The Cornell campus VPN gives you access to campus-wide networks and services. However, some departments use a departmental VPN to provide added security for particular departmental resources.
To use VPN with campus or department networks and services, you must use Cisco VPN software with an additional PCF file installed.
- For a departmental VPN, install the departmental PCF file. (Step-by-step instructions below.)
- For the campus VPN, install the Cornell campus PCF file.
Windows XP or Vista | Mac OS X
Note: You can add more than one PCF file.
Depending on how your department has decided to handle the departmental PCF file, installation is either a one or two step process. Ask your netadmin which procedure to follow.
Generating a Departmental Configuration (PCF) File
If your department's netadmin does not supply a PCF file for you to use, you can make your own.
- Go to the PCF generator page, http://honeysuckle.cit.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/PCF.pl.
- Enter the name of the permit, and then click Generate PCF.
Your netadmin can provide the permit name.
- The PCF file is downloaded to your desktop. The file name starts with CornellVPN- and has a .pcf extension, for example CornellVPN-your.permit.name.pcf.
Next, add the PCF file to your Cisco software. Follow the steps below in Adding a Departmental Configuration (PCF) File.
Adding a Departmental Configuration (PCF) File
- If you did not create your own PCF file in the above procedure, download the PCF file. Your netadmin can tell you where it is stored.
- Click Start, then All Programs, select Cisco Systems VPN Client, and then VPN Client.
- Click the Connection Entries menu, then Import.
- Locate the configuration file.
- Click Open.
- After the configuration file is installed, click OK.
Once you install the Cisco VPN software and the correct PCF file(s), you're ready to connect to either the Cornell campus VPN or a departmental VPN.
