Configuring VPN access
From BigSoft
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Installing and configuring a VPN client is quite straight forward, but here are a couple of instructions to help you on the way. You will have to reboot you computer for the application to complete, so make sure you have closed down all you other application.
[edit] Gather login information
There are several pieces of information that are needed to continue, so make sure you have them at installation time.
- VPN connection definition file
- User name
- Password
[edit] Setting up VPN access
[edit] Downloading VPN Client Program (New style)
NOTE: If you are running a Windows 64-bit version (like Vista) then the Cisco software below won't work. If you are using XP, Vista, Vista 7 or Un*x then please install the open source product Shrew which can be downloaded free from http://www.shrew.net/software.
[edit] Downloading VPN Client Program
We are using Cicso's own VPN client software, which I have placed on my server.
| Operating System | Url |
|---|---|
| PC | http://www.bigsoft.co.uk/clients/software/CiscoVPNClient-4.8.00.0440.exe |
| PC (Vista) | http://www.bigsoft.co.uk/clients/software/CiscoVPNClient-5.0.02.0090.exe |
| Mac OS X 10.2-10.3.x Only | http://www.bigsoft.co.uk/clients/software/vpnclient-macosx.dmg |
| Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) | http://www.bigsoft.co.uk/clients/software/vpnclient-macosx-4_9.dmg |
Download the file and save to your desktop.
[edit] Install Client Application
The VPN client comes as a compressed self-extracting zip file. Run the downloaded Cisco VPN client application. The PC and Mac installations may vary a little, but they both basically accept all the defaults.
It will ask you to select a temporary folder to extract the files into. Access the default and click "Unzip".
The installer will finished uncompressing the files and will report that 13 files have been unzipped successfully. Click "Ok" and the program will automatically go to the next phase.
This is where the VPN client application will begin its installation.
The first page is the installation welcome page, so just click next.
This is the rather pointless license agreement page. You must click "Yes" otherwise the installation will end!
The installer needs to know where you wish to install the VPN client application. Accept the default.
Under Windows there is a Start Menu full of shortcuts to applications, I'm sure Mac OS has something similar. Accept the default.
The application will begin installing. Depending on you computer speed this will take approximately 1 minute.
Once the applcation has installed itself you will have to restart you computer.
[edit] Configuring the VPN client
Once the VPN client application program has installed we must configure it to connect to the remote network. Find the "VPN Client" program in the Start Menu and run it.
A splash screen will pop up as the application initialized itself. Then it will display the list of possible VPN connections (which is currently empty).
We need to tell the program about our VPN, so from the Menu bar select "Connection Entries" and click "Import...".
Use the file selecting dialog box to find connection definition file (ending in .pcf) that you have been given, and click "Ok".
[edit] Making a VPN connection
Context click and select "Connect" (or Double click the VPN definition).
When the software has authenticated against the remote server and check you have the correct group user name and password.
When both sides are happy you will be presented with a login window and asked to enter a user name and password
Enter your user name and password and click "Ok". When you are properly connected you will see a yellow closed pad lock in the system tray.
[edit] Closing a VPN connection
When you have finished your work, you should close the VPN connection. This is done by Context clicking on the yellow pad lock icon in the System tray, and selecting "Disconnect".
When you have successfully disconnected you will see the System tray icon change to an open yellow pad lock.
[edit] How can I test if it's working
- While logged into the VPN, click the start button and click "Run..."
- Enter the following text and press return:
cmd
- a black command window will open, enter the following text and press return:
ping 10.0.0.1
- It should return something like.This command will see if you can see the shared server.
Pinging myPCName [myPCIPaddress] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from myPCIPaddress: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Reply from myPCIPaddress: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Reply from myPCIPaddress: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Reply from myPCIPaddress: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Ping statistics for myPCIPaddress: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
- Where the time, myPCName and myPCIPaddress will be different for you PC.
[edit] Mapping network drives
- Once you have a successful connection to the VPN you can map you drives.
- Load file manager
- From the menu bar "Tools->Map Network Drive..."
- Set Drive to:
S:
- Set Folder to:
\\10.0.0.1\shared
- The system will ask you for a user name and password.
- From the menu bar "Tools->Map Network Drive..."
- Set Drive to:
P:
- Set Folder to what your username is eg.
\\10.0.0.1\david
- The system may ask you for a user name and password.
- You may now access the drives as you would in the office.
