Connect2 Engineering VPN
Connect2 Engineering VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) gives you a secure way to get access to files in your home directory, files in shares, read your engineering email, add grades to an ICON course site, and run Remote Desktop. Once you have the VPN correctly configured, when you use https://connect2.engineering.uiowa.edu your connection, which includes your password, is secure.
The University of Iowa also has a VPN so you can securely connect to University of Iowa resources. The UI has an iPhone/iPod Touch VPN client you might wish to use.
Enter your Engineering account ID and password. The Internet Security dialogue box asks for permission to Run or install software from Juniper Networks, Inc. Check Remember this decision and click Allow.
Next you see the Connect2 home page (part of home page shown).
In the lower right corner of the Client Application Sessions is a Start button. Click Start. The screen changes to a message "Please wait... Launching Network Connect. This may take several minutes." You are asked to allow installation of a Java applet that will allow Network Connect to run on your computer. Allow the applet to be installed.
If you never get the request to install the Java applet, you may not have Java installed on your computer or you may be running an older version of Java. Go to the Java Tester home page and click the Test the version of Java your browser is using link on that page. Also at that site you can find out what version of Java you have installed and if your browser is set to run Java scripts.
After Network Connect has been installed, you can use it from a regular account. There is no need to login again as administration to use Connect2.
When Network Connect is running, there is a padlock icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
On the Connect2 home page, you see that under Files you have quick access to your home directory (H: on Windows computers) as well as My Documents, which is the area into which Microsoft programs like Word wants to save files by default. Windows Vista calls this area "Documents". Clicking on the H-Drive link opens a view of all your home directory files. In addition there are buttons to Bookmark Selected, Delete, Download, Upload Files, and create a New Folder. You have access to those files and can use them as though you were logged into your office computer.
You can use Connect2 to upload and download files to the computer you are logged into. If you need only to transfer files, you will find that a file transfer program like FileZilla is faster.
To use files shares, read your mail securely, or run Remote Desktop securely, start by starting Network Connect (at the bottom right of the Connect2 home). After running Network Connect, you can map shares in the usual way of mapping files. To read email securely, start your mail client after running Network Connect.
You can create terminals sessions, similar to using SecureCRT. Click the icon with the "+" and terminal screen to create a session you can use whenever you use Connect2. Many sessions require using SSH Secure Shell as the Session Type; connecting to login.engineering.uiowa.edu requires a secure session.
Microsoft Remote Desktop allows you to connect your local (home) computer to a remote (your engineering office) computer. Remote Desktop running after starting Network Connect is completely secure. If you need access to files on the C: or D: drive of your office computer or if you want to run programs installed locally on your office machine, use Remote Desktop with Connect2.
If Connect2 sees no keyboard activity for 25 minutes, you get a dialogue box warning you that your session will expire in 5 minutes due to inactivity. Click OK to extend the Connect2 session or Cancel, as appropriate.
All Connect2 sessions are ended after 12 hours.
When you are done with your session, return to the Connect2 home page (click the Home icon) and the click the Sign Out icon. The Connect2 toolbar, as shown, is always located in the upper right of the Connect2 screen.
CSS | College of Engineering | © The University of Iowa 2009.
All rights reserved. |