PCSC

Using VPN at Boston University - instructions for unconfigured versions

The instructions below are for the Charles River Campus only. If you are on the Medical Campus, please use the BUMC VPN installation instructions instead.

I. Download and install the client

First, make sure you have downloaded the correct Cisco client

RECOMMENDED: leave this page and use the pre-configured BU VPN 5 client which is easier to set up.

Otherwise, you can download whichever of the versions below works best for you, then follow the instructions on this page.

Then follow the instructions below to manually install and configure the VPN client.

Installation Instructions

    1. Click the download link above and Save the VPN installer -- we recommend you put it somewhere easy to find, such as your Desktop.
    2. Right-click on the Desktop and select New - Folder from the menu to create a new folder.
    3. Name this folder 'VPNinstall'.
    4. On the Desktop, double click the icon for the VPN installer
    5. The WinZip Self Extractor Window will open and you can click on 'Browse' to locate the new VPNinstall folder you just created on your desktop, select it and click 'OK'. (This will give you easy access to the unzipped installer files for this VPN client.)
    6. In the WinZip Self Extractor window, click 'Unzip' and then OK and Close when it is completed.
    7. On your Desktop, double-click the new VPNinstall folder and run Setup by clicking on the gray Setup icon. If you are upgrading, click Yes to confirm an uninstall of the old version (but note that your previous configuration settings should be maintained).

II. Configure the client for use at Boston University

  1. Run the Cisco VPN Dialer: Start > Programs > Cisco Systems VPN Client > VPN Dialer or double-click the VPN icon (yellow padlock) on your Desktop.

    Note: if you use Windows XP, you may see a pop-up window stating that this VPN application has not obtained a Microsoft Windows Certificate. The software is safe, so you can simply click to continue if you see this window at any time during the setup process.
  2. Click the New button to add a connection entry (you can have several connection entries). What you do next depends on the the type of network connection your computer is using, so choose carefully.

    3. On-campus: Enter the settings below if you are connecting from a BU campus network port or a BU wireless connection or through dial-up to the BU modem pool.

    • Connection Entry: BU vpn-oncampus (or any similar name)
    • Description: Enter a description (optional)
    • Host: vpn-oncampus.bu.edu
    • Authentication Tab:
      Name: BostonU
      Password: BostonU
      Confirm password: BostonU

      Make sure you type BostonU exactly as shown.
    • Click the Save button to complete the configuration.

Off-campus: Enter the settings below if you are using an outside ISP: for example, a cable modem or DSL connection, but not the BU modem pool.

    • Connection Entry: BU vpn-offcampus (or any similar name)
    • Description: Enter a description (optional)
    • Host: vpn-offcampus.bu.edu
    • Authentication Tab:
      Name: BostonU
      Password: BostonU
      Confirm password: BostonU

      Make sure you type BostonU exactly as shown.
    • Click the Save button to complete the configuration.

 

III. Make the connection

  1. Click Connect.
  2. You will now be prompted for a username and password. Enter your own BU login name and your Kerberos password.
    • If you are dialing in and your system is configured to connect to a Windows server, you will be prompted for server login information after the secure tunnel is established.
  3. You may now use all network services as you normally would.
NOTE: If you ever need to use X Windows over VPN, see our detailed instructions.