IMPORTANT

If you have trouble connecting with your VPN client, please uninstall your old client, THEN download and install the current client on this page before calling the help desk. When uninstalling, select to delete all profiles and certificates if prompted.

Be sure to have a current backup of your computer before attempting either installation or uninstallation of the VPN client.

USF VPN Resources

This page contains resources for faculty, staff and students to access the USF campus network securely from off-campus locations. Working from home via Bright House Network's Road Runner or dialing up via Earthlink while on vacation are typical examples.

Because VPN is a relatively complex technology, you should consult your department's technical support personnel regarding the settings you should make on your computer. They should also be able to tell you what the applicable policies for remote access of university networking resources are.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Support

We support only the 32-bit versions of Windows.

Alternatives to the VPN Client

To access USF exchange-based mail from off-campus, you can use Outlook Web Access. To access library resources from off-campus, you can either log into my.usf.edu or the library web site, which will set up a web proxy that will allow access to databases and journals.

Security Note

Since the VPN builds an encrypted tunnel from your computer to the USF network, for all practical purposes your home computer becomes part of USF's network. This means that you're bypassing any hardware router/firewall you may have protecting your home network. Before using the VPN client, please make sure your computer is fully patched and has an up-to-date virus scanner running. For more information on how to secure your computer, please visit the USF Security Web Site. Once the client is installed and if you run Windows XP, we recommend that you enable the XP firewall on the VPN adapter interface.

Start Before Logon

The Windows versions will not default to start before logon. If you need to establish the tunnel before logging on to Windows (in case your machine is part of a domain, for example), select Advanced Mode under the Options menu. After the display changes, there will be a Windows Logon Properties entry under the Options menu. Select it and check the Enable start before logon checkbox. Click on OK to save your change, then select Exit Secure USF Connection under the Connection Entries menu. Reboot. The client should now start before the Windows login prompt.

Client Downloads

• Flash Video Installation instructions for Windows.
• Flash Video usage instructions for Windows.
• Windows Client Download -- Download the VPN client software for Windows XP and Vista (32-bit only). If upgrading, uninstall the old client, including profiles and certificates, before running this installer.
• Mac OS X Client download -- Download the VPN client for Mac OS 10.4 and higher. This version supports both Intel and PowerPC based Macs.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional technical information.