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 may indicate that Internet Explorer has blocked a pop-up window. Click OK to close the Information Bar alert message. 
3. Click on the yellow INFORMATION BAR beneath the Web Address.
4. Select the option to INSTALL ACTIVEX CONTROL.
   
5. Click the INSTALL button to confirm that you want to install the ActiveX control.
6. Click the START button from the NETWORK CONNECT screen.
7. 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.
   
8. Click on the lock icon in the system tray to Sign Out and disconnect from the VPN, when you are finished.
9. 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).
10. 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.