This document will help Windows users set up a VPN connection on their machine.
Information Technology documentation is available online at http://www.wooster.edu/technology/help/.
Last revised: February 26, 2008
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is a private network that is set up on a public network. The College of Wooster maintains a private network for the campus allowing access to email, file space, servers, and information specific to the College. The idea behind a VPN is to allow users to those same private services in a secured fashion through public internet access.
Users connected through the VPN will be able to use all Library resources as if they were on campus. VPN provides several of these restricted access services with proof that you are a part of the Wooster community.
In addition, users can access their personal Novell file space as well as department shared areas. (Please note, web spaces are not available through the VPN.) To access your Novell file space, please see the document entitled, “Native File Access.”
VPN is intended to provide access to on campus resources from off campus. To that end, users cannot access VPN from on campus. In addition, you should disconnect from VPN as soon as you have finished accessing the information you need.
To connect to the VPN, you need a Macintosh computer running OS X or a Windows computer running Windows XP or 2000. In addition you will need to be connected to the Internet.
To connect to the VPN using a Windows machine, you need to create a network connection, configure it and enter your user name and password.
- Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel and open Network Connections.
- Choose Create New Connection on the left of the window to set up a new connection.
- Choose “Connect to the network at my workplace”
- Choose “Virtual Private Network connection”
- Enter a name for the connection. We recommend COW-VPN.
- Enter COW-VPN.wooster.edu as the host name for this connection.
- Put a check mark in the box if you would like a connection icon on your desktop.
Now that you have configured your connection, you can use the VPN at any time. If you have saved the connection icon on your desktop, double click it or go to Start, Settings, Network Connections and select COW-VPN. You will be prompted to log in:
Enter your user name, password just like your Wooster email account. You can choose to save your user name and password if you would like but it is not required.
When you are finished using the connection, be sure to log off. To do so, in the bottom right corner of your screen, right click on the icon that shows two computers and select choose Disconnect. You are now disconnected from the VPN.
If you need assistance with this process, contact the Help Desk at xHELP (4357).