VPN for Windows Vista

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 Windows Vista

1. Click here to download the vista-vpn.exe client software. When prompted, select Save to save it to your hard drive.
2. When the download completes, select Run (or Open). If you are not prompted to Run or Open, find the folder where you saved the download and double-click on the vista-vpn.exe icon, selecting Run to start the install.
3. If you see a Security Warning window listing Name: vista-vpn.exe, select Run.
4. If prompted by WinZip Self-Extractor, select Yes to continue. If not, skip to Step 12 below.
5. Before unzipping the files, change the Unzip to folder path by clicking on the Browse button.

   

6. In the Browse for Folder window that appears, select your Desktop. You may need to use the scroll bar on the right of the window to browse up to view it in the list. Click on the OK button after you have selected the Desktop.

   

7. The Unzip to folder path should now end in your Desktop. Click once after the word Desktop in this field to insert your cursor and type in \vpn. This will create a vpn folder on your desktop that will hold all of the unzipped VPN files.

   

8. Select the Unzip button to extract the VPN files. If the Cisco Release Notes appear, close them by selecting the X in the upper right corner of the notes window.
9. Open the vpn folder that is now on your Desktop. Double-click on the vpnclient-win-msi file.

   

10. Before unzipping again, select the Browse button and find the vpn folder you created. You may need to scroll to the bottom of the Browse for Folder window.
11. Select the OK button, and then Unzip after verifying that the Unzip to folder field now ends in Desktop\vpn. The Cisco VPN Client installation will begin.
    NOTE: After you have installed VPN and used it successfully, you can delete the vpn folder and its contents from your desktop.
12. At the Welcome window, select Next to continue.
    
    
    
    
    
13. At the next window, change the radio dial to I accept the license agreement and click the Next button to continue.
    
    
    
    
    
14. Select Next at the Destination Folder window to accept the default location.
15. The Cisco Setup will install, and prompt when finished. In Click on the Finish button to complete the VPN installation.
    
    
    
    
    
16. At the end of the installation you must restart your computer. Please select the Yes button when the Cisco VPN installer has finished. Your computer will reboot (if not automatically, select Start - Turn Off - Restart), and the installation will be complete.

    

1. Select VPN Client from your Start menu. If it doesn't appear in the initial Start menu, select All Programs - Cisco Systems VPN Client - VPN Client.

   

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.

Connecting to VPN

1. If not already open, start the Cisco VPN program from Start - All Programs - Cisco Systems VPN Client - VPN Client.
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.