VPN for Mac OS X

Please see our main VPN page for general information regarding the program and its uses.

NOTE: These installations are for West Campus only. To use them, your primary affiliation must be with the Columbia University Medical Center. If your primary affiliation is with New York-Presbyterian Hospital, please go to http://infonet.nyp.org/technology/ or call extension 4-Help for assistance.

Installing VPN on Mac OS X

1. To download the VPN software, select the appropriate link for your computer's OS version:
   • Mac OS 10.4 and later
   • Mac OS 10.2 to 10.3.9
   Save the download to a preferred location on your computer. If it doesn't automatically show up as a drive after download, browse to the place where you saved it and double-click to open. The file should appear as a CiscoVPNClient drive on your Mac.
   
   
2. Select the drive and double-click on the CiscoVPNClient.mpkg icon to start the installation.
   
   
   
   
   
3. At the Welcome screen, select Continue. If you see a window warning you that the package contains a program that will determine if software can be installed, select Continue there as well.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Select Continue and then Agree at the Software License Agreement window.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Select your Mac's Hard Drive as the Volume to install VPN, and Continue.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Select Install to install VPN.
   NOTE: If you had a previous version of VPN on the computer, you will be prompted to Upgrade rather than Install.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Type in your Mac's administrative Name and Password to continue the install, and select OK.
   
   
8. The install will progress, and display the message "The software was successfully installed" when it is finished. Select Close.
   
   
   
   
   
9. You must restart your computer after the install before you will be able to use VPN successfully. Close any open programs and select the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your computer screen, then Restart.

1. Select VPNClient from the Applications folder (Go - Applications from the Mac's top menu).
2. The Connection Entries window for VPN will appear, but will not have any entries listed. Select the New icon at the top of the VPN window to create an entry.

   

3. In the Create New VPN Connection Entry window that appears, type in the entry settings.
   Click here for the full Connection Entry settings, including the Group Authentication Password.
   NOTE: accessing the entry settings requires UNI login.

   

4. Select the Save button at the bottom of the Connection Entry window to save the settings. They will now appear as Connection Entries in the VPN window.

1. Double-click on the VPNClient icon in your Applications folder to start VPN, if it is not already open.
2. Select your desired Connection and double-click on the Connect button.
   
   • To connect to the Rome wireless network on campus, select West Campus Wireless.
     Your computer's wireless card must already be connected to Rome in order for VPN to work.
   • To connect from off site, select West Campus Remote Access.
     You must already be connected to the Internet in order for the connection to work.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Enter your Columbia UNI and Password (if you have an NYP NetID, this will work as well). Then select OK.
   
   
   
   
   
4. At the next pop up window, select Continue; you are now securely connected with VPN.
   
   
   

1. Open the VPN client window again, as in step 1 of Connecting to VPN above.
2. Double-click on the Disconnect icon in the upper left corner of the VPN window. After a moment, the status of the client will read Not Connected. You can then close VPN.