University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff can use these directions to set up their Windows 7 or Windows 8 computers or devices to connect to the CITES VPN (Virtual Private Network).

If you have a guest account, you should use the guest instructions for Windows 7 & 8 instead.

Configuring a VPN connection

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1. In order to perform these steps, you'll need to be logged in as a user with administrator authorization on your computer.
   • If there is only one user name on the computer, it already has administrator authorization.
   • If there is an account named something like "Administrator" or "Admin," log in with that user name instead of your usual user name.
   • If someone else is your system administrator, you'll need their assistance.
2. Under the Windows icon (Start menu) , go to the Control Panel option, then select Network and Sharing Center (the button in the top center of the window).
3. In the Network and Sharing Center window, select Set up a connection or network from the list of options in the center column, under "Change your networking settings." The New Connection Wizard will start.

Choose a connection option

Show the "Set up a connection or network" window

1. Select Connect to a workplace.
2. Click Next.

How do you want to connect?

Select Use my Internet connection (VPN).

Show the connection options window

Type the Internet address to connect to

Use the following settings:

• Internet address: vpn3.near.uiuc.edu
• Destination name: CITES VPN
• Check the "Allow other people to use this connection" option. Windows 7 / 8 will prompt you to confirm this. (This option allows you to use the VPN as a regular user, once you've finished making the configuration as an administrator.)
• Check the "Don't connect now; just set it up so I can connect later" option. (This will prevent Windows from trying to connect before you've had a chance to finish all the steps.)
• Click Next.

Show the Internet address window

Type your username and password

Use the following settings:

• Login name: Your NetID
• Password: Your Active Directory password
  (For more information about your Active Directory password, please contact the CITES Help Desk)
• Leave both "Show characters" and "Remember this password" unchecked.
• Leave the "Domain" entry field blank.
• Click Create.

Show the user name and password window

Last "New Connection Wizard" step

Next, you'll be asked if you want to connect.

Don't connect right now; instead, close the window and return to the Network and Sharing Center window that you opened in step 2.

Show the last New Connection Wizard window

Setting connection properties

In the Network and Sharing Center, click on the Change Adapter Settings item. The Network Connections window will have a new entry for your VPN connection:

Show the new entry

Right-click on this entry and select Properties. (Windows 7 / 8 will prompt you to confirm this.)

Next, choose the Security tab.

Show the Security tab of the Properties window

In the Security tab, the following options should be selected:

• Type of VPN: Point to Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
• Data encryption: Require encryption (disconnect if server declines)
• Allow these protocols: Microsoft CHAP version 2 (MS-CHAP v2)

Click OK.

 

Making a VPN connection

To make a connection to the CITES VPN, you can:

Show the login window

• Double-click the CITES VPN shortcut on your desktop.
  or
• Navigate to Windows icon (Start menu) > Control Panel > Network Connections and select the CITES VPN shortcut.

Use the following information to log in:

• Login name: Your NetID
• Password: Your Active Directory password
  (For more information about your Active Directory password, please contact the CITES Help Desk)

Your computer's VPN client will make a secure connection to the campus VPN. (This may take several seconds depending on your location, and may take longer from off campus.)

While you're connected, your computer has a secure connection to the University of Illinois campus. The CITES VPN gives you the same access you would have on the campus network, even though you're connecting from somewhere else.

Disconnecting when finished

When you're finished using the CITES VPN, click on the network icon in the taskbar. From the menu that appears, choose Disconnect beside the CITES VPN entry.

 

More help

For more help, see the VPN FAQs or contact the CITES Help Desk during the Help Desk's hours of operation.