Using VPN Resources at UM-Flint

vpn remoteresources vpn-flint

A VPN or “Virtual Private Network” is a private network that uses a public network (usually the Internet) to provide students, faculty, and staff with a secure connection to campus resources from home. Instead of using a dedicated, real-world connection such as an Ethernet connection, a VPN uses secure, encrypted, “virtual” connections tunneled through the Internet from the University of Michigan-Flint private network to the remote computer.

NOTE: As of October 15th, 2022, the campus VPN formerly known as Pulse Secure is now known as Ivanti Secure Access Client.

Intended Audience

This article is intended for current students, faculty, and staff who would like to learn about the VPN services offered at the university to remotely access certain campus resources.

Requirements

Accessing the web portal resources through https://vpn.umflint.edu, as shown below, will work on most operating systems and has been confirmed to work in the browsers listed below. This does not mean that it won't work in other browsers, but that we have verified functionality in the following browsers.

The primary recommended way of using our VPN is to download and install the app to your computer. It is possible to use the VPN website as well to establish connections, however, we strongly recommend downloading the app for better performance.

Microsoft Edge
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Safari

NOTICE TO LINUX USERS: Any Java-based components (Terminal Sessions being the major one) of the VPN are subject to the configuration of your local Java installation. The ITS Helpdesk may not be able to assist with these questions.

Video Assistance
Signing into the VPN Web Portal
Using Web Bookmarks
Using Files
Installing Ivanti Secure Access Client (first-time setup)
Connecting with the Ivanti app
Troubleshooting

Signing into the VPN Web Portal [Back]

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In one of the web browsers listed above, please navigate to https://vpn.umflint.edu.
Login to the University of Michigan - Flint SSL VPN using your uniqname and current password as credentials
In the Secondary Password box, enter one of the three options below to do their respective Duo prompt:
- push
- phone
- sms
- Enter a Duo passcode (can be retrieved from the DUO mobile application or a text message from DUO).
Click the Sign In button.
Answer the Duo prompt on your Duo device.
Upon signing in for the first time in a new browser, you may be prompted to install a Java Applet. If so, please allow this installation.
You should now see the main navigation page of the web portal. In the sections of this article below, you will find descriptions of the features and resources available upon logging into the web portal.

Using Web Bookmarks [Back]

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The Web Bookmarks section is a place that you can store links that you commonly access. This is very similar to the bookmarks function built into your browsers.

Adding a Web Bookmark:
1. Click the “+” symbol in the top right corner of the Web Bookmarks section.
2. Name your bookmark. You may also choose to give your bookmark a description, however, this is optional.
3. Provide the URL with HTTP/HTTPS included for your bookmark (Example: http://www.umich.edu ).
4. Review your options under Display Options and select any that you would like.
5. Click Add Bookmark.
6. Your bookmark should now be located on your homepage for the VPN.
Removing a Web Bookmark:
1. Click the Trash Can symbol located on the right side of the screen, on the same line as the link you would like to remove.
2. Your bookmark should now be removed.

Using Files [Back]

The Files section of the UM-Flint VPN currently has no usable features.

Connecting your Computer onto the VPN Network using Ivanti Secure Access Client

Ivanti Secure Access Client is an application that can be launched on your computer to allow other computer applications to utilize UM-Flint's virtual private network. When you launch Ivanti Secure Access Client, you will be able to use the Perceptive Client application on your computer. You will also be able to use Windows Remote Desktop while using Ivanti Secure Access Client.

Special Note: After running Ivanti Secure Access Client the first time on your machine, you will just need to navigate to the application installed on your computer; you will NOT need to go to https://vpn.umflint.edu again. The installer should create a shortcut for ease of use.

Installing Ivanti Secure Access Client app (first-time setup)[Back]

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After signing in to https://vpn.umflint.edu, select the operating system install file that relates to the operating system that you are using (either Windows, Mac, or Linux).
You will then see a window open that will be blank. This window will trigger the download.
You will be prompted to Run or Save this file. Select Run.
You will then be directed to the Ivanti Secure Access Client Setup Wizard; please follow the instructions listed.
Note: There may be times where it asks you to click Yes or Continue to allow the program to make changes on your computer, please click Yes each time.
You should now see the Ivanti Secure Access Client application running on your computer. (Note: On Windows computers, it will be a small icon down in your taskbar to the left of the date and time. If you do not see Ivanti running, you can now find it in your Start Menu.)

Connecting using the Ivanti Secure Access Client

After installing the app, you will then need to configure your first connection. If you have done this already, skip to Step 3. To do this, first open the Ivanti Secure Access Client you installed.
Click on the “+” icon.
- Leave the Type as "Policy Secure (UAC) or Connect Secure (VPN)."
- Type what you want the connection to be listed as into the Name field (This can be anything, i.e. "Work" or "UM-Flint").
- Type vpn.umflint.edu into the Server URL field.
Click Connect
You will then be prompted to enter your credentials (uniqname and current password).
Check the Save Settings box so you do not need to enter these each time you sign in. Then, click Enter.
You will now receive a Duo prompt (see the screenshot below). In the Secondary Password box, enter one of the three options below to do their respective Duo prompt:
- push
- phone
- Enter a Duo passcode (can be retrieved from the DUO mobile application or a text message from DUO).
Check the Save Settings box if you would like it to set the default Duo method that will be used each time you sign in. This will save you time as you will not need to select an option each time.
Once your Duo method is typed in, click Connect.
You should now be connected to Ivanti Secure Access Client. To verify, your saved connection should have a "Disconnect" button instead of a "Connect" button.

Applications That Require Ivanti Secure Access Client

In general, any application or feature on your computer that requires being connected onto the campus network to function will require Ivanti Secure Access Client to function off-campus. When using Ivanti Secure Access Client on your machine, it allows for these applications to connect securely to UM-Flint network resources.

Several key applications and features that require the VPN to function when operating off-campus include, but are not limited to:

Windows Remote Desktop Connection.
ImageNow (specifically the Perceptive Content client) and WebFocus.
Any desktop application that requires a secure connection onto the university's network.

Exiting your VPN Session

To exit the vpn.umflint.edu site, click Sign Out in the top right. This will end your Web Portal session.
To disconnect from the Ivanti Secure Access Client app, open the app and click "Disconnect" next to your VPN connection. This will end your Ivanti Secure Access Client session.