Virtual private network (VPN)

Access secured resources on the uOttawa network.

Installation and connection guides

student using a laptop and holding a mobile device in hand

Overview

VPN is not required for common applications such as email, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Brightspace, Adobe Connect, etc.

The University VPN (AnyConnect) is only required if you need to: 

  • access one of these applications
  • use Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) 
  • enable a Remote Desktop connection (RDC) 
  • access secured resources at uOttawa (employees only)
  • access file shares 
  • access applications such as uoCampus, Workday, etc.

Who can access the VPN?

  • All uOttawa employees can access the VPN using their uoAccess credentials. 
  • Graduate students can access the VPN using their uoAccess credentials and the server name/address: uovpn.uottawa.ca/students

MFA must be activated in your account: 

  • you will need to verify your identity before connecting to the University network through the VPN client 
  • on the MFA notification on your smartphone, click Approve or enter the input code displayed on your hardware token to proceed.

Installing the AnyConnect App for Windows 10

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app. (One way you can do this is by opening the Start menu, typing sto in the search bar, then selecting Microsoft Store.)

  2. In the Microsoft store app, click the search icon (magnifying glass) near the top right of the window. Type AnyConnect. Click AnyConnect from the search results below.

  3. Click Get.

  4. Click Install to start the download and installation of the AnyConnect app. 

  5. Once the installation is complete, click Launch button to open the AnyConnect app.

  6. Click the Manage VPN option.

  7. This will bring you to a Windows System settings screen. Click Add a VPN connection.

  8. On the next screen, select the following options:

    1. VPN provider: choose the AnyConnect option

    2. Connection name: type uOttawa

    3. Server name or address:
      Graduate students: https://uovpn.uottawa.ca/students
      Employees: https://uovpn.uottawa.ca/uottawa

    4. Click the Save button.

Connecting to the uOttawa VPN client

  1. Open VPN settings. (One way you can do this is by accessing the Start menu, typing vpn in the search bar, then clicking VPN settings. 

  2. Click uOttawa. Click Connect.

  3. Enter your uoAccess username and password. Click Next.

  4. A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpage for detailed authentication steps. 

Disconnecting from the uOttawa VPN client

  1. Open VPN settings. (One way you can do this is by accessing the Start menu, typing vpn in the search bar, then clicking VPN settings. 
  2. Click uOttawa then click Disconnect.

Installation and connection to the VPN client for Windows

Download the Windows VPN client using your uoAccess credentials (e.g., [email protected]).

Note that if you already have AnyConnect installed, you only have to change the current profile to uovpn.uottawa.ca/students (for graduate students) or uovpn.uottawa.ca/uottawa (for employees). see below.

Launch the VPN client. When prompted to allow the installation, select Yes. Click Continue and then Exit once the installation is completed.

Connecting to the VPN client

  1. Launch the VPN client (Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client) by clicking on the AnyConnect icon from the Windows Taskbar or from the Windows Start Menu.

  2. The VPN client window will appear. Manually enter uovpn.uottawa.ca/students (for graduate students) or uovpn.uottawa.ca/uottawa (for employees)as the server address. Click Connect.

  3. In the window displayed on the screen, enter your uoAccess credentials and click OK.

    A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpagefor detailed authentication steps.

  4. A welcome message will appear when the VPN connection is successfully activated. Click Accept.

Disconnecting from the uOttawa VPN client

In the Windows Taskbar, click the AnyConnect icon and select Disconnect.

TIP: changing the VPN client language

The Cisco AnyConnect client displays messages according to the language in the Windows Locale setting. Note that this setting is different from the Windows Display Language setting.

  1. Windows 7: Go to Control Panel and access the Region and Language option.

    Windows 8 or 10: Go to Control Panel and access the Region option.

  2. Select the Administrative tab. Click Change Regional Settings.

  3. In the drop-down list, choose English (Canada) or French (Canada), depending on your preference.

  4. Click OK to close the windows.

Installation and connection to the VPN client for macOS

If you already have the VPN client installed on your device, skip to Connecting to the VPN client.

  1. Download the VPN client for Mac using your uoAccess credentials (e.g., [email protected]).

  2. Once your download is complete, open your Downloads folder. Select the AnyConnect installer package (.pkg file).

  3. Click Continue.

  4. If a message is displayed that the certificate has expired, ignore it, and click Continue.

  5. Click Agree and then Install.

  6. Enter the password for your computer to allow the installation and then click Install Software.

  7. Click Close when the installation is complete.

  8. Click Move to Trash.

If you are running macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or higher, you may see a prompt asking you to enable the Cisco AnyConnect System Extension. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Click Open Preferences.

  2. The Security & Privacy section of the System Preferences window will be displayed. Click Allow and then close System Preferences.

Connecting to the VPN client

  1. In Finder, Open the Applications folder, followed by the Cisco subfolder, and then the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client item.

  2. To configure the client, manually enter the server address (below) and click Connect.

  • Graduate students: uovpn.uottawa.ca/students

  • Employees: uovpn.uottawa.ca/uottawa

Login using your uoAccess credentials. A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpage for detailed authentication steps.

When the VPN connection is successfully activated, a welcome message will appear. Click Accept.

The AnyConnect icon, with a lock superimposed, is displayed in the menu bar at the top of the screen. This indicates that the VPN connection is active.

Disconnecting from the VPN client

In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click the AnyConnect icon. Select Disconnect in the drop-down menu.

Installation and connection to the VPN client on Android

  1. Search AnyConnect in Google Play. Tap Install.

  2. Once the app is installed, tap OPEN.

  3. Tap OK to accept the license agreement.

  4. In the main AnyConnect screen, tap Connection.

  5. Tap Add New VPN Connection.

  6. In the AnyConnect screen

    • Enter the description of your choice (uOttawa is recommended).

    • Tap Server Address, then enter

      • Graduate students: uovpn.uottawa.ca/students

      • Employees: uovpn.uottawa.ca/uottawa 

    • Tap Done.

    • Tap the Android system Back button (usually located at the bottom-left of the screen).

  7. Beside AnyConnect VPN, tap the switch control to turn the connection to ON.

  8. A credentials screen will appear. Tap the USERNAME and PASSWORD text entry fields and enter your uoAccess credentials. Tap Connect. A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpage for detailed authentication steps.

  9. When the VPN connection is successfully activated, a welcome message will appear. Tap Accept.

  10. A Connection Request will appear, tap OK.

  11. Tap the switch control one more time to deactivate the VPN connection.

Connecting to the VPN Client

Open the AnyConnect app, by tapping the app icon in the Android Launcher screen.

  1. Turn ON the AnyConnect VPN.

  2. Tap Continue on the security warning displayed.

  3. A credentials screen will appear. Tap the USERNAME and PASSWORD text entry fields and enter your uoAccess credentials. Tap Connect. A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpage for detailed authentication steps.

  4. When the VPN connection is successfully activated, a welcome message will appear. Tap Accept.

  5. The switch control will now be in the On position, indicating that the VPN connection is active

  6. A key icon will appear in the Android Notification Area, as long as the VPN connection is active. You may close the AnyConnect app if you wish. The VPN connection will remain active in the background.

Disconnecting from the VPN client

Open the AnyConnect app by tapping the app icon in the Android Launcher screen.

Tap the AnyConnect VPN switch control to deactivate the VPN client. The switch control will now be in the OFF position, indicating that the VPN connection is not active.

Install and connect to the VPN client for iOS

  1. Open the App Store on your device and search for Cisco AnyConnect.
  2. Tap Get to install the app on your device.
  3. Once the AnyConnect app is installed, tap Open.
  4. Tap Allow to permit AnyConnect to send you notifications about a change in connection.
  5. On the main AnyConnect screen, tap Connections, and then Add VPN Connection.
  6. In the credentials screen, enter a description of your choice (uOttawa is recommended).
  7. Tap Server Address and enter uovpn.uottawa.ca/students (for graduate students) or uovpn.uottawa.ca/uottawa (for employees). Tap Save.
  8. Tap Allow on the pop-up window to allow the connection.
  9. The setting window will be displayed. You will be prompted to enter your device passcode, your Apple ID password, Touch ID or Face ID to confirm the installation. Once the profile is added, switch back to the AnyConnect app.
  10. In AnyConnect VPN, tap the switch control to turn the connection ON. A login window will be displayed.
  11. Login with your uoAccess credentials and tap Connect. A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpagefor detailed authentication steps.
  12. When the VPN connection is successfully activated, you will see a welcome message. Tap Accept.

Connecting to the VPN client

  1. Tap the icon to open the AnyConnect app.      
  2. Tap the AnyConnect VPN switch control to turn it ON.
  3. Re-login with your uoAccess credentials if required. A Microsoft Authenticator prompt will appear, enter your @uOttawa email address. Visit the MFA webpage for detailed authentication steps.
  4. When the VPN connection is successfully activated, you will see a welcome message. Tap Accept.
  5. The switch control will now be in the On position, indicating that the VPN connection is active.
  6. An active VPN connection is also indicated in the top left corner.

Disconnecting from the VPN client

  1. Tap to open the AnyConnect app.
  2. Tap the switch control to deactivate the VPN client.
  3. The switch control will now be in the OFF position, indicating that the VPN connection is not active.

Installation and connection to the VPN client for Linux

To install and connect to the VPN client, follow these instructions: 

Tested on Ubuntu 18.04, 16.04

  1. sudo apt-get install lib32z1 lib32ncurses5 libpangox-1.0-0
  2. Download client
  3. tar xzvf vpnclient-linux.tar.gz
  4. cd anyconnect-linux64-4.6.03049/vpn
  5. sudo ./vpn_install.sh
  6. /opt/cisco/anyconnect/bin/vpnui
  7. To connect use your uoAccess credentials. After you run it once, the icon will appear in the "start menu"

For Linux support, contact your IT Representative.