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Connecting

Commonwealth University offers a VPN service using Cisco AnyConnect to facilitate remote access to on-campus resources.

Instructions

Windows/macOS

To download the AnyConnect client (first time users):

  • Go to https://vpn.commonwealthu.edu in a supported web browser (such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge).
  • Select the appropriate group (Usually "Faculty/Staff", the default).
  • Enter your username and password, as you do when you log into your office computer.
  • Enter your Duo Passcode (found in the Duo Mobile app) or leave the Duo field blank for an automatic Duo challenge (Duo Push or SMS). [Duo help]
  • Click Login.
  • Click the "Download" button.
  • Once finished, execute the downloaded file and follow the directions on the screen.

Connecting with AnyConnect:

  • Launch AnyConnect
  • Enter "vpn.commonwealthu.edu", if it's not already populated in the dropdown box.
  • Select "Connect".
  • Select the appropriate group (Usually "Faculty/Staff", the default).
  • Enter your username and password, as you do when you log into your office computer.
  • Enter your Duo Passcode (found in the Duo Mobile app) or leave the Duo field blank for an automatic Duo challenge (Duo Push or SMS). [Duo help]
  • Click OK.

If you try to connect to AnyConnect VPN from on-campus for any reason, even though it will appear that you've connected, this will actually break your connection to the campus network.