PhyVPN is an alternative to WiscVPN (see Connecting with WiscVPN) and provides pretty much the same functionality. Like WIscVPN, PhyVPN provides a secure and encrypted communication channel between your home PC or Mac and the Dept. of Physiology network. It also provides a "virtual" campus IP address, so you can connect to campus resources such as the library, and access journal articles from off-campus locations.
Unlike WiscVPN, PhyVPN is not available to everyone, and is intended for use in special cases, such as a backup to WiscVPN, or when WiscVPN cannot be used for any reason. You should use WiscVPN unless there is a specific reason to use PhyVPN.
How to use PhyVPN
The instruction vary depending on whether you are connecting from a PC or Mac, and both are described below. In each case you should contact Ravi to be authorized for PhyVPN access before proceeding with the following.
Connecting from a PC
[...to be added...]
Connecting from a Mac
(the following instructions are for Mac OS X, PhyVPN is not supported for OS 9 or earlier)
(1) In Mac OS X, open the hard drive, then the Applications folder.
Double-click on the "Internet Connect" icon. The application launches with a dialog (see fig. 1 below).
Fig. 1 - Starting "Internet Connect"
(2) Click on the File menu, then select "New VPN Connection". (see Fig. 2 below).
Fig. 2 - Click "File", then "New VPN Conection"
(3) In the next dialog, select PPTP, then click "Continue". (see Fig. 3 below).
Fig. 3 - Select PPTP
(4) In the next dialog, select "Edit Configuration" from the drop-down menu next to "Configuration", then enter the information shown in Fig. 4 below. For account name and password, enter the username and password you were issued when authorized to use PhyVPN. (Note: This is normally _not_ your NetID, but your Physiology username).
Fig. 4 - Enter Connection parameters.
Click on the OK button.
(5) The above steps need to be done only once. From now on, to use PhyVPN, do the following:
(a) Make sure your off-campus Mac is connected to a network (DSL/cable-modem/dial-up etc.)
(b) Next, click on the "Connect" button in the menu bar and select "PhyVPN"
(c) If you entered the initial parameters correctly, you should now be connected to PhyVPN without having to re-enter them.
(d) You can confirm that PhyVPN is functioning by visiting the web site: http://www.whatsmyip.net/. If the VPN connection is working, you should see a display similar to Fig. 5 (below). The thing to note is that your IP now appears to be on the 128.104.x.x network, which is an on-campus IP range.
Fig. 5 - An on-campus IP address.
As long as you are connected via PhyVPN, your Mac will appear to be on-campus for network purposes, such as access to journal articles, file-sharing etc.
How PhyVPN works
[to be added]
If you have questions, or need help with installing or using PhyVPN, please contact Ravi at kochhar@physiology.wisc.edu.
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This page last modified on : Nov. 13, 2007