How to connect to the Purdue Fort Wayne VPN (virtual private network)

Tags VPN

Overview

A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, is used to allow authorized computers access to a central server remotely. Purdue students, staff, and faculty may use a VPN for several reasons: accessing course materials you might not otherwise be able to access from home, mapping the Home Directory Drive, and other networking purposes. These instructions are for individuals at Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW) who need to connect to the VPN. There are two separate instructions for setting up and using the VPN: one for employees and one for students. 

Note: If you are a member of an organization, department, class, etc. that has its own VPN connection to facilitate access to resources, you may continue using that VPN and will not need to make the changes below.

Note: These instructions are for PFW employees and students only. For other campuses, please visit this page.

Click here for the instructions if you are a Student.

Click here for the instructions if you are an Employee.

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure that you are following the appropriate instructions for your classification (student v employee).
  • Close all of your browser windows and re-open them before trying again.
  • In a browser window, clear cookies and cache. This can be done differently depending on your browser, but here are some common examples:

Instructions

Students

If you are a PFW student, you can download and install the Cisco AnyConnect client to connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). You may access https://webvpn.pfw.edu from a browser to download and access Cisco AnyConnect on your personal device. In case your organization or class has a custom profile, reach out to your instructor or organizational sponsor, or the ITS Help Desk at PFW for assistance with the correct configuration options.

Installing Cisco AnyConnect VPN (Students)

NOTE: You may need to be the administrator of your computer to install software.

NOTE:  Microsoft two-factor authentication is required when authenticating to the PFW VPN service. 

Mobile Instructions:

The Cisco Secure Client is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

  • For iOS devices, follow these instructions.
  • For Android devices, follow these instructions.

Computer Instructions:

  1. Open your web browser (i.e. Chrome, Firefox, or Opera) and visit https://webvpn.pfw.edu/

  2. Sign in with Purdue Fort Wayne Account credentials, requiring your Microsoft Authenticator Mobile App verification approval.

  3. Select Download for Windows on the AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client page.

  4. Once the download has been completed, navigate to that file and run it.

  5. Double-click the AnyConnect download file (cisco-secure-client-win-5.1.2.42-core-vpn-webdeploy-k9) to begin the Setup process.

  6. Select Next in the Setup Wizard.

  7. Read the End-User License Agreement and if you agree to the terms select "I accept the terms in the License Agreement" and then select Next

  8. Select Install.

  9. If asked to allow the application to make changes to your device, select Yes.

  10. Select Finish.

  11. Restart your computer.

  12. Locate the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client application. (This may be in your Windows Start Menu, on your Desktop, or in your MacOS Apps Finder.)

  13. Select to open

  14. Confirm the VPN: screen shows webvpn.pfw.edu and then select Connect.

    1. If the VPN screen doesn't display webvpn.pfw.edu, then input that address.

  15. You should see a screen to complete the authentication process.

  16. Sign in with Purdue Fort Wayne Account credentials, requiring your Microsoft Authenticator Mobile App verification approval.

  17. A web browser may open verifying you have successfully authenticated. You may also receive a Windows notification you have authenticated.

  18. You can close your browser and begin using applications that require the AnyConnect VPN client. 

Employees

If you are a PFW employee, you may already have the software installed. Search your computer (either through the start menu, or application list) for the Cisco Secure Client. If you already have the software, you can skip straight to the Configuration section below.  If you do not have the software, you can download and install the Cisco AnyConnect client to connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) from the Software Center on your university-owned device while on-campus. Alternatively, you may access https://webvpn.pfw.edu from a browser to download and access Cisco AnyConnect on your personal device. In case your department has a custom profile, reach out to the ITS Help Desk at PFW for assistance with the correct configuration options.

Installing Cisco AnyConnect VPN (Employees)

NOTE: You may need to be the administrator of your computer to install software. If you do not have administrator privileges, please contact the ITS Help Desk at PFW.

NOTE:  Microsoft two-factor authentication is required when authenticating to the PFW VPN service. 

Mobile Instructions:

The Cisco Secure Client is available in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

  • For iOS devices, follow these instructions.
  • For Android devices, follow these instructions.

Computer Instructions:  

Locate the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client application. (This may be in your Windows Start Menu, on your Desktop, or in your MacOS Apps Finder.)

  1.  Open your web browser (i.e. Chrome, Firefox, or Opera) and visit https://webvpn.pfw.edu/

  2. Sign in with Purdue Fort Wayne Account credentials, requiring your Microsoft Authenticator Mobile App verification approval.

  3. Select Download for Windows on the AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client page.

  4. Once the download has been completed, navigate to the downloaded file, and run it.

  5. Double-click the any connect download file (cisco-secure-client-win-5.1.2.42-core-vpn-webdeploy-k9) to begin the Setup process.

  6. Select Next in the Setup Wizard.

  7. Read the End-User License Agreement and if you agree to the terms select "I accept the terms in the License Agreement" and then select Next

  8. Select Install.

  9. If asked to allow the application to make changes to your device, select Yes.

  10. Select Finish.

  11. Restart your computer.

  12. Locate the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client application. (This may be in your Windows Start Menu, on your Desktop, or in your MacOS Apps Finder.)

  13. Select to open

  14. Confirm the VPN: screen shows webvpn.pfw.edu and then select Connect. a. If the VPN screen doesn't display webvpn.pfw.edu, then input that address.

  15. You should see a screen to complete the authentication process.

  16. Sign in with Purdue Fort Wayne Account credentials, requiring your Microsoft Authenticator Mobile App verification approval.

  17. A web browser may open verifying you have successfully authenticated. You may also receive a Windows notification you have authenticated.

  18. You can close your browser and begin using applications that require the AnyConnect VPN client. 

Still need help?  Click the 'Purdue IT Request' button to start a ticket.

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