Proxies and VPN

Web Proxy

If you're just looking to access library resources like subscription journals, you can make use of the library's web-based proxy.

SSH Tunnel

If you're looking for a quick and dirty way to obtain a VT IP, you can run a SOCKS proxy with SSH using a CVL (ECE) or rlogin (CS) shell account.

How to connect to Virginia Tech's VPN

Connecting to the Internet through Virginia Tech's Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the only officially advertised and supported method of accessing certain resources such as VT Network Software from off-campus.

• Important: You must first create a Remote Access ID to be able to log into the VPN. This is different from your normal VT PID password.

Using Ubuntu or Debian

1. Install the Network Manager applet if you do not already have it.
2. Install the network-manager-pptp package for your distribution.

From here you will need to configure the VPN somewhat differently depending on your version of NetworkManager. To see your version of NetworkManager, right click the NetworkManager applet on your upper panel. The nm-applet looks like one of the following, depending on if your connected:

<tbody></tbody>

Not Connected	Connected
<a href="http://www.vtluug.org/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Nm_not_connected.png" class="image" title="Image:nm_not_connected.png"><img alt="Image:nm_not_connected.png" src="VPN_files/Nm_not_connected.html" height="24" width="24" border="0"></a>	<a href="http://www.vtluug.org/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Nm_connected.png" class="image" title="Image:nm_connected.png"><img alt="Image:nm_connected.png" src="VPN_files/Nm_connected.html" height="22" width="22" border="0"></a>

NetworkManager 0.6 (Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron)

1. Click the Network Manager applet in your panel.
2. Under VPN Connections, select Configure VPN....
3. Click the Add button.
4. Click Forward.
5. Click Forward again.
6. In the Connection Name box, type VT PPTP VPN.
7. In the Gateway box, type pptp.cns.vt.edu
8. At the top, click the Authentication tab.
9. Check the box labeled Refuse CHAP.
10. Click Forward.
11. Click Apply.
12. Restart Network Manager with the following commands:

sudo /etc/dbus-1/event.d/25NetworkManager restart
sudo /etc/dbus-1/event.d/26NetworkManagerDispatcher restart

NetworkManager 0.7 (Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex)

1. Click the NetworkManager applet → VPN Connections → Configure VPN
2. Go to the VPN tab
3. Click Add
4. You will be asked to choos a VPN connection type. Select Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and click Create
5. Enter the following and click OK:

<tbody></tbody>

Connection name	VT PPTP VPN (really, can be whatever you like)
Gateway	pptp.cns.vt.edu
User name	your PID
Password	your VPN password
NT Domain	(blank)

Connecting to the VPN

1. Click the Network Manager applet in your panel.
2. Under VPN Connections, select VT PPTP VPN
3. Log in using your Remote Access ID.

Ubuntu upgraders from 8.04 Hardy Heron to 8.10

If you experience an error "unable to find valid VPN secrets", you need to delete your saved password. Go to Applications → Passwords and Encryption Keys, then go to the Passwords tab and delete the entry for your VPN password (e.g., "VPN password secret for VT PPTP VPN..."). Now left-click the NetworkManager applet icon, select the VT PPTP VPN, and enter your VPN password.