About Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
From wikipedia: A virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network, and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. Applications running across a VPN may therefore benefit from the functionality, security, and management of the private network. Encryption is a common though not an inherent part of a VPN connection.
How to sign into the UA VPN
Okta Verify two-factor authentication is required to access the VPN.
When you connect to the campus VPN, you will be prompted for your username (mybamausername@ua.edu OR mybamausername@crimson.ua.edu), password and second password. In the second password field, you can enter the word “push” to receive a push notification to your smartphone, you can enter “phone” to receive a phone call, or you can enter a passcode. Additional instructions for using Okta Verify with VPN is available above under each operating system.
Usage requiring VPN connections
- All remote desktop access (RDP) from off-campus
- Access to campus license servers for UA licensed software
- Access to UA network drives (not including Box)
How to request VPN access
- Active faculty & staff have it by default
- Students and third-parties (vendors, consultants, research partners) need to get faculty to request approval of department head. Then department secretary can request via this web form:
https://ua-app01.ua.edu/vpnAccessRequestForm/public/vpnForm
Here’s a PDF with the steps to complete the web form:
Accessing the VPN
Accessing the UA VPN requires use of the Cisco AnyConnect application which can be found in the Tech tab of myBama.
Access is limited to:
- active faculty and staff
- students enrolled in a VPN-enabled course
- students with approval of a department head or Dean
- third-party vendors, contractors, or collaborators with OIT approval
Connecting the VPN via Linux terminal VPN
- Install the “openconnect” package by whatever method that would be done on the end user’s distro. On SUSE/openSUSE that would be done with “zypper install openconnect”
- Once that is installed, open a terminal.
- If running as root, or if you have already switched to root: openconnect –authgroup=oitadmin uavpn.ua.edu Enter LDAP username Enter password At the second password prompt, enter “push” for Okta.
- If as a regular user: sudo openconnect –authgroup=oitadmin uavpn.ua.edu Enter local password to sudo Enter LDAP username Enter password At the second password prompt, enter “push” for Okta.