In Windows Me, how do I make a VPN connection to the IU network?

Note: IU's VPN is intended for individual computing accounts only. Group and departmental accounts cannot access the VPN. See Why can I not make a VPN connection through an IU group or departmental account?

Note: Windows 2000 and XP Professional are the only Windows operating systems recommended for use on the Indiana University network. For more information, see For Windows computers on the IU network, why does UITS recommend Windows 2000 or XP Professional? Because of security enhancements to the IU network in May 2006, Windows 95, 98, 98SE, and Me computers can no longer authenticate to ADS, print to some network printers in departments and campus housing, or map drives to other computers.

Adding the VPN component

Before you can make a virtual private network (VPN) connection to the Indiana University network in Windows Me, either wirelessly or remotely, you must add the VPN component. To do this:

Double-click My Computer, then Control Panel, and then Add/Remove Programs.
Select the Windows Setup tab, and double-click Communications.
Check the box next to Virtual Private Networking, and then click OK. You may be prompted for your Windows CD.
Note: If you do not have your Windows CD, or if you did not receive one from the manufacturer when you purchased your computer, contact the manufacturer to see if one is available.
When Windows Me prompts you to restart your computer, click Yes.

Downloading and installing the Microsoft L2TP/IPsec VPN client

The IU Bloomington and IUPUI campuses use the IPsec protocol for VPN connections. Other campuses currently use PPTP. To connect to the IUB or IUPUI VPN service, you must install an IPsec client on your Windows Me computer.

If you are at a campus other than IUB or IUPUI, skip directly to the Creating a VPN connection section below.

If you are at IUB or IUPUI, download and install the IPsec client:

Download and save somewhere obvious (like your desktop) the Microsoft L2TP/IPsec VPN client. The client filename is m2tp.exe.
Double-click the msl2tp.exe file to launch the client installer. When the installer asks you to continue, click Yes and then Yes again to agree to the license agreement.
The installer will check your system for the required software components. If you do not have all the required files, or if you have a conflicting component (e.g., Internet Connection Sharing), the installer may prompt you to add or remove files. Follow the instructions provided by the installer. You will probably have to reboot.
If the system must reboot, when it restarts, just double-click the msl2tp.exe file again to continue the installation.
Once you have installed all the necessary components, uninstalled all the conflicting ones, and restarted the process, the installer should finish the installation. Once finished, one last reboot will be required.

Configuring the IPsec pre-shared key setting

To authenticate to the IU VPN, you will need to specify a pre-shared key (PSK):

From the Start menu, select Programs, then Microsoft IPSec VPN, and finally Microsoft IPSec VPN Configuration.
Select Use a pre-shared key for IPSec authentication. In the adjacent field, enter hermanbwells as the pre-shared key and then click OK.

Creating a VPN connection

Note: To use the wireless network on any Indiana University campus, you must first ensure that you have a strong wireless connection signal. For added security and full access to IU resources, you need to establish a VPN connection. IU students, faculty, and staff need to register their computers before making a wireless connection at IU Bloomington and IUPUI. See the instructions in the "On-campus wireless" section of At IUB and IUPUI, how do I register my computer? (If you are using a Network Access account, instead see At IUB and IUPUI, what is a Network Access account, and how do I get one?)

To create a VPN connection to the IU network:

From the Start menu, select Settings, then Dial-Up Networking, and finally Make New Connection.
Type a name for your connection (e.g., IU-VPN). Then, in the "Select a Device:" field, choose Microsoft L2TP/IPSec VPN Adapter and click Next.

Note: You may see a number at the end of the device name (e.g., Microsoft L2TP/IPSec VPN Adapter 1).

In the "Host name or IP Address:" field, type the name or IP address of the VPN server:

Use the table below to find your VPN server for both remote (e.g., cable modem, DSL, or outside Internet service provider) and wireless VPN connections:

Campus	VPN server

IU Bloomington	`ipsec.indiana.edu`
IU East	`vpn.iue.edu`
IU Kokomo	`vpn.iuk.edu`
IU Northwest	`149.162.8.2`
IUPUI	`ipsec.iupui.edu`
IU South Bend	`vpn.iusb.edu`
IU Southeast	`vpn.ius.edu`

Click Next and then Finish.

Configuring your VPN connection

To configure your VPN connection:

In the Dial-Up Networking window, right-click your connection icon and select Properties.
From the Networking tab, make sure the NetBEUI and IPX/SPX Compatible protocols are unchecked. (Only TCP/IP should be checked.)
Click the Security tab. Under "Authentication:", in the "Domain:" field, type ADS .
Under "Advanced security options:", make sure all the selections are checked. Click OK.

Establishing a VPN connection

To establish the connection:

From the Start menu, select Settings and then Dial-Up Networking.
Double-click the connection you just created.
When prompted, enter your ADS username and password, and then click Connect.
Note: It may take up to a minute to establish a connection with the VPN server. Be patient. If you have problems connecting, make note of any error messages and contact your campus Support Center.
When the connection is established, you should see a new icon in the system tray. This icon is identical to the one for dial-up connections. To disconnect and terminate the connection, double-click this icon and choose Disconnect.

Also see:

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Last modified on December 05, 2007.

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