Downloading the AnyConnect Client for the first time

Step 1 - Open up your Internet browser and enter the address below in your address bar: https://vpn.unsw.edu.au

Step 2 - Enter your zID and zPass in the Username and Password fields and click the Login button:

Step 3 - You will see the UNSW IT Acceptable Use Policy displayed. Read the policy and click the Continue button if you agree to the terms:

Step 4 - ActiveX settings might block the installation. If you see the following warning asking if you want to install the Client, click on the Install button:

Step 5 - Windows will ask if you want to Install the program, click Yes:

Step 6 - Depending on which browser you are using, you may see the following warning. Click on the Allow button:

Step 7 - The installer will automatically install the client and try to connect to the VPN. You will see the following appear in your browser showing that the installation was successful:

Reconnecting Step 8 - You will then be automatically connected to the VPN. If you have been successful you will see Connection Established in the browser window:

You can also verify your connection by opening your icon taskbar in the bottom right menu bar and looking for the Cisco Anyconnect client icon shown below:

You can also double click the AnyConnect icon to look at the connection status:

Disconnecting from the VPN

To disconnect from the VPN, double click the AnyConnect icon in the bottom right menu bar and click on the Disconnect button:

Reconnecting to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN

Once you have installed the software successfully, you will no longer need to run the installation process again as the client will already be installed on your machine.

There are many ways to get to the Cisco AnyConnect Security Mobility Client, the easiest is to search 'Cisco' in your Windows start button. Once you have opened it the next five steps are:

Note: Make sure you check on the UNSW IT Website, with IT Service Centre or your local IT support which VPN group you belong to, unless you just require the generic VPN which is vpn.unsw.edu.au 

 Downloading the AnyConnect Client for the first time

Step 1 - Open up your Internet browser and enter the address below in your address bar: vpn.unsw.edu.au

Step 2 - Enter your zID and zID Password in the Username and Password fields and click the Login button.

Step 3 - You will see the UNSW IT Acceptable Use Policy displayed. Read the policy and click the Continue button if you agree to the terms:

Step 4 - Click the "Download for macOS" button to download the VPN client for Mac and you can also click the "Instructions" button to display a detailed step by step instructions for your installation process.

Step 5 - After downloading finished, please find the download file inside your Mac (usually inside the "Downloads" folder) and double click it to start the installation process:

Please follow the Installation Instructions to finish your installation. Step by step Installation Instructions can be found on the download page above.  You will see the following appear in your browser showing that the install was successful::

 Reconnecting to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN

Once you have installed the software successfully, you will no longer need to run the installation process again as the client will already be installed on your machine.

There are many ways to get to the Cisco AnyConnect Security Mobility Client, the easiest is to search 'Cisco' in your Windows start button:

 You can now start the AnyConnect VPN client app by click the "Cisco AnyConnect...client.app" inside the "Cisco" subfolder under the Applications folder.

You can also verify the VPN client is running by looking for the Cisco AnyConnect icon in the top menu bar:

You can click the AnyConnect icon and select "Connect" to start to connect:

Once you have opened it the next five steps are:

Note: Make sure you check on the UNSW IT Website, with IT Service Centre or your local IT support which VPN group you belong to, unless you just require the generic VPN which is vpn.unsw.edu.au 

You will successfully be connected to the VPN once you see the following icon in the top-right menu bar:

And the VPN client connection status will show Connected:

To disconnect, click the Cisco AnyConnect icon in the top menu bar and click Disconnect.

Disconnecting from the VPN

To disconnect from the VPN, click the AnyConnect icon in the top-right menu bar and click on the Disconnect button:

 Downloading the AnyConnect Client for the first time

Step 1 - Open up your Internet browser and enter the address below in your address bar: vpn.unsw.edu.au

Step 2 - Enter your zID and zID Password in the Username and Password fields and click the Login button:

Step 3 - You will see the UNSW IT Acceptable Use Policy displayed. Read the policy and click the Continue button if you agree to the terms:

Step 4 - Java will load and try to automatically run the installation and connect:

Step 5 - If Java is not correctly installed you will need to manually install the client and a link to the download file will appear:

The following pop up will appear, click Save File:

Some browsers may display the script file in your browser when you try to download it. If this happens, click back in your browser and right Click on the Linux i386 link and click Save Link As:

Step 6 - Once downloaded, open a terminal window and go to the directory where the file was downloaded, for example:

Step 7 - Make sure that the script is executable:

Step 8 - Install the Client (making sure you have administrative rights using “su” if required):

You will see the following:

Step 9 - To open the AnyConnect client, browse to Applications – Internet – Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client:

Step 10 - In the AnyConnect window, in the "Connect to" field type in: vpn.unsw.edu.au and click Connect:

Step 11 - Enter your UNSW zID and zID Password  in the Username and Password fields and click Connect:

If you are shown the UNSW Single Sign-On screen, enter your zID in the format zID@ad.unsw.edu.au and enter your password. You may be requested to authenticate using your Microsoft Authenticator app (or YubiKey).

Step 12 - The UNSW Acceptable Use Policy Banner will appear. Read it and click Accept if you agree to the terms:

Step 13 - The AnyConnect client will appear in the top right menu bar once you have successfully connected:

Disconnecting from the VPN

To disconnect from the VPN, right click the AnyConnect icon on the top right menu bar and click Disconnect:

Reconnecting to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN

To open the AnyConnect client, browse to Applications – Internet – Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client:

Once you have opened it the next five steps are:

Note: Make sure you check on the UNSW IT Website, with IT Service Centre or your local IT support which VPN group you belong to, unless you just require the generic VPN which is vpn.unsw.edu.au 

Use the AnyConnect App to connect to the UNSW VPN from your iPhone or iPad, you need to download the free Cisco AnyConnect App From the App Store.

Step 1 - On first run, the App will ask if it can extend the VPN capabilities of your device, tap Ok in the pop up:

Tap on “Add VPN Connection”:

Step 2 - Add UNSW VPN Details as follows:

Description: UNSW Server address: vpn.unsw.edu.au

Don’t change any details under the “Advanced” tab,and tap save in the top right corner.

Step 3 - Now UNSW details are saved, slide to AnyConnect VPN to On.

Step 4 - You’ll first received a pop up screen to enter your zID and zID Password :

Step 5 -You’ll then be asked to Accept the VPN Usage Policy:

Step 6 - You’re now connected to UNSW VPN.

On your home screen, you’ll see a VPN item in the menu bar while connected:

Disconnect from inside the Cisco App to end your VPN Session.

Note for iPads: Cisco AnyConnect is a universal app, and will work on iPads, using the same settings described above:

 Use the AnyConnect App to connect to the UNSW VPN from your Android device, you need to download the free Cisco AnyConnect App From the Google Play Store.

Step 1 - On first run, the App will ask you to Accept the License Agreement. Click Accept:

Step 2 - Click on “Add New VPN Connection”:

Step 3 - Add UNSW VPN Details as follows Description: UNSW Server address: vpn.unsw.edu.au

Don’t change any details under the “Advanced” tab, and click Done.

Step 4 - Now tap to connect to the UNSW VPN. You’ll be prompted to enter you zID and zID Password :

Step 5 - You’ll then be asked to Accept the VPN Usage Policy:

Step 6 - Finally, you’ll be asked to ‘trust’ the application. You’ll only need to do this once. Click the checkbox and then OK:

On your home screen, you’ll see a VPN item in the menubar while connected – depending on the device, it should look like a key or padlock:

• In order for VPN to work, you must be using the correct ‘Cisco AnyConnect VPN client’. This will allow you to securely and privately connect to the internet, and will provide you with a UNSW IP address. 

• The correct version of the UNSW Cisco VPN can be downloaded to your home machine here: https://vpn.unsw.edu.au

• You should also be using the correct VPN suffix for your faculty.

• Network access to applications and services over VPN depends on the underlying end-to-end network. This usually includes non-UNSW network such as home WiFi and broadband ISP networks, which are outside the control of UNSW IT and may be a source of performance issues.

• Working remotely over high-latency connections such as over a VPN can impact the performance of some applications, particularly applications designed to work on Local Area Networks such as file sharing and database access. If your work relies on applications that need low-latency network connections, other solutions such as myAccess may be more appropriate.

• If you experience performance issues while connected to the Remote Access VPN service, consider disconnecting form the VPN when you do not need to use it