Calumet VPN
Virtual Private Network (VPN) at Purdue Calumet
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) is a way of being able to access your data files or programs that are on one computer from another one, even from miles away. This would allow you to access, for example, Banner from home or anything on your departments R: drive while at a conference.
The Purdue Calumet private data network makes use of the public telecommunication infrastructure, and maintains privacy through the use of a tunneling protocol and security procedures.
What is a SSL VPN?
A SSL VPN is a VPN accessed via HTTPS from a supported browser. SSL VPNs require minimal client configuration. Once connected the SSL VPN creates a tunnel that provide a logical private network running over a public network infrastructure.
Why would I want to use a VPN service?
By creating a VPN, the home user can “put” his home machine on the Purdue Calumet network. This enables your home machine to have access to many of the same resources as your work or lab machine on campus.
Examples of the benefits of VPN:
- Ability to configure your home email client to send mail from a Purdue host
- Access to Purdue web sites that restrict information to Purdue hosts only
- Access to Purdue services such as central license servers for software licensing
The Purdue Calumet VPN Solution
Purdue Calumet now provides VPN services to faculty and staff through the Connectra Secure VPN Portal.
Note: A small scan will be performed on all Windows systems upon connection to the Secure VPN Portal to ensure connection requirements are met.
Connection requirements include:
- An up-to-date Windows XP system using Internet Explorer with up-to-date anti-virus software installed such as McAfee, or Norton Anti-Virus.
- An up-to-date Mac OSX system using Firefox or the Safari web browser.
Sign Up for The Purdue Calumet VPN
The first step to accessing and using the Purdue Calumet VPN services is to sign up for it!
To sign up for the VPN services offered by Purdue Calumet, please fill out and submit this Web form. You will be notified once the service is set up for you, and once it is, then you can set up the VPN on your computer using the Tutorials below.
Purdue Calumet VPN Tutorials
The following Knowledgebase tutorials are provided to help you connect your personal computer to the Purdue Calumet VPN.
Please click on any of the article names to learn more about them.
Connecting to the Purdue Calumet VPN Portal
Connection instructions for Windows XP Click here.
Link to Connections instructions for Mac OS X Click here.
Using Microsoft Remote Desktop to connect to an office PC
To use remote desktop connection the first step is to set up your work PC to allow remote access. Setup Remote PC on Your Work PC
The second step is to discover the name of your PC so that you can utilize the VPN access from another computer. Finding a PC’s Computer Name
The third step will be to connect to the Purdue VPN Portal using Windows XP. Details can be found here. Connecting to the Purdue Calumet VPN Portal
Note: Users attempting to connect using OS X to connect will should use Connecting to the Purdue Calumet VPN Portal on a Mac .
The final step is to connecting the Host computer to the Remote computer. Connect Your Remote Computer to the Host Computer
