a. If you use a dial-‐up connection to connect to the Internet, click “Automatically dial this initial connection”, and then click your dial-‐up Internet connection from the list b. If you use a full-‐time connection such as a cable modem or wireless network, click “Do

not dial the initial connection”

7. Click “Next”.

8. Type “Bullis VPN Connection” in the box titled “Company Name” and click “Next”.

9. Type the server address (vpn.bullis.org) in the box titled “Host name or IP Address” and click “Next”.

10. If you are prompted to use a smart card, choose “Do not use my smart card”.

Enter “Bullis VPN Connection”

Enter “vpn.bullis.org”

vpn.bullis.org

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11. If prompted, click “Anyone's use” if you want the connection to be available to anyone who logs on to the computer, or click “My use only” to make it available only when you log on to the computer, and then click “Next”.

12. Click to select the “Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop” check box and then click “Finish”.

13. A connection box should appear asking you for your user name and password. If a connection box does not appear, use one of the following methods to open the connection box:

a. Click “Start”, point to “Connect To”, and then click the “Bullis VPN Connection”.

b. If you added a “Bullis VPN Connection” shortcut to the desktop, double-‐click the “Bullis VPN Connection” shortcut on the desktop

14. Once the connection box appears, type your user name in the “Bullis\Username” format, type your password, and then click “Connect”.

Click “Do not use my smart card”

Click “Add a shortcut to this connection to my desktop”

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I have set up my computer so now what do I do?

Now that your VPN connection is up and running, you can begin to connect to your files and resources on the Bullis network. Here are a few things you can do to begin your work experience.

Connect to My Network Files

To see and access your files, follow these steps.

1. Begin by clicking the start button, typing “\\bull-‐norman\fachome$” into the search box and pressing the “Enter” key.

2. In the box that appears, you will see your network folder. All of your network files are in this folder.

Type \\bull-‐norman\fachome$ and press “Enter” key Enter “Bullis\USERNAME” here

Enter your password here

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Connect to the Shared Drive or Admin Drive

To see and access the files on the shared or admin drives, follow these steps.

1. Begin by clicking the start button, typing “\\bull-‐norman” into the search box and pressing the

“Enter” key

2. In the box that appears, you will see the shared and admin folders. All of the shared and admin files are in these folders.

Connect to the Computer on My Desk

To connect remotely to the computer on your desk and use all the software installed on the computer (BlackBaud, Microsoft Office, etc.), follow these steps.

1. Begin by clicking the start button, typing “Remote “ into the search box and selecting the

“Remote Desktop Connection” option

Type \\bull-‐norman and press “Enter” key

Select this Option

Type Remote in search box

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2. In the box that appears, enter the name of the computer that is on your desk in your office in the box titled “Computer:” and claick the “Connect” button. If you do not know the name of the computer on your desk, Please contact the Technology Office so we can help you.

3. After you click the connect button, a screen will appear. This will be the screen for the

computer that is located on your desk at Bullis. You may begin to log into the computer just as you would as if you are sitting at your desk.

So how do I disconnect my VPN connection when I am finished?

Just follow the simple steps below to disconnect the VPN connection on your computer.

Windows 7 computers – Disconnect VPN Connection

1. To disconnect the Bullis VPN Connection, click on the wireless network icon in the system tray and the box here is displayed.

2. In the box that appears, Click on the “Bullis VPN Connection” and click the “Disconnect” button.

Click on wireless network icon

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Windows XP computers – Disconnect VPN Connection

1. To disconnect the “Bullis VPN Connection” use one of the following methods:

a. Click “Start”, point to “Connect To”, and then click the “Bullis VPN Connection”. Click the button titled “Disconnect”.

b. If you added a “Bullis VPN Connection” shortcut to the desktop, right-‐click the icon for the connection, and then click “Disconnect”.

Click on “Disconnect”

Click on “Bullis VPN Connection”

Click on “Disconnect”

Using a VPN Connection

Bullis School