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VPN Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I access VMs in the Data Center?

Connect to a VPN first if you need one (see Where do I need to use the VPN?). Two VPNs reach the virtual machines in the Data Center:

Then follow these directions and use the vSphere Client, Remote Desktop or SSH to access your VM.

How do I login? What is my username and password?

  • For csconnect and the CS VPN (OpenVPN GUI or Tunnelblick), enter your network ID without “students" at the beginning.
  • For the SEAS VPN (Cisco AnyConnect), select the students group and enter your network ID.

In both cases, sign in with your Hofstra portal password. For more information, please see Remote Access to Labs.

What do I do with the file downloaded from csconnect?

Once you have downloaded the .zip file, you must use a program such as 7-Zip or WinRAR to extract its contents. On Linux, run the command unzip profile.zip to extract it. Once extracted, you need to open the .ovpn file with the VPN client or move it into the correct folder. If you haven’t already done so, first install the appropriate OpenVPN client software.

  • For the OpenVPN GUI on Windows, move the .ovpn file into the directory C:\Program Files\OpenVPN\config.
  • For the OpenVPN Desktop Client on Windows, double-click the .ovpn file to import the profile.
  • On Linux, run the command: sudo mv profile.ovpn /etc/openvpn/client.conf.
  • On Mac OS X, double-click the .ovpn file to open it with Tunnelblick.

Where do I need to use the VPN?

You do not need a VPN to reach the virtual machines from the Computer Science lab computers in the Science and Innovation Center, the Adams 208 Amphitheater, or C.V. Starr 108. From other campus labs (including the Open Access Labs and VDI labs) and from off campus, connect to the SEAS VPN or the CS VPN first. On the campus Wi-Fi (eduroam), the vSphere Client works without a VPN; the other ways of connecting need one. The Virtual Machine FAQ has the details.

Who can use the VPN and how do I get access?

If you are not sure which VPN you can use, ask the ITS Service Desk ([email protected]). To set up a VPN, see:

The main campus VPN (HUVPN) is for faculty and staff only. To request access to this VPN, fill out and submit the VPN Access Request Form in the IT self-service portal.

Help! I can’t get the VPN to work.

Please see the tips on the following pages:

How do the VPNs relate to each other?

The CS VPN, the SEAS VPN and HUVPN are separate services. Connect to only one of them at a time; do not use the OpenVPN client together with the Cisco AnyConnect client.

See also