Remote Access to the Network
To access the Edinburgh Napier University network remotely you can:
The Virtual Private Network (VPN)
The Virtual Private Network (VPN) service enables Edinburgh Napier University staff members to connect to their office PCs remotely via Remote Desktop. This effectively enables staff to carry out all their work using a remote PC (e.g. home PC) as they would on their office PC. All staff are automatically registered to use the VPN service however you MUST still check you can access the service in advance of needing to use it.
Please note: if you do not need to Remote Desktop to your own office PC then you may prefer to use the Virtual Desktop Service.
VPN - Home Computer Equipment and Software
In order to access the VPN service remotely (e.g. from home) you need the following equipment and software:
1. A computer which runs one of the following operating systems:
- Windows
- Mac OS X 10.6 or later (32 and 64 bit)
- Linux (32 bit)
2. An existing connection to the Internet.
3. The following security on your remote computer:
4. The Java Runtime Environment needs to be installed before you will be able to successfully install the Cisco AnyConnect client. You can download this Java program on the Java website - version 1.5 or later is supported.
VPN Guide
The User Guide will help you set up your office and remote devices for the VPN service:
VPN User Guide
Please note: For security reasons only Edinburgh Napier University staff members will be able to install the client - you will be prompted to log in.
If you experience problems with the VPN service please contact IS Service Desk:
Email: ISServiceDesk@napier.ac.uk
Telephone: ext 3000 or (0131) 455 3000 from an external line.
VPN - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the URL for installing the VPN?
A: The URL is: https://napier-sslvpn.napier.ac.uk/. Before installing the software you must read the VPN User Guide.
Q: Do I need to register to use the VPN Service?
A: No, all staff are automatically registered to use the VPN service however you MUST still check you can access the service in advance of needing to use it.
Q: China and Russia are taking action to restrict the use of VPN and proxy services and I'm travelling to one of these countries, how will it affect me?
A: The Chinese and Russian governments have recently introduced laws to either ban or heavily restrict the provision of Virtual Private Network (VPN) and proxy services to people located within those countries, with the aim of restricting access to tools and services which can be used to circumvent censorship. As part of this clampdown, Apple has complied with a request from the Chinese government to remove all VPN apps from the App Store in China.
While the changes are intended to make it harder for citizens of those countries to make use of commercial VPN and proxy services, it’s possible that visitors to those countries may also be affected by this action. The VPN service operated by Edinburgh Napier University isn’t likely to be specifically targeted by government action in these countries, but students and staff who make use of it while travelling to either Russia or China should be aware that access to the service could become more unreliable, or cease entirely, at some point in the future if the government action escalates further. For example, if technical measures are implemented by network operators in these countries to block VPN-related network traffic, this could cause disruption to the operation of the Cisco AnyConnect software used by our VPN service.
For some activities, the Virtual Desktop Service (VDS) provides a suitable alternative to the Virtual Private Network (VPN) service and this service is unlikely to be affected by these changes.
Q: How do I uninstall the Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client?
A: Windows: To manually uninstall the AnyConnect client from a Windows system, use the standard "Add or Remove Programs" Control Panel available from the Start menu.
Linux and Mac OS X: The procedure for manually uninstalling the AnyConnect client from a Linux or Mac OS X system is the same for both systems. As root, run the following shell script: /opt/cisco/vpn/bin/vpn_uninstall.sh
Typically, you would do this via sudo, as follows:
$ sudo /opt/cisco/vpn/bin/vpn_uninstall.sh
If you do not use sudo, use a root shell:
# /opt/cisco/vpn/bin/vpn_uninstall.sh
Q: Does the Cisco AnyConnect VPN client provide a command line interface?
A: Yes. The following document describes how to use the AnyConnect CLI commands:
Using the AnyConnect CLI Commands
Q: Can I listen to audio playing on my office PC whilst using Remote Desktop Connection to connect from home?
A: Yes, you need to set this up on your home PC, click on the link below for full instructions and screenshots:
Listening to audio on your office PC whilst using RDC
Q: Can I connect to the SSL VPN service from a Microsoft Surface Device?
A: No. There is currently no Cisco AnyConnect client available for the Microsoft Surface device.
Q: I am getting the following error message "AnyConnect cannot confirm it is connected to your secure gateway. The local network may not be trustworthy. Please try another network." How can I fix this?
A: Ubuntu Users might receive this error upon trying to log in. Copy the certs from "/etc/ssl/certs" to "/opt/.cisco/certificates/ca/" (if this directory does not exist, you may need to create it): sudo cp /etc/ssl/certs/* /opt/.cisco/certificates/ca
Accessing myNapier, the Staff Intranet and My Workplace Remotely
You can access myNapier, the Staff Intranet or My Workplace remotely. You will need to log in to access My Workplace and some restricted areas of the Staff Intranet.
When you are prompted to log in enter "napier-mail\" followed by your Edinburgh Napier University username (also termed login ID). Enter your password in the field provided and click OK.
If you have any problems please contact the IS Service Desk:
Email: ISServiceDesk@napier.ac.uk
Telephone: ext 3000 or (0131) 455 3000 from an external line.