VPN for Guests Using Windows Vista

This page contains information for campus guests about using the campus VPN with Windows Vista.

Guests of the University of Illinois can use these directions to set up their Windows Vista computers to connect to the CITES VPN (Virtual Private Network).

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Getting a guest account

Before you can access the CITES VPN, you must have a guest account. To find out more information about guest accounts, visit the Guest Services page.

If you already have a guest account, please continue reading for instructions on how to access the CITES VPN.

Configuring a VPN connection

  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 Start menu, go to the Network 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 left column. The New Connection Wizard will start.

Choose a connection option

  1. Select Connect to a workplace.
  2. Click Next.
  3. Expand section Show the "Choose a connection option " window
    New Connection Wizard, step 1

How do you want to connect?

Select Use my Internet connection (VPN) .

    Expand section Show the connection options window
    New Connection Wizard step 2

Type the Internet address to connect to

Use the following settings:

    Expand section Show the Internet address window
    New Connection Wizard step 4

Type your username and password

Use the following settings:

    Expand section Show the user name and password window
    New Connection Wizard step 5

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.

    Expand section Show the last "New Connection Wizard" window
    Last Connection Wizard window

Setting connection properties

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

Network and Sharing Center entry
Right-click on this entry and select Properties. (Vista will prompt you to confirm this.)

Next, choose the Security tab.

    Expand section Show the Security tab of the Properties window
    Properties window, Security tab

     

  1. Select the Advanced (custom settings) radio button.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. In the Advanced Security Settings window, the following options should be selected:
    • Data encryption: Require encryption (disconnect if server declines)
    • Allow these protocols: Microsoft CHAP version 2 (MS-CHAP v2)

    Expand section Show Advanced Security Settings window

    Properties window, Security tab, Advanced Security Settings options
    • Click OK in the Advanced Security Settings window.
  4. In the Properties window, select the Networking tab next.
  5. Select PPTP VPN from the "Type of VPN" list at the top of the tab.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Expand section Show the Networking tab of the Properties window
    Properties window, Networking tab
info

To make the CITES VPN shortcut easier to find for later connections, you can drag and drop a copy of it from the Manage network connections window to your desktop.

  Expand sectionShow the VPN shortcut you'll see in the Manage Network Connections window
Network and Sharing Center entry

 

Getting connected

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

Use the following information to log in:

Your computer will make a secure connection to the CITES 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, right-click on the network icon in the taskbar and choose Connect or Disconnect from the menu that appears.

Taskbar icon's right-click menu

The Connect to a network window will appear. Select your VPN connection from the list and click Disconnect.

Expand section Show the disconnect window
disconnect

 

More help

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