OpenVPN Installation Guide

For remote access to internal services hosted at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), we utilize the OpenVPN software. This software allows authenticated users to create an encrypted tunnel or Virtual Private Network (VPN) between their remote device and our campus. This has a dual purpose of protecting your traffic from malicious networks and gaining you secure access to campus resources. This access includes services like home directories, the Princeton University Library Gateway (PULIBGW), and more. This VPN is replacing our legacy Pulse Secure VPN, which will eventually be decommissioned.

Remote access requires the use of Multi-Factor Authentication. If you haven't set this up for your IAS account, please see our information page or contact the Computing Helpdesk for DuoSecurity before continuing.

This page links to installation guides for various devices and operating systems. Should you run into any trouble, please contact the Computing Helpdesk for more information.

Legacy Web Gateway Guide - contact your computing helpdesk for more information

Installation Guide

  1. In a web browser, visit openvpn.ias.edu.
  2. Log in with your IAS username and password, the website will then download the client.
  3. Open the client installer that was just downloaded.
  4. Once the installer finishes, click the OpenVPN icon that appears on your taskbar.
  5. Click Connect....
  6. Enter your IAS credentials and press Connect.
  7. After signing in, a warning message will pop up. Check Don't ask again and click Yes.
  8. You should now be connected to the VPN.

     

    • To disconnect from the VPN: Click on the OpenVPN icon and select Disconnect openvpn.ias.edu.

  1. Open a web browser and visit openvpn.ias.edu.
     

  2. Login with your IAS username and password, the website will then download the client.
  3. Open the client installer from Downloads.
  4. Open the OpenVPN Connect Installer.pkg file.
  5. The installer will open, follow the on-screen prompts to to proceed through the installation.
    • When prompted with a login box, enter your computer's administrator username & password to install the software.
  6. You will now see an OpenVPN icon in your taskbar, you can control the VPN from here.
    • To disconnect: Click the icon and then select Disconnect openvpn.ias.edu.
    • To connect:
      1. Click the icon and then select openvpn.ias.edu > Connect...
      2. You will be asked for your login credentials.
      3. When logged into the VPN, you'll see the orange icon in the taskbar with a green checkmark.

Command Line Configurations

  1. Open a terminal.
  2. Install the OpenVPN client. For RedHat-based systems (CentOS, Springdale Linux, Fedora), type sudo yum install openvpn.
  3. You will be asked to verify the download: type Y, and press Enter/Return.
  4. You will see a verification of the package you installed along with a message telling you the download is complete.
  5. In your browser, navigate to openvpn.ias.edu.
  6. Enter your IAS credentials and then press Go.
  7. Click on Yourself (user-locked profile) to download your OpenVPN profile. Make sure this download goes into your Download folder. This will be the default download location unless you have changed it.
  8. In your terminal type the following command (all Linux variants):
    sudo openvpn --config Downloads/client.ovpn --auth-retry interact
  9. You will be prompted to enter your IAS credentials, enter your credentials then press Enter to proceed. 
  10. Press CTRL-C to exit.
  11. You should also see your new IP address if you run ip addr or ifconfig in another terminal window.

Network Manager Configuration:

  1. Open a terminal and install the Network Manager plugins for OpenVPN and Gnome. For RedHat based system, type sudo yum install openvpn NetworkManager-openvpn NetworkManager-openvpn-gnome.
  2. You will be asked to allow the download,  type Y then press Enter/Return.
  3. When the installation is complete, you will see the packages you installed along with a verification that the download was completed.
  4. In your browser, navigate to openvpn.ias.edu.
  5. Enter your IAS credentials and press Go.
  6. Click Yourself (user-locked profile).
  7. At the top right of your desktop, click on the internet options symbol and then click Edit Connections....
  8. In the bottom-left of the pop-up window, click the + symbol to add a connection.
  9. In the Choose a Connection Type window, open the drop-down menu and select Import a saved VPN configuration... then press Create....
  10. In your file manager, navigate to your default download location (usually Downloads), and select the client.ovpn file.
  11. At the top of the new window, change the connection name to openvpn.ias.edu.
  12. Enter your IAS username in the Username box.
  13. Click on the question mark in the password box, check Ask for this password every time then click Save.
  14. In the Internet settings, under VPN Connections click on openvpn.ias.edu. It will ask you for your user credentials.
  1. Go to App Store and download the OpenVPN Connect app.
  2. Open a web browser and visit openvpn.ias.edu.
  3. Login with your IAS username and password and press Go.
  4. Scroll to the bottom and select Yourself (user-locked profile) to download the client.ovpn profile to your device.
  5. Open the OpenVPN app on your iPhone device
  6. Import Profile.

Note:  If your DUO device IS this iOS device, you will need to write down the passcode prior to importing the profile.   

  1. Enter the URL openvpn.ias.edu.
  2. Click Next.
  3. Type in your user credential and then select IMPORT.
  1. Open a web browser and visit openvpn.ias.edu.
  2. Login with your IAS username and password and press Go.
  3. Select OpenVPN Connect for iOS.
  4. When asked to Open in "App Store" press Open.
  5. Download the OpenVPN Connect app.
  6. Open the OpenVPN app.
  7. Under Enter Access Server hostname, type openvpn.ias.edu.
  8. You will be prompted to login again, enter your credentials and click Go.
  9. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and select Yourself (user-locked profile).
  10. Press the Open in 'OpenVPN' option.
  11. You will be brought back to the OpenVPN app. Under New Profiles Are Available, press the green + symbol next to your account.
  12. You will be asked if want to allow OpenVPN to add VPN Configurations, press Allow.
  13. Enter your password, select if you want the app to save your password and press Return.
  14. When asked if you want to allow OpenVPN to enable VPN connection, select Yes.
  15. You should see that you are connected to the VPN and VPN will appear on the top of your screen.
  1. Install the OpenVPN app from the Play Store.
  2. Input the URL for our VPN: https://openvpn.ias.edu.
  3. Enter your IAS username and your password, and hit Import.
  4. You will then be returned to the main screen of the OpenVPN app, listing your new profile. Click the profile, enter your password, and press OK.
  5. This will be followed by a Connection Request that you must approve the first time the VPN connects.
  6. You are now connected.

 

 

 

 

 

Pulse Secure Uninstall Guide

  1. Open the Start Menu, then type & open "Add or Remove Programs". 
  2. For Pulse Secure and all its related programs, go one by one selecting and then uninstalling.
  3. Reboot if necessary.
  1. Make sure that the Pulse Secure client is not running.
  2. If it is running, right click on the icon and choose Quit.
  3. Open Finder.
  4. Browse to Applications and select Pulse Secure.
  5. Drag Pulse Secure to the recycling bin. The system may ask you for the administrator password to continue.
  6. Click Yes to remove your Pulse Secure configuration.
  1.  Locate the home screen that contains the Pulse Secure App.
  2. Long press until you see little X's in the top left hand corner of each app and they are shaking. Click on the X on the Pulse Secure Icon.
  3. Confirm the removal of the app by clicking on Delete word.
  4. After the uninstallation is complete, your icons will still be shaking.
  5. Click the Home button to return to normal.

Once you have installed and tested the OpenVPN client, we recommend removing the old Pulse Secure application. Follow these steps to remove the client. Click to return to the main OpenVPN guide.

  1. Locate the Pulse Secure App in the launcher.
  2. Long click and drag Pulse Secure to the Uninstall option at the top of the screen and lift your finger.
  3. Confirm the deletion by selection "Ok".
  4. The application should now be uninstalled and gone from your launcher.

Profile Removal

  1. Ensure you are not connected to the VPN
  2. Remove the profile
  3. Confirm the removal

     

  1. Ensure you are not connected to the VPN
  2. Remove the profile
  3. Confirm the removal
  1. Open the OpenVPN app and click the right arrow to the right of the profile you wish to delete.
  2. Click on the word "Delete" in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
  3. Click the red circled minus sign on the left portion of the screen.
  4. Click the red highlighted word "Delete" on the right hand portion of the screen.
  5. Verify that the profile is no longer present.
  1. Open the OpenVPN app and click the right arrow to the right of the profile you wish to delete.
  2. Click on the "Delete Profile" button in the lower left hand corner of the screen.
  3. Confirm your choice to remove the profile.
  4. You will be returned to the import screen.
  5. You can click on the left arrow to return to the main screen in the application.