Oberlin College provides VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. When your computer is connected to the Oberlin College VPN, all of your network traffic comes back to Oberlin College through a type of secure network "tunnel". The Oberlin College VPN is needed when accessing College network resources from off-campus, and when utilizing any (especially, secure or critical) network resources while on-campus using wireless connectivity .

It is extremely important to note that wireless network traffic is very insecure and should almost always be protected by using VPN. For example, we had a report of an individual using wireless at an Internet cafe (coffee house), ordering items online, who subsequently discovered his credit card information had been stolen.

The Oberlin College VPN is used as a bridge to connect you into the Oberlin Campus network and should be used for cases such as those described below. (Note: You do not need to use VPN all the time. When you are on-campus and connected via a wired connection, you do not need to use VPN.)

Use VPN:

• Wireless and On-Campus: When you are using wireless while on campus and you need to use Oberlin College network resources such as Oberlin College printers, Banner, and Library Research Databases, or you are transmitting data that should remain secure (credit card info, bank account info, etc.).

• Wired/Wireless and Off-Campus: When you are off-campus and need to get into the Oberlin College network and access resources such as the Oberlin College Library Databases, Banner, or other Oberlin College servers.

VPN is not a service to provide Internet access. You will still need to use your own personal Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as Cable Co-op or DSL to access the Internet. VPN will then provide you the access into Oberlin College network resources (servers, etc.).

Click below to download the VPN software and instructions: (You must download this software while you are on the campus network.)

• After installing VPN, you should connect to the Internet with your local ISP as you normally do.
• Then, to start using VPN:
  • on a Windows computer, click on the Start Button on the left bottom corner of your computer screen,
    select the Programs button, then click on the Cisco VPN option;
  • on a Macintosh, open the VPNClient application in the Applications folder
• Log into the VPN client using your Oberlin College email user name and current password.

When on campus, your wireless card will automatically detect the Oberlin College Wireless Access Points and provide you with access to the Internet. You only need to start and log into VPN if you need to access Oberlin College network resources such as printers and Oberlin College Library Databases. Note that your wireless connection will be more secure for all things if you use VPN.

For the latest information on Oberlin's VPN and troubleshooting information, search for VPN on the CIT Wiki (http://citwiki.oberlin.edu).