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How do I set up a VPN connection?

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What is VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network; see the Wikipedia article on VPN for more general info. Active faculty, staff and students can use VPN to access resources on the Middlebury network that are normally unavailable from off campus, such as Banner INB or fast connections to Middfiles. (Access to library subscription e-resources is the major exception. That requires EZproxy and is described here.)

We have a new VPN client called Junos Pulse for Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS. The client installer files for Mac and Windows can be found in Middfiles under Software\Public\Junos Pulse.

Windows Instructions

  1. Verify your version of Windows.
    • Windows 8 users should update to version 8.1, and need to use the built-in VPN client. Go to Settings > Network > Add VPN client. Choose Juniper Networks Junos Pulse as your VPN Provider, but Do NOT install the Pulse client on Windows 8! Use vpn.middlebury.edu as the server name.
    • Windows 7 users should check to see if they have the 64-bit edition (see How to tell if your version of Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit).
  2. Windows 7 users download the installer from Software\Public\Junos Pulse; you want the file named: j-pulse-win-*-64bitinstaller.msi (or -32bitinstaller.msi for 32-bit Windows.)
  3. Install the software. You don’t need to select any special options during the install. The default checkbox at the end will launch Junos Pulse at the end of the install.
  4. Look for the new gray 6-petaled icon down in the tray in the lower-right (it’s so small it might just look like a hexagon). If it’s not appearing, try clicking on the white up-arrow to show the rest of your tray icons.
  5. Click on it and choose “Open Pulse”
  6. On the box (your list of “connections”, which is currently blank), click the [+] button next to “Connections” to add a new connection.
    1. For name, call it whatever you want. (Example: “Middlebury College VPN”)
    2. For server URL, use: https://vpn.middlebury.edu
  7. Click either the [Connect] button (which will add it to your saved connections and connect immediately), or [Add] (to save it and connect later)
  8. Once added, your new connection will appear in the list beneath “Connections”. Click on the [Connect] button next to it to connect.
  9. You will be prompted for your username (just use your network username. Don’t prefix it with the domain or anything) and password, along with an optional checkbox to Save settings. For security reasons, we recommend NOT saving your password.
  10. Once connected, the box will say as much and then vanish after a few moments. The Junos Pulse icon in the tray will go from gray to colored (blue with an orange top petal)
  11. To disconnect, click on the flower icon, then the VPN name, and then “Disconnect”

Once you have a saved connection, in the future you can just click on the Junos Pulse icon in the tray and select it from the pop-up.

Mac Instructions

  1. Download the installer from Software/Public/Junos Pulse; you want the file named: j-pulse-mac-*-installer.dmg. Double-click to open it.
  2. When the disk image mounts and opens, right-click on the file JunosPulse.mpkg and select Open.
  3. Just step through the install. There is no need to select or change anything.
  4. Once installed, you’ll find the Junos Pulse client under Applications (you may want to drag and drop it to the desktop or dock to create an alias for easier access). Launch this.
  5. On the box that appears (your list of “connections”, which is currently blank), click on the [+] button in the lower-left to add a new connection.
    1. For name, call it whatever you want. (Example: “Middlebury College VPN”)
    2. For server URL, use: https://vpn.middlebury.edu
  6. Click either the [Connect] button (which will add it to your saved connections and connect immediately), or [Add] (to save it and connect later)
  7. Once added, your new connection will appear in the list beneath “Connections”. Click on the [Connect] button next to it to connect.
  8. You will be prompted for your username (just use your network username. Don’t prefix it with the domain or anything) and password, along with an optional checkbox to Save settings. For security reasons, we recommend NOT saving your password.
  9. You should now see a six-petaled icon in your top menu bar. On the Mac, it seems backwards from Windows: colored (blue with 1 orange petal) means you’re NOT connected to the VPN. Gray with a green checkmark means you’re connected to the VPN
  10. Once connected, you can close the Junos Pulse window. The icon in the menu bar represents the running Junos Pulse client.
  11. To disconnect, click on the flower icon, then the VPN name, and then “Disconnect”

Once you have a saved connection, in the future you can just click on the Junos Pulse flower icon in the top menu bar and select it from the pop-up.

Android Instructions

  1. Install the app from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.juniper.junos.pulse.android or search on the Google Play Store
  2. Launch the app and click on the [Add Connection] button
  3. For the Connection name, call it whatever you want. (Example: “Middlebury College VPN”)
  4. For URL, use: https://vpn.middlebury.edu
  5. For Username, just use your network username. Don’t prefix it with the domain or anything.
  6. “Uses certificate” is left unchecked and “Realm” and “Role” can be left blank
  7. Click the [Create Connection] button at the bottom (scroll down if you don’t see it)
  8. You’ll be taken back to the main screen. Now just click on the [Connect] button.
  9. You’ll get prompted for your username and password. Username should already be filled in from before, so enter in your network password then click the green [Sign in] button at the bottom.
  10. You will get a warning box for “Attention: Junos Pulse attempts to create a VPN connection”, etc. Check the box for “I trust this application” then the [OK] button.
  11. Once it has finished connecting, you should have a key icon in your notification area (either the top or bottom of your screen, depending on model). Show notifications (swipe down or tap) then select the item for “VPN is activated by Junos Pulse” to check the status or disconnect.

 iOS Devices (iPhone, iPad, etc.)

  1. Launch App Store on your iOS device. Locate and install the app Junos Pulse
  2. Launch the app. The Configuration dialog box will appear.
  3. Touch Add New Configuration. The Add dialog box will appear.
    • For Name: Call it whatever you want. (Example: “Middlebury College VPN”)
    • For URL: Use https://vpn.middlebury.edu
    • For Username: Use your network username. Don’t prefix it with the domain or anything.
    • For Authentication: Use the default Password
    • Realm and Role can be left blank.
  4. Touch the Save button at the top right of the dialog box
  5. You will be taken back to the main screen. Touch the Connect button.
  6. You will be prompted for your username and password. Username should already be filled in. Enter your network password then touch the green Sign In button.
  7. You will see messages about Authenticating then Connecting to VPN.
  8. You will be taken back to the main screen. The Connect button should now read Disconnect and you will have a Status icon to the right of that button. You can touch the Status button to get information about the connection.
  9. To end the session, touch the Disconnect button. You will see the message “Stopping VPN” and be taken back to the main screen.

 Troubleshooting VPN

Please see the Troubleshooting VPN page.

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