CITES VPN Configuration for Windows XP

This page is for University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff members using Windows XP. If you have a guest account, you should use the guest instructions for Windows XP instead. Also, if you have a 64-bit edition of Windows XP, use the 64-bit instructions.

CITES provides configuration software for campus users that will enable your Windows XP computer to connect to the CITES VPN.

Downloading and installing

1. Log in to your computer using an administrator account.
• On many Windows XP computers, this account will be named Administrator. Log in using Administrator as your username and the administrator account's password as the password.
• If someone else is your system administrator, you'll need their assistance to configure your CITES VPN connection.
2. Download the CITES VPN configuration package from the Software WebStore.
3. Save the configuration software at a location where you can easily locate it again, such as your desktop.
4. Double-click the file you downloaded to configure your connection to the CITES VPN.

The configuration process will present a security warning box stating that the unknown publisher (the CITES software development team) cannot be verified by Microsoft. Click Run to continue the installation.

The configuration process will automatically configure the VPN settings for you.

When it finishes, you'll have new CITES VPN icons available in your Start menu (under the Connect To submenu) and on your desktop.

Don't see the desktop icon?

(New, March 2008:) For a few Windows XP systems, a recently released Microsoft patch has caused the CITES VPN configuration utility to stop working. If you ran the installer and don't see the CITES VPN shortcut on your desktop, your computer is one of those systems.

If you have only one computer with this issue, the simplest solution is to use the alternate configuration instructions provided for 64-bit XP machines. (These are essentially the same as the guest instructions, but they use your NetID and Active Directory password rather than a guest user name and password.)

If you have several computers with this issue, check the directions in the VPN FAQ for more information on a Microsoft patch to help resolve the problem.

Making a VPN connection

To make a connection to the CITES VPN, you can:

• Double-click the CITES VPN icon on your desktop.
  or
• Navigate to Start > Connect To > CITES VPN.

The CITES VPN login window

Next, you'll see the CITES VPN login window.

Show image of login window

Use the following information to log in:

• Login name: Your NetID
• Password: Your Active Directory password
  (You use your Active Directory password for NetFiles, and some people also use their AD password for CITES Express Email.)

When you click Connect, your computer will make a secure connection to the CITES VPN.

This may take several seconds depending on your location, and may take longer from off campus. (If you receive an error message, see the VPN FAQs for more information.)

When you're connected

Once you've connected, your computer will behave as though it were a part of the physical UIUCnet network, regardless of whether you're connecting from a UIUCnet Wireless or Walkup location, from a campus coffeeshop, or from around the world.

Your computer will receive an IP address which provides special access to protected parts of the campus network that aren't accessible to QuickConnect users or off-campus users.

While you're connected, a CITES VPN icon will appear in the right-hand side of your taskbar, near the clock. It looks like the University of Illinois mark:

You can right-click this icon to check the connection status, the amount of time you've been connected, and more.

Disconnecting when finished

When you're finished, right-click on the CITES VPN icon and choose Disconnect:

More help

For more help, see the VPN FAQs or contact the CITES Help Desk during the Help Desk's hours of operation.