Student and Staff VPN User Documentation This document is broken down into the following sections for your convenience. 1) Quick start guide 2) Installing the VPN software (detailed version) 3) Using the VPN service 4) Troubleshooting Introduction to VPN This document provides instructions on how to connect to the VPN solution for Staff and Students to gain access to various resources available on the Staffordshire University Network Infrastructure. Please note that the new VPN service is only available off Campus. A VPN provides secure access to a private network using public network infrastructure to connect a remote computer to privileged University resources. Once connected to the VPN Staff and Student users will be able to access the following services:- Network share access such as H:\ drive Surf the University Web site Access to email via Microsoft Outlook and Web Outlook Process Overview You will visit the URL https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk and you will be asked to enter your username and password. After successful authentication you will be asked to install the Cisco Anyconnect software which will then automatically make a connection to the University (Please note that this is a onetime process and any subsequent uses of the VPN can be made by using the Shortcut made on your Start Menu or Desktop). You can then map a shared drive or access other resources. 1
1) Quick Start Guide This Quick Start Guide applies to most Microsoft Windows, Macintosh and Linux Operating Systems. More details can be found under the system requirements section below. 1. Open your web browser. 2. Navigate to https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk 3. Select from the dropdown group box if you are a Student or Staff member. 4. Enter your Username (in the format of ab123456 for Student or ab123 for Staff). 5. Type your password in the password box and click on the login button. 6. You will have to agree to the Terms and Conditions presented on the next screen to proceed. Press Continue to accept. 7. Follow any on-screen prompts to install any browser controls. If you get any other error messages, or the installation fails, then please refer to the detailed installation process in the next section of this document, or the Troubleshooting section at the end of this document. 8. Your web browser will now display a message stating that the installation was successful. 9. You can now use the VPN service. Further assistance If you require further help can visit:- http://www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/university_departments/information_services/it/vpn/ contact 3800@staffs.ac.uk or visit an IT Helpdesk. 2
2) Installing the VPN software (detailed version) System Requirements You first need to check that your computer meets the minimum system and connection requirements: - Broadband Network Connection (If using BT Infinity check the Troubleshooting guide in section 4 first before proceeding) Operating systems Microsoft Windows o Windows 10 x86(32-bit) and x64(64-bit) o Windows 8.1 x86(32-bit) and x64(64-bit) o Windows 8 x86(32-bit) and x64(64-bit) o Windows 7 SP1 x86(32-bit) and x64(64-bit) o Cisco no longer supports AnyConnect releases for Windows XP. General Microsoft Windows Requirements: - o Pentium class processor or greater. o 100 MB hard disk space. o Microsoft Installer, version 3.1. o Upgrading to Windows 8.1 from any previous Windows release requires you to uninstall AnyConnect, and reinstall it after your Windows upgrade is complete. o Upgrading from Windows XP to any later Windows release requires a clean install since the Cisco AnyConnect Virtual Adapter is not preserved during the upgrade. Manually uninstall AnyConnect, upgrade Windows, then reinstall AnyConnect manually or via Web launch. o To start AnyConnect with Web launch, you must use the 32-bit version of Firefox 3.0+ and enable ActiveX or install Sun JRE 1.4+. Apple MAC OS o Mac OS X 10.9, 10.10, and 10.11 General MAC OS X requirements: - o AnyConnect requires 50MB of hard disk space. o To operate correctly with Mac OS X, AnyConnect requires a minimum display resolution of 1024 by 640 pixels. 3
Linux o Red Hat 6 (64-bit) o Ubuntu 12.04 (LTS) and 14.04 (LTS) (64-bit) General Linux Requirements o x86 instruction set. o 64-bit processor. o 32 MB RAM. o 20 MB hard disk space. o Superuser (SUDO) privileges are required for installation. o libstdc++ users must have libstdc++.so.6(glibcxx_3.4) or higher, but below version 4. o Java 5 (1.5) or later. The only version that works for web installation is Sun Java. You must install Sun Java and configure your browser to use that instead of the default package. o zlib - to support SSL deflate compression o xterm - required for deployment of AnyConnect via Web launch from ASA clientless portal. o gtk 2.0.0. o gdk 2.0.0. o libpango 1.0. o iptables 1.2.7a or later. o tun module supplied with kernel 2.4.21 or 2.6. Connecting to the University via VPN To gain access to resources via VPN users will need an internet connection from home or any other location. For reliability issues we would recommend a wired connection. Once you have confirmed a usable internet connection you should open a web browser and go to https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk which will present you with the main VPN page. NB We recommend using Internet Explorer or Edge (if using MS Windows) to install Anyconnect. Most other browsers are supported on MAC OSX and Linux but we would recommend Firefox. Step 1. Login page requesting users login credentials. 4
Select the either the Student or Staff group from the drop down box and enter your username and password in the username and password boxes. NB. Previously usernames were in the format of staff\username or student\username. This is no longer the case so staff \, student\ can be omitted and you can enter your username on its own (i.e. ab123456 for Students or ab12 for Staff). After filling in the Group, Username and Password fields, select Login to proceed. Step 2. Once logged in you will be presented with the University Policy. NB. It is mandatory that you agree to terms and conditions of access. If you are unsure please visit http://www.staffs.ac.uk/current/regulations/it/index.php for more information. 5
Select continue to go to the next step. Step 3. You are then prompted to Install ActiveX Controls as below figure shows if applicable. This is so that the correct version of AnyConnect is installed for your computer. Depending upon your web browser, you may have to follow the on-screen instructions for installing the ActiveX Control. Please see the troubleshooting section at the end of this document for help on this issue. Once computer detection has been determined, the client will proceed to install itself. 6
Step 4. A prompt will appear requesting you to install the AnyConnect client software on the machine. This will begin the automatic installation of the software. Select Install to continue. Step 5. This process can take up to 5 minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. 7
Step 6. Once the AnyConnect client is downloaded, it will automatically establish a connection with the VPN service. You are now connected to Staffordshire University VPN system and can now continue to use University services. NB This is a one-time process to install the Cisco software. There will be a Start Menu (Windows Only) shortcut on your system that should be used to start Anyconnect. Should you move computers then you will need to repeat the above process to reinstall the client to access the service. 8
AnyConnect on a Client PC Connecting Once the AnyConnect client has been downloaded it will remain on the PC unless the user decides to uninstall it. You do not need to go to https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk every time you wish to use the VPN. Step 1. Go to START > Programs > Cisco > Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client > Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client and click on the Cisco VPN Client. Step 2. Once again it is mandatory that the user agree to the terms of use and click Accept to proceed. At this point the user client computer will establish a secure connection the University VPN server. 9
You are now connected to Staffordshire University VPN system and can now continue to use VPN services. Disconnecting Step 1. Left click on the Anyconnect icon in the taskbar or system tray which will bring up the Anyconnect client window as shown below and click Disconnect. Once disconnected it may take a couple of minutes for network setting to take affect and the client PC may seem to freeze for a minute or so, this is normal and is expected. You have now disconnected from the VPN system and can now resume normal network operation. To configure access to your H:\ drive and Outlook please see the sections below. 10
1) Using the VPN Service Connecting to your student H: Drive In preparation to connect to your H: drive, you will need to know the area of the student or staff server where your folder is located. To make a connection to the H: drive you will be prompted for your staff or student folder name, your username and your password (i.e. exactly the same username and password as when you made the connection to the VPN service). Note: Examples:- Student folder name will be in the format studentx where X is the first letter of your surname followed by \ and then your username Staff folder name is in the format staffx, where X is the first letter of your username followed by a \ and then your username If the student user ab123456 wishes to connect to their H: drive \\crwnstuh1.student.staffs.ac.uk\studenta\ab123456 Or the staff user vpn10 wishes to connect to their H: drive:- \\crwnstah1.staff.staffs.ac.uk\staffv\vpn10 Step 1. Right-click on Computer for Windows 7, or This Computer for Windows 8 onwards and select Map Network Drive 11
Step 2. In the window that appears select a drive letter to assign the H: drive to (may we suggest drive H: as an aid to memory). Step 3. In the Folder box, type 12
For Students \\crwnstuh1\studentx\your_student_username For Staff \\crwnstah1\staffx\your_staff_username (See images above) Step 4. Click Finish. You will then be prompted for your Staff or Student username and password details. Your username needs to be prefixed by For Students it is o student\your_username For Staff it is o staff\your_username Your password is entered as normal. Step 5. Click OK. After a few seconds, you should be connected to your H: drive and can use it as normal. 13
4 Troubleshooting This section covers common issues with Operating Systems and Service Providers Windows 10, 8, 7 General Windows issues Linux MAC OSX BT Infinity Microsoft Windows If Information Services have updated the Anyconnect client is is strongly advisable to uninstall the old client from your machine and reinstall over the web at https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk Windows 10 AnyConnect 4.3 has moved to the Visual Studio (VS) 2015 build environment and requires VS redistributable files for its Network Access Manager module functionality. These files are installed as part of the install package. You can use the.msi files to upgrade the Network Access Manager module to 4.3, but the AnyConnect Security Mobility Client must be upgraded first and running release 4.3. Also, with the addition of the AnyConnect Umbrella Roaming Security Module, Microsoft.NET 4.0 is required. Issue: - Web-based Installation May Fail on 64-bit Windows This issue applies to Internet Explorer versions 10 and 11, on Windows versions 7 and 8. When the Windows registry entry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\TabProcGrowth is set to 0, Active X has problems during AnyConnect web deployment. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2716529 for more information. Solution: - Run the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer. Windows 8 Windows 8 support has some limitations:- 14
Anyonnect does NOT work on Windows 8 RT (for mobile devices running ARM processors) Anyconnect is incompatible with the following over WIRELESS networks Wireshark (which installs the Win PCAP service). Outdated wireless cards with no official supoprt for Windows 8. Anyconnect is not written for the new Metro interface in Windows 8, however it does run in desktop mode Anyconnect 3.1.01065 does not provide toast notifications but versions from 3.0.10055 on do. General Windows Issues Issue: - Internet Explorer is asking me to run an activex control, what should I do? Solution: - This is part of the Cisco Anyconnect installation process and is safe to allow. Step1. Click on the message at the top of the screen that says this message wants to install the following addon: AnyConnect VPN Client and click on Install ActiveX Control. 15
Issue: - There is a problem with this Windows installer package. Note the fix for this issue requires advanced knowledge of the Windows Registry, if you are in doubt, please visit a Helpdesk. Solution:- Step 1. Press Windows Symbol Key and R together. Type regedit and press enter or click on OK. Step 2. 16
Click on the cross to the left of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to expand that section. Click on the cross to the left of SOFTWARE Click on the cross to the left of Microsoft Click on the cross to the left of Windows Click on the cross to the left of CurrentVersion Step 3. Right click on CurrentVersion and select New and then select Key A new section appears with the title New Key #1 rename this key to RunOnce and press enter. Step 4. You can now close the registry editor. Step 5. Re run the Cisco AnyConnect setup and the issue should now be solved. If not please attend a local Helpdesk and seek further assistance. o AnyConnect requires a clean install if you upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7. o If you upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 you must manually uninstall AnyConnect first, then after the upgrade reinstall it manually or by establishing a web-based connection to https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk that is configured to install it. Uninstalling before the upgrade and reinstalling AnyConnect afterwards is necessary because the upgrade does not preserve the Cisco AnyConnect Virtual Adapter. 17
Apple OS o If you upgrade from one major Mac OS X release to another (for example 10.5 to 10.6) you must manually uninstall AnyConnect first then after the upgrade reinstall it manually or by establishing a web-based connection to https://vpn.staffs.ac.uk that is configured to install it. o The Anyconnect client resides in the Applications folder. To access it you will need to either go to the applications folder, or you can drag it into your dock at the bottom of the screen. Unix / Linux o o When connecting to the VPN service from the AnyConnect client you are presented with a message stating that the security certificate cannot be verified. The certificate should be accepted to continue to use the service. The AnyConnect client resides in the Applications folder on your system. If you want a shortcut on your desktop, the y ou will have to make one by dragging it our of the Application folder. BT Infinity 1/2 Issues Some users have experienced issues with the Cisco Anyconnect client and the BT Infinity Broadband package. Users may see their VPN connection fail and get disconnected which has been identified as an MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) size issue. To resolve this you may wish to change the MTU setting on your Windows operating system. Windows 8 1) Swipe / Scroll to the All Apps tile on from your Start screen. 2) Swipe / Scroll to the Windows System section. 3) Under the Windows System section press/click on Command Prompt 4) You will then see a box similar to the one below. 18
5) Select your network connection from the list. In this case we are using Local Area Connection, but you may be using a wireless connection and should substitute the entry under the Interface column appropriately. 6) To set the MTU for this network interface [Type] netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "Local Area Connection 4" mtu=1300 store=persistent [enter] 7) [Type] netsh interface ipv4 interface show subinterfaces [enter] to check that the change has been made as seen in the picture below. 8) Restart your computer and retry the VPN connection process which should now work. Windows 7 / Windows Vista 1) Go to Start and [Type] cmd.exe [enter] into the text box from the start menu. 2) The command prompt box opens. 19
3) [Type] netsh interface ipv4 interface show subinterfaces [enter] 4) You will then see a box similar to the one below. 5) Select your network connection from the list. In this case we are using Local Area Connection, but you may be using a wireless connection and should substitute the entry under the Interface column appropriately. 6) To set the MTU for this network interface [Type] netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface "Local Area Connection 4" mtu=1300 store=persistent [enter] 7) [Type] netsh interface ipv4 interface show subinterfaces [enter] to check that the change has been made as seen in the picture below. 8) Restart your computer and retry the VPN connection process which should now work. 20