Accessing the Rutgers VPN via OS X's built-in VPN client	Printer Friendly
Computing Services Information Document	Apple/Mac OS

General Information

This web page contains information on configuring the built-in Cisco VPN client included in Macintosh OS X v10.6.x (Snow Leopard) or above. Users of older versions of Mac OS X should consider upgrading to a newer version of Mac OS X and/or utilize the instructions for older versions of Mac OS X.
Windows users should utilize the Windows instructions.

VPN software allows off-campus computers to appear as if they are on-campus, which is a requirement for accessing certain online university resources.
Some important notes regarding the Rutgers VPN are as follows:

• Only one simultaneous logon is permitted. Therefore, only one connection per user is permitted.
• There is a 10-hour absolute limit and a 4 hour idle timeout on all VPN connections.
• When a connection is established with the Rutgers VPN, a new IP address in the Rutgers private address space will be assigned to your system. All data communications will go through the Rutgers VPN connection. Therefore, please disconnect when Rutgers-specific work is complete.

Adding and Configuring a VPN Connection

1. Open System Preferences and click on the Network icon.

2. Click on the + (plus) sign button under the list of connection types (including AirPort, Ethernet, etc.).
3. In the window that drops down, enter the following settings:
   1. Select VPN from the "Interface:" drop-down menu.
   2. Select Cisco IPSec from the "VPN Type:" drop-down menu.
   3. Enter Rutgers VPN in the "Service Name:" field.

4. Click the Create button.
5. In the VPN setup area, enter the following settings:
   1. Enter vpn.rutgers.edu in the "Server Address:" field.
   2. Enter your personal NetID (all lowercase, i.e., netid) in the "Account Name:" field.
   3. Check the Show VPN status in menu bar box (near the bottom of the window).
   4. The "Password:" field is optional.

6. Click the Authentication Settings... button.
7. In the drop-down window that appears, enter the following settings:
   1. Select the Shared Secret option.
   2. Enter rutgers in the "Shared Secret:" field.
   3. Enter rutgers-ipsec in the "Group Name:" field.

8. Click the OK button.
9. To connect to the Rutgers VPN, click the "Connect" button in the setup area -OR- click on the VPN icon () in the menu bar and select Connect Rutgers VPN.

10. If the password was left blank in step #5, you will be prompted to enter a password.

11. The VPN icon in the menu bar now shows the connection time ().
12. To disconnect, click on the VPN icon in the menu bar and select Disconnect Rutgers VPN.

Questions/Comments/Concerns

If you have any difficulty with any of the above, please contact help@camden.rutgers.edu for more information.