WPI's Virtual Private Network (VPN)

There are two versions of the VPN client available. You may use either the Java based on-line version, which does not permanently install any software on the local machine, or the Windows native version, which allows you simply launch a small client without having to navigate to the portal page. Both offer the same level of network access and functionality. Note that if you have installed the Windows native client, attempting to use the online Java version will launch the Windows native version instead.

Compatability notes:

No 64 bit versions of Windows XP are supported
Windows Vista only supports the Windows Native client

There are two versions of the client you may select from:

Windows Native
Java Browser Based

Java Portal Netdirect Client

Software Requirements

Windows 2000 SP4 or Windows XP SP2
Internet Explorer 6 or Firefox 1.5 or newer
Cookies enabled in your browser of choice
Java enabled in your browser of choice
An account with local administrator access
Java 1.4.2 or newer

Due to the enhanced security features in Windows Vista, the Java Netdirect client will not work. You just use the Windows Natve version instead.

If you do not have a compatible version of Java installed, you may download one directly from Sun at http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

You must not have any installations of the previous Contivity Extranet VPN client installed on your system. If you do, we reccomend that you uninstall it before proceeding.

Directions

Navigate in the web browser of your choice to http://vpn.wpi.edu.
Log in with your CCC username and password.
Click on the "Launch Netdirect VPN" link.
This will launch a small status window containing the Netdirect Java application.
When the Netdirect client has sucesfully completed, it will display a banner message and minimize itself into the system tray. Note that if close the browser window or click on the "Logout" link you will be imediatelly disconnected from the VPN!
When you are ready to disconnect from the VPN client, you may do so simply by closing the browser window you logged into the portal page with.

Windows Native Netdirect Client

Software Requirements

Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP SP2, or Windows Vista
An account with local administrator access

Navigate in the web browser of your choice to http://vpn.wpi.edu.
Log in with your CCC username and password.
Click on the "Netdirect Local Installer" link. This will download an archive file named NetDirect_Setup.zip.
Extract the contents of the zipfile. It will contain a single installer exe named "NetDirect_xxxxx_Setup.exe" where "xxxxx" reflects the version number.
Run the installer program.
Once the installation is complete, you must reboot before the VPN will function properly.

The first time you run the VPN, it will ask you for the connection setttings. Fill them in as follows.

Connection	A name of your choice, such as "WPI VPN"
Description	A description of your choice, such as "WPI VPN Connection"
Destination	vpn.wpi.edu
Digital Certificate Authentication	This should be unchecked
User Name	Your CCC username.
Password	Your CCC password. This will not be saved.

You may then click the "Connect" button to login and use the VPN.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: Nov 02, 2007, 13:05 EDT