VPN - JHU
- THIS DOC IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION**
INTRO
Several JHU IT-based resources require your computer to be connected to the JHU network for access. For example, JHU-located share drives and certain JHU websites/services. If you're outside of JHU, for instance, at home or at a hotel, you are not on the JHU network, and therefore, cannot access the JHU Network-only resources.
Enter the VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a way to access resources of another network, for example, your business's network, without physically residing on that network. You can connect to a VPN from home/mobile, and it will look to your computer and to the business server as if you were on the business network, even if physically, you're not.
JHU hosts its own VPN. The JHU VPN will allow JHU users' home/mobile/etc. computers (home/mobile) who are outside of the JHU network to connect to JHU as if they were physically on campus.
Connecting to the JHU VPN
STEP 1: Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication
JHU now requires Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) to access some of its services... including the JHU VPN.
(Some further details regarding what MFA is all about can be found here.)
You will need to visit the JHU Multi-factor Setup Instructions page to enroll your JHED ID to have it work in conjunction with what JHU calls its myIT Login Code.
Once there, please watch the videos on that page, appropriate to your operating system (currently, Windows, Mac.)
That page and its videos will show you how to enroll your JHED ID with a myIT Login Code. The videos are very helpful in explaining the process. You are encouraged to watch them all the way through.
As part of the process, you will end up having to choose an Authenticator program. Note: We have found that for Windows users, the WinAuth program seems to work well for authenticating your MyIT code. Detailed WinAuth instructions in PDF format can be found here)
You will need your myIT Login Code in order to access the JHU VPN in the next step.
NOTE: If you have any issues with setting up Multi-factor authentication, you must contact JHU IT's support helpdesk by phone at 410-516-HELP.
STEP 2: Connecting to the JHU VPN using a VPN Client Program
Please visit the JHU VPN FAQ page.
Once there, click through each FAQ entry.
You'll see that the first two FAQ entries define VPN and discuss the myIT login code (from Multi-factor Authentication.)
The third FAQ entry on that page, How do I connect to the VPN with a Windows, Mac or Linux computer? provides a link on how to download and install the VPN client called JH Pulse Secure to connect to the VPN. Here is the link:
The above link contains videos for showing how to download the appropriate VPN client software for your operating system (Windows/MacOS.)
Once you've downloaded your JH Pulse Secure software, you can refer to the detailed instructions (in PDF format) for installation for your operating systems
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Please follow these videos carefully.