VPN for Windows 10
When you're off-campus and not directly connected to the Rhodes network e.g. ADSL Internet from home, you will not be able to connect to certain network applications and services. In this case you will need to establish a VPN connection from your remote connection.
Rhodes' Virtual Private Network (VPN) server allows staff and students using a PC on the Internet (i.e. not on campus or connected to Rhodes' network directly) to virtually connect to the Rhodes network. The effect is that the PC becomes connected to the Rhodes network, and thus has full access to resources on the campus network.
Access to the VPN server is automatically granted to all staff at the University, and available to students via a Support Request based on need with an accompanying letter from the HOD. Below are the configuration instructions for your PC to make use of the VPN on Windows.
Setting up the VPN connection
1. Select the Start 
button, then select Settings 
.?
2. Select Network & Internet, then select VPN and then click Add a VPN connection.
3. In Add a VPN connection, do the following:
- For VPN provider, choose Windows (built-in).
- In the Connection name box, type Rhodes VPN for the VPN connection profile. This is the VPN connection name you look for when connecting.
- In the Server name or address box, type vpn.ru.ac.za.
- Leave the VPN type option set to Automatic, and the Type of sign-in info option set to User name and password.
- Enter your Rhodes credentials in the User name and Password boxes.
- Select Save.
?
Connecting
- Click on the Internet/Wi-Fi icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Select Rhodes VPN then click the Connect button.
- When you're connected, the VPN connection name will say Connected underneath.
To quickly check and see if you're connected to the VPN while you're doing things on your PC, select the Network icon on the far right of the taskbar, then see if the VPN connection says Connected underneath it.
Disconnecting
Please disconnect from the VPN service when you've finished using it.
- Click on the Internet/Wi-Fi icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Select Rhodes VPN then click the Disconnect button.
Notes
- Broadband in South Africa
If you're connecting to the VPN server from home over an ADSL line or a mobile Internet connection, please bear in mind that your broadband usage may be subject to a data limit. Your VPN traffic will contribute to this data limit.
This is particularly relevant if, for example, your're using remote desktop over the VPN. Remote desktop will generate traffic continously, even when you're not using it. In the same way, if your laptop is configured to fetch software or anti-virus updates from the University's servers, it'll do this in the background when the VPN is connected. You may want to disconnect whatever you're doing when you are not actually using it to prevent this, and to avoid using up your cap.
- L2TP/IPsec no longer supported
If you're not able to connect to the VPN service and your connection was set up prior to 2020, please check that your connection is not set to use the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPsec), which is no longer supported.
From the VPN settings, select the Rhodes VPN connection. Click the Advanced options then Edit buttons. If VPN type is set to "L2TP/IPsec with pre-shared key", please change the setting to "Automatic" instead then click Save.
- Firewalls
If you're intending on connecting to the VPN service from a corporate network or another university, you may find that you need to ask the administrators of that network to create firewall exceptions to allow your VPN connection to work. The following should provide the information they need to do so:
Rhodes' VPN service, vpn.ru.ac.za, supports either Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP), or IKEv2. SSTP is on TCP port 443. IKEv2 uses ISAKMP on UDP port 500 as well as either IPsec ESP or, for networks which use NAT, UDP-encapsulated-ESP on UDP port 4500.
- Using IKEv2 instead of SSTP (preferred)
If you're unable to connect to the VPN service because the network you're connecting from does not permit SSTP connections, try changing your connection to use the IKEv2 protocol instead.
From the VPN settings, select the Rhodes VPN connection. Click the Advanced options then Edit buttons. Set the VPN type to "IKEv2" then click Save.
Last Modified: Fri, 20 Nov 2020 12:03:20 SAST
