Before connecting to the AU VPN, you should understand that all of your internet traffic will be routed through the VPN. When you first connect, this will cause some applications to briefly hang, or log out and restart. For example, if you were using Lotus Notes and you connected to the VPN, it will take your computer a few minutes to route your Notes traffic through the VPN. During that time, you may find that Notes is not responsive. Also, if you are logged into an instant messenger program, you will be logged out and have to log back in again.

Logging into AU's VPN Service

1. Go to vpn.american.edu and log in using your myAU.american.edu USERNAME and PASSWORD.
2. The first time you log into the VPN, your web browser will ask you if you want to allow the Juniper Networks application to be installed. Check the box that says "Remember this decision" and then click ALLOW. You will then be logged into the SSL VPN.
3. Then, you will be prompted with the Network Connect screen as shown below.
   
4. Click the START button.
5. You may be prompted to download or update the Java Runtime Environment plug-in, but the following steps will not be required each time that you connect to the VPN service.
   • If prompted with a security warning for an application published by Juniper Networks, Inc., check the box to "always trust content from this publisher". Then, click RUN.
   • If your computer does not have the Java Runtime Environment plug-in installed, you will have to click on the green puzzle piece as shown below to download the plugin.
     
   • The Plugin Finder Service should find the Java Runtime Environment. Click NEXT to install.
   • On the License Agreement screen that will appear, select TYPICAL SETUP. Then, click the ACCEPT button.
   • After the installation completes, click the FINISH button.
   • You will now need to close Firefox and reopen it for the VPN to work normally.
6. Once the Network Connect has run successfully, a small window will pop up to show you the status of the connection and your AU IP address (which will always start with 147.9.). You will also see a gold lock in the system tray in the lower right corner of your computer screen indicating that you are connected. Now, you can run restricted applications securely.
   
7. Click on the lock icon in the system tray to Sign Out and disconnect from the VPN, when you are finished.
8. We recommend adding a shortcut to the Network Connect VPN launcher to your desktop. To do so, click on your START menu, select ALL PROGRAMS or PROGRAMS, select the JUNIPER NETWORKS folder, select the NETWORK CONNECT folder, and finally right click on the NETWORK CONNECT icon and choose SEND TO > DESKTOP (CREATE SHORTCUT). 
9. Next time you need to access the VPN, you can double click the Network Connect desktop shortcut, enter your credentials, and log in.

Mapping Your AU Network Drives

1. Once you are connected to AU's VPN service, you can right-click on the red 'N' icon in the system tray in the lower right corner of your screen. Then, select NOVELL LOGIN from the pop-up menu to bring up a Novell login prompt.
2. Enter your myAU.american.edu USERNAME and PASSWORD.
3. If prompted, press any key to continue. Your AU network drives (G, I, etc.) should now show up in the My Computer window just as they do on campus.
   

Note for personal computers: if you do not have the Novell client installed on your personal computer, there will not be a red 'N' icon by the clock. You can download the client by going to the myAU.american.edu web portal. Then, click TECHNOLOGY, DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE, and NOVELL NETWARE CLIENTS. Download and run the appropriate file for your operating system. You will need to restart your computer, and then check the box for WORKSTATION ONLY.