VPN: Connecting to VPN at Start Up

Audience

Employees

Question

How do I connect to VPN at the start up screen?

Answer

If your computer is configured to connect to VPN before you login to it, all the necessary group policies will load your mapped network drives, etc. If you have DirectAccess set up on your machine these instructions will not work for you. You will need to refer to “How to disconnect from DirectAccess to connect to VPN to use ISRS”

  1. Before you sign into your computer click on the wireless icon in the lower right corner of the screen to verify that you are connected to your home network.

Start up screen

 

  • If you are unable to connect to your home wireless network at this screen, sign-in to the computer as you normally would, then connect to your home wireless network and sign out. Then start at step 1 again.
  • If you have DirectAccess listed at the top of your wireless network lists then you have DirectAccess turned on for this computer and these instructions will not work for you. Please refer to “How to disconnect from DirectAccess to connect to VPN to use ISRS“

2. Then click the icon in the lower right corner of the screen of the two computer screens to start VPN.

Start up screen to connect to VPN

3.  At the “Ready to connect screen” click Connect.

Connect to VPN at start up

  • If the drop down box does not say BSU-NTC-VPN and it is blank, please type in the following: vpn2.bemidjistate.edu and click Connect.

4. When prompted for your username/password you should enter, or select the following:

  • Group: BSU-StarID (for BSU)
  • Group: NTC-StarID (for NTC)
  • Username: StarID@bemidjistate.edu (for BSU)
  • Username: StarID@ntcmn.edu (for NTC)
  • Password: Enter your StarID password (for both BSU and NTC)

VPN login

 

5. You will then see an indication that the computer is connecting.

6. You will then be brought back to the regular login screen. There will be an additional icon in the lower right corner indicating you are now connected via VPN. Now sign-in to the computer as you normally would, entering your StarID password.

Connected to VPN at start up

7. When the computer logs in, and you are at your desktop screen, in the lower right corner of the screen in the system tray you should now have the Cisco VPN icon with a lock on it indicating you are connected. When you are disconnected the icon in the system tray does not have the lock visable.

8. Since we are limited to only a certain number of VPN licenses, when you are finished and no longer need to be connected to VPN, please disconnect from your VPN session. To do this, click on the Cisco VPN icon in the system tray and click on the Disconnect button. The Disconnect button will then turn into a Connect button which you can then click on if you need to reconnect at a later time.

If you have any questions or problems getting connected to VPN, or you do not have VPN loaded on your machine, please contact the Help Desk at 218-755-3777 or submit a ticket at https://bemidjistate.edu/go/help

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