8/10/2019 Manual VPN Mac OS
1/4
UNIVERSITY OFAMSTERDAM
Central Computer
Services___________________________________________________________________________
Introduction to VPNVPN (Virtual Private Network) allows users to
establish a secure, private connectionvia the public, hostile
internet, ensuring the safety of a private connection without
the
associated costs.
The technology behind VPN is relatively simple. Network
protocols (and TCP/IP isno exception) divide traffic into small,
easy-to-process chunks, known as packages.These packages normally
travel through the network autonomously, moving fromrouter to
router. Any prying eyes along the way can see the package and open
its contents, much the same as a letter sent by regular mail.
Within the logic of this comparison, VPN is the sealed envelope.
No one can see
through the envelope, which can only be opened by the
addressee.
VPN uses the same method of packaging, but transmits the data in
encrypted ratherthan open format, sending the entire package to the
VPN gateway. This gatewaythen deletes the surrounding package (the
envelope), decrypts its contents and
transmits them. Data traffic in the opposite direction is
processed in the same way.
Straightforward in conceptual terms. The complexity lies in the
actual implementation:
Traffic must be routed via the VPN gateway rather than
directly.To this end, the VPN gateway issues the computer with a
special network
address, with both systems working to ensure that traffic is
routed via thispathway.
As the contents of the data packages must be encrypted, both
parties musthave an encryption system and the relevant keys that
are not accessible to anyeavesdroppers.
The combination between a VPN gateway (central network
equipment) and VPN
software (installed on the client system in the unsafe network)
resolves bothproblems.
The rest of this manual describes the procedure for installing
and using the VPNfacility on an Apple Macintosh (OS X and
higher).
8/10/2019 Manual VPN Mac OS
2/4
UNIVERSITY OFAMSTERDAM
Central Computer Services
___________________________________________________________________________
Installation and configuration in MacOS XThe CISCO VPN client is
downloadable as a zip archive. Use StuffitExpander to extract the
installer application.
Start up the installer to be guided through the entire
installation process.First, you will be prompted to enter the
Administrator password
Click on the lock, and enter the administrator password. The
system will now
prompt you to specify where you want to install a number of
softwarecomponents:
8/10/2019 Manual VPN Mac OS
3/4
UNIVERSITY OFAMSTERDAM
Central Computer
Services___________________________________________________________________________
Once the installation has been completed, you will have to
configure the system
according to UvA specifications. Start up the VPN application. A
window resemblingthe below example will now appear:
Create a new Connection Entryand click on the New icon:
Fill in these fields:
Please note: these values do not match those in the above
example!
Connection Entry UvA-VPN
Description VPN via vpn.uva.nl
Host vpn.uva.nl
Group Authentication Select Group (not Certificate)
Name ipsec
Password ipsec (appears as asterisks)
Confirm Password ipsec
