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WebVPN

What's WebVPN?
WebVPN is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection that is established using your web browser. A traditional VPN connection requires software to be installed on your computer. WebVPN eliminates the client software by creating a VPN connection using your computer's web browser.

Who should use WebVPN?
WebVPN is ideal for anyone using an ISP (Internet Service Provider) other than the UO, and who needs to browse UO web sites that are restricted to on-campus access only. The Knight Library's Image Reserve is a good example of a restricted web resource.

How to Use WebVPN
To use WebVPN, open the WebVPN login page (https://uo-vpn1-gw.uoregon.edu/webvpn.html) and enter your Uoregon.edu username and password. If login is successful, you will see a welcome message:

Click the "OK" button to proceed.

The University of Oregon home page and the WebVPN toolbar will load. The WebVPN toolbar is highlighted in yellow below.

The toolbar is a key feature of WebVPN. The five buttons in the toolbar perform the following functions (see Figure 1.0, below):

Figure 1.0

• Arrows: This button will move the toolbar itself from one side of the web page to the other. Use this button if the toolbar is covering something on the web page you are attempting to view.
• Go: Use this button to type a web page address. NOTE: Selecting a bookmark or typing a web address will end your WebVPN session.
• Computer: Use this button to access advanced WebVPN features.
• Home: Click this button to return to the University of Oregon home page.
• X: Click this button to log out of your WebVPN session.

With WebVPN, your connection to our VPN server is nothing more than a single web browser window. There are two ways to access a web page using WebVPN. Click a link on the web page, or click the "Go" button in the toolbar and enter a web page address. If you open a bookmarked web page or type the address into the web browser window, the page you visit will not be accessed through our WebVPN server.

There are two ways to tell that you have an established WebVPN connection. First, the toolbar will appear in the upper right or upper left of your web browser window. Second, the web page's URL (address) will begin with "http://uo-vpn1-gw.uoregon.edu". For example, when viewing the UO home page using WebVPN, the web page address will look like this:

https://uo-vpn1-gw.uoregon.edu/http/0/www.uoregon.edu/

This web address indicates that the page "www.uoregon.edu" has been accessed through the UO WebVPN server.

Ending Your Session
To end your WebVPN session, click the "X" button on the toolbar. WebVPN will confirm with you that you wish to close your session. Click the OK button to confirm.

You may also end your WebVPN session by closing your web browser.

Advanced Features
WebVPN's advanced toolbar allows access to VPN features that are best performed by a traditional VPN connection. Some situations, like a public internet cafe, do not permit the installation of the VPN client software. In cases like this you can use WebVPN instead.

Figure 2.0 (below) is a sample of the advanced toolbar.

Figure 2.0

• Port Forwarding: This feature is not currently enabled.
• Websites: Select a website from the menu and click the Go button to visit that page. Some of UO's commonly-used web sites are listed here.
• Enter Web Address (URL): To visit a web site, enter that web page address in the box and click the Go button.
• Browse Network: This feature is not currently enabled.
• Enter Network Path : To access a server, enter the server's name followed by the share point in the format "\\server\share".

For Further Assistance
If you need additional assistance with WebVPN, please contact our Help Desk.

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