Using the UA VPN
The University has available VPN service to allow you to securely connect to the UA network from anywhere in the world.
Registering your Bama account
A valid Bama account is required to use the VPN.
Before you can use the VPN, you must first register your Bama account for VPN access. (The registration tool will open in a new window. Once you are done, close this window to return to this page.) This only has to be done once!
Creating your VPN connection
If you have any questions, or need assistance with an OS not listed here, please call the HelpDesk at 348-HELP.
Windows Vista
- Click on the Start Button and choose Connect To.
- In the window that opens, click the link to Set up a connection or network.
- Select the connection option to Connect to a workplace.
- In the next window, choose Use my internet connection (VPN).
- In the next window, Type the Internet address to connect to: vpn.ua.edu.
- Type your bama username and password and click on Create.
- You will see the following window showing you are connecting to the vpn.
- To connect in the future, go to the Start Button and click on Connect To to bring up the following window in which you click on the VPN Connection and then the Connect button. Also, at the bottom of this window, click on the Open Network and Sharing Center link to create a shortcut.
- Once you open the Network and Sharing Center, click on the link on the left-hand side to Manage network connections.
- This brings up the following window. Right-click on the VPN connection to bring up the shortcut menu which allows you to create a desktop shortcut for easier future logon to your UA VPN.
- Then click on the desktop shortcut to logon to the VPN:
- Also, you can click on the Network Status icon in the system tray to Connect to a network.
- You can click on the Network Status icon in the system tray to disconnect as well.
- Clicking on Connect or disconnect brings up the following window in which you click Disconnect.
This opens the following logon window in which you type your bama username and password. Then click Connect.
Windows XP
Step one: From your Start menu, open the Control Panel and double-click the Network Connections icon. On the left side of the window is a column called Network Tasks. Click on Create a new connection (marked by a red arrow in Figure 1). If there is nothing displayed under the Network Tasks header, click the down-arrow button located to the right of the header to expand the list.
Figure 1 - Network Connections
Step two: When the Network Connection Wizard opens, click the Next button. The following window will ask you to select the type of connection you wish to establish. Check the radio button labeled Connect to the network at my workplace (as shown in Figure 2), and click Next.
Figure 2 - Connection type
Step three: The wizard will now ask you if you wish to establish a dial-up or Virtual Private Network connection. Check the radio button labeled Virtual Private Network connection, as shown below in figure 3, and click Next.
Figure 3 - VPN Connection
Step four: You will be asked to provide a name for this connection. Although it should be descriptive, you may give the connection any name you wish. A good example of a descriptive name for this connection would be "UA VPN." Enter the descriptive name you wish to use and click Next.
Step five: Enter vpn.ua.edu as the host name of your VPN server, as shown below, then click Next.
Figure 4 - VPN Server Selection
Setup Completion: You have now completed the New Connection wizard. When the completion screen appears, there will be a check box that will allow the wizard to create a VPN connection shortcut icon on your desktop. If you plan on using the wireless network often, you should do this. Otherwise, you can find your VPN connection listed under Network Connections.
Figure 5 - Setup completion
Using your VPN Connection
You must activate your VPN connection each time you connect to the UA wireless network. This does not happen automatically.
Find and double-click the VPN icon. If you checked the desktop icon option when completing the wizard, your VPN shortcut will be located on your desktop; otherwise it will be listed under Network Connections. You will be presented with a login screen, as shown in Figure 6. Use your myBama username and password to login.
Figure 6 - Connect to VPN
Once your VPN connection is established, you will have full use of the Internet on the wireless network. Simply open your Web browser, e-mail program, or other Internet application(s).
Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) & 10.3 (Panther)
Step one: In Finder, open your Applications folder and double-click on Internet Connect. Click the VPN icon in the menu bar.
Figure 7 - Internet Connect
Step two: Select PPTP as your VPN connection type.
Figure 8 - VPN connection type
Step three: Enter vpn.ua.edu as the server name (as shown in Figure 9) along with your myBama username and password. If you will be using your VPN connection often, you may wish to display your VPN status in the menu bar. If so, make sure the checkbox for this option is marked before connecting.
Figure 9 - Configuration
When closing Internet Connect, you should receive a dialog box (as shown in Figure 10) asking you to save your configuration. Enter a name that describes this connection, such as "UA VPN."
Figure 10 - Save with descriptive name
Using your VPN Connection
You must activate your VPN connection each time you use the UA wireless network. This does not happen automatically.
If you chose to display the VPN status in your menu bar, you should see
this icon in near your clock: 
.
You may use it to connect and disconnect your VPN account. If you did not
choose to display this status, you will need to go through Internet Connect
every time you want to use the wireless network.
Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)
Step one: In Finder, open your Applications folder and double-click on Internet Connect.
Step two: You may receive a window telling you that you have no active modem, AirPort or PPoE network configuration. If this window pops up, click the Use VPN button. If this window does not pop up, you will most likely be presented with a modem dial-up box. Go to the File menu and select New VPN Connection Window.
Step three: When the VPN Connection window comes up, enter vpn.ua.edu as the server address, then use your myBama username and password to login. If you would like to save your username and password on this computer, leave the "Add to Keychain" checkbox checked. Otherwise, clear this checkbox. Click the Connect button.
Figure 11 - VPN Login
Once your VPN connection is established, you will have full use of the Internet on the wireless network. You must repeat this procedure each time you use the wireless network. It does not happen automatically.