How to Use the Chemistry VPN

Open your favorite web browser and go to https://vpn.chem.byu.edu
Log in using your Chemistry username (which usually matches your NetID, but for some it does not) and Chemistry password.

After logging in, click on the icon under the heading OpenVPN Connect Recommended for your device to get the client software for connecting to the VPN, then jump to the section below for that operating system.

Windows 10

Run the installer you just downloaded. The filename should be something like openvpn-connect-3.3.4.2600_signed.msi. The version number may change as updates come out. Follow any prompts given.
If you get a warning saying "Windows protected your PC" when you try to run the installer, this is not unusual. You can safely bypass this warning by clicking the More Info link and then the Run Anyway button.
Once the client is installed, you should have an icon on your desktop for OpenVPN Connect.
If you want to connect, double-click on that icon and the window for OpenVPN Connect will appear.

After a few instruction slides, the main interface should be accessible.
Slide the grey switch over and it should prompt you to login to the VPN.
Enter your Chemistry credentials and after a moment you should be connected to the VPN.
Once connected, you should be able to access internal Chemistry resources.

Click on the dmg file you just downloaded (it should be something similar to openvpn-connect-3.2.1.1180_signed.dmg).
- The version number may change as updates come out.
When the file opens, double-click OpenVPN Connect Installer.pkg.
Follow the prompts of the installer.
- Note that on the License screen, after hitting Continue, it can sometimes take a few seconds for the License Agreement to appear.
The VPN will connect automatically through the browser at this point. Just disconnect if you don't want to use the VPN right now.

Click on the new icon in your system tray (the bar at the top of the screen) that looks like the "O" in the OpenVPN logo with an "x" on it, and click Connect to vpn1.chem.byu.edu.
You will be asked if you want to Allow VPN connection to vpn1.chem.byu.edu? Select Yes to continue.
A pop-up box will prompt you for your password. Your username should already be filled in for you.

After a few seconds, you will be connected to the VPN. Once you are connected to the VPN, you can access resources that are otherwise only available from the Chemistry Department.

Click on the link Yourself (user-locked profile). The client configuration file should download to your computer. Make note of where it downloads to.
Run sudo apt install apt-transport-https in the terminal. This is done to ensure that your apt supports the https transport. Enter the administrative password as prompted.
Type the following command into the Terminal: sudo wget https://swupdate.openvpn.net/repos/openvpn-repo-pkg-key.pub. This will install the OpenVPN repository key used by the OpenVPN 3 Linux packages.
Type sudo apt-key add openvpn-repo-pkg-key.pub into the Terminal.
Type sudo wget -O /etc/apt/sources.list.d/openvpn3.list https://swupdate.openvpn.net/community/openvpn3/repos/openvpn3-$DISTRO.list into the Terminal. This will install the proper repository. Replace $DISTRO with the release name depending on your Debian/Ubuntu distribution (the table of release names for each distribution can be found below). In this case, focal is chosen since Ubuntu 20.04 is used.
Type the following command into the Terminal: sudo apt update && sudo apt install openvpn3.

network vpn

Creation date: 3/17/2022 8:36 AM Updated: 5/16/2023 5:09 PM

Use this categoryif you are unable to connect to the internet, a network drive, or other network resource(s).