Configuring the Birkbeck VPN for Windows Vista

Please ensure that you have read the background information about the VPN service and configuring your computer.

Create a New Connection

Screen shot showing, Windows button, all programs, and control panel highlighted

Screen shot of contents of control panel with "Network and Sharing Centre" highlighted

In Networking and Sharing Centre select ‘Set up a connection or network’

Network and Sharing centre screen shot with "set up a connection or network" highlighted

Select ‘Connect to a workplace’

Screen shot of Setup a connection or network window, with "Connect to workplace" highlighted

Select ‘Use my Internet connection (VPN)’

Screen shot of "Connect to a workplace" with "Use my Internet Connection (VPN)" highlighted.

Enter 193.61.20.50 for the Internet Address, give the connection a sensible name (e.g. Birkbeck College VPN connection), and make sure that ‘Don’t connect now….’ is ticked, then click next:

Screen shot showing the "connect to a workplace" screen with Birkbeck details entered

Enter your CCS username and password, make sure the domain is set to ‘CCSACADEMIC’, and tick ‘Remember this password’ if you wish, then click create:

Screenshot illustrating "Connect to a workplace" and the username and password information

You’ll then be told that ‘The connection is ready to use’, but it isn’t, we still have to make some changes, so click close:

Screenshot of "Connect to a workplace" final screen

Back in the Network and Sharing Centre select ‘Manage network connections’:

Screenshot of Network and Sharing Centre with "Manage network connections" highlighted

Right-click on the VPN connection we just setup and select ‘Properties’:

Screen shot show the results of right clicking on the connection, with "properties" highlighted.

Select the ‘Security’ tab, select ‘Advanced (custom settings)’ then click settings:

Screen shot of VPN Properties, with "Security" highlighted

Set Data Encryption to ‘Maximum Strength…” and make sure that MS-CHAP v2 is selected (it should be by default), click OK:

Screen shot of VPN Properties Advanced security settings, with Maximium strength encryption highlighted

Back in the Connection Properties, select the Networking tab and untick File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks:

Screenshot of the VPN Properties, Networking Tab

Then click OK to close the Connection Properties:

Screenshot of VPN properties "general" tab

The VPN connection is now configured. To start the connection just click on the Icon, or right-click and select ‘Connect’:

Screenshot indicating the connect button for the VPN service

Then click ‘Connect’ again:

Screenshot of the Connect Birkbeck VPN opening screen

You’ll see a couple of dialog boxes saying ’Checking username and password…’ and ‘Registering you computer on the network…’:

Screenshot of the registering computer on the network screen

When the connection is complete you’ll see it’s status as ‘Connected’:

Screenshot showing the VPN connected indicator

After a few seconds this will change to ‘birkbeck.ac.uk’:

Screenshot showing the VPN connected indicator once changed to Birkbeck.ac.uk

You can now use the VPN once your Internet connection is connected. When you are connected to the VPN you can use CCS facilities as normal

To close the connect just right-click the Icon and select ‘Disconnect’:

Screenshot indicating the disconnection screen

If you want to use your VPN connection to access files you have saved at Birkbeck to your N: drive (your personal storage area, including My Documents folder) see these additional instructions:

Mapping your N: Drive to your PC using the VPN in Windows Vista