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OIT's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Service

About VPN

VPN lets you create secure connections to remote networks by creating a protected, individual tunnel for you to that remote network. Even using e-mail can involve some risk. Without the security of VPN, the information you type or send could be intercepted on the "open highway" of the Internet.

You can install client versions of this software on personal computers and workstations. The University maintains a Cisco VPN 3000 server and makes compatible client software available to University students, faculty and staff to install and run on their own computers. NTS manages the server side of this service.

When to use VPN

The security offered by VPN is necessary if both these connection and data (information) conditions apply:

1. The connection:
   You are ...
   • using a wireless connection on campus.
     -or-
   • connecting to the University from a non-University of Minnesota Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as through AOL or MSN or with a cable modem or DSL.
2. The data/information:
   You will, or might, transmit sensitive data such as passwords, credit card information, social security numbers or any confidential information by any means while connected to the Internet; you need access to restricted University resources.

Cost

This service is provided free of charge to eligible students, faculty and staff. The Cisco VPN client software is also available free of charge.

Currently there are no limits on your use of this VPN service. However, when you no longer need the access or security VPN provides, we encourage you to disconnect from the VPN server.

Download Software and Instructions

choose an Operating System	VPN Client Version	Documentation
Windows Vista 32-bit (clean install, not upgrade from XP) Windows XP (Service Pack 2) Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4)	5.0.02.0090	Release Notes: known issues and limitations further documentation forthcoming; you may use the version 4.8 guide as a reference
Windows Me Windows 98 SE (Service Pack 2) Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 6)	4.8.01.0300	installation guide user guide (PDF)
Mac OS X 10.4 and newer	4.9.01.0100	installation guide user guide (PDF)
Mac OS X 10.2 - 10.3	4.6.04.0061
Red Hat Linux	4.8.01.0640	installation guide user guide (PDF)
Solaris 8	4.6.02.0030

Instructions, guides and release notes are also available from Cisco's Web site: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/secursw/ps2308/

unsupported operating systems

For the following operating systems, there is no Cisco VPN client compatible with the University's VPN service:

• Windows 95, Windows 98
• Mac OS X 10.1 and older
• Mac OS 9 and older
• PDA and handheld PC platforms

Contacts

For assistance with the client software, contact 1-HELP.

To provide comments or feedback about this VPN service, send e-mail to vpn@umn.edu.