Website Contact:
Network Engineering & Technology
George Mason University
Thompson Hall, Mailstop 1B5
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax VA, 2030-4444

Phone: (703) 993-9045
Fax: (703) 993-3505

Page Updated: October 25, 2007

George Mason University SSL VPN Technology

Access via Network Connect Client

Purpose

This document provides instructions for accessing the George Mason University SSL VPN Technology web site and installing the Network Connect client software.  These technologies allow remote users to establish secure, encrypted communications with the George Mason University networks and systems.  The documentation reflects the currently implemented technologies and is subject to change as the project matures.

Procedures

• Accessing and authenticating with the SSL VPN gateway
• Installing and launching Network Connect client

1. Open a web browser
• See Appendix A for a list of currently supported software, including Java Virtual Machine requirements.

2. Navigate to ‘https://sslvpn01.gmu.edu/telework’

 

    

3. Authenticate using your email/MEMO username and password
• Dialog boxes may appear asking to install or run software.  They should be created or signed by Juniper Networks.  Click ‘OK’ or ‘Yes’ to accept the software.

 

4. After successful login, a ‘Cache Cleaner’ component will download and install.
5. The initial portal/dashboard page will then appear.

• Currently, the ‘Network Connect’ component is available.  This allows client computers to connect to the GMU networks as if they were on campus.

 

6. Click the Network Connect ‘Start’ button to download and initialize the Network Connect client.

• Several dialog boxes will appear during the download and installation.  There may be warnings regarding the SSL certificate not matching the IP address.  This is because the gateway is currently using a test certificate provided by the vendor.

 

7. Network Connect will establish a connection with the VPN gateway.  A GMU IP address will be assigned to the client computer once the VPN connection is complete.

• Except for communication with the client computer’s local network, all network communication from the client computer will use the SSL VPN once the Network Connect session is established.
• You can click on the ‘Hide’ button to minimize the dialog box to the Taskbar
• You can minimize or close the web browser that was used to launch Network Connect once the session is established.

 

8. After Network Connect has successfully established a session an icon will appear in the Taskbar.  The icon looks like a lock, as shown on the far left.

 

9. To disconnect from the Network Connect session, right click on the icon in the Taskbar and select ‘Sign Out’ from the menu.

10. Alternatively, if the SSL VPN portal/dashboard page is still open, you can click on the ‘Sign Out’ button to close the session.

 

11. After the session has closed, an icon will appear in the Taskbar indicating that Network Connect is not connected, as shown on the far left.

 

 

Questions related to the SSL VPN Technology should be directed to Network Security (nseng@gmu.edu). If you have an issue with the VPN, please contact the Support Center (support@gmu.edu or 3-8870) and have a ticket opened.

 

 

Appendix A

Minimum Supported software

• Operating Sytems
• Windows 2000
• Windows XP SP2

 

* Apple Mac OS X and Linux will be supported in a future release

 

• Web browsers
• Internet Explorer 6.0
• Firefox 1.5.0.4
• Mozilla 1.6

 

• Java
• Sun Java Virtual Machine (JVM) 1.5.0

See, http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp