Emerson VPN

Emerson's VPN, or Virtual Private Network, provides staff, faculty, and students with secure off-campus access to IP-restricted services such as Bin, Banner 9 Admin Pages, Argos, and Avaya Softphone. This does not facilitate remotely logging in to your campus computer, which is disallowed under most conditions.

The Emerson VPN is available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. It is not currently available for Chrome OS.

We do not have a policy that requires you to connect to the VPN to access services that are available from the Internet, such as Workday, Canvas, or Gmail.

This guide will walk you through how to install, configure, and connect to the Emerson VPN with your computer or mobile device. If you require the VPN for international travel, please review that guide.

Windows and macOS

Installing on an Emerson-owned Mac (Emerson IT Self Service)

Emerson IT Self Service is already installed on Emerson-owned staff and faculty Macs. It installs approved software without prompting for an administrator password.

1. Click the magnifying glass (Spotlight) in the top right of the menu bar, type Self Service, and open Emerson IT Self Service. You can also open it from your Applications folder.
2. Log in with your Emerson username and password if you are prompted.
3. Search for GlobalProtect and click Install.
4. When the install finishes, continue to Configuring and Connecting below to set the portal address.

Installing on an Emerson-owned Windows computer (Software Center)

Software Center installs approved titles on Emerson-owned Windows computers without administrative privileges.

1. Type software center in the search box on the Windows taskbar, then click Software Center in the results.
2. Use the search box in the upper-right corner to find GlobalProtect, or browse the Applications list.
3. Open the application's page and click Install. You can keep working while the installation runs.
4. When the install finishes, continue to Configuring and Connecting below to set the portal address.

Installing from vpn.emerson.edu (personal computers)

Use this path only on a computer the College does not own. It requires an administrator name and password on that computer.

1. In a web browser, visit https://vpn.emerson.edu/global-protect/getsoftwarepage.esp.
2. Log into Duo with your Emerson account.
3. Download the GlobalProtect client for your operating system (Windows or Mac), run the installer, and follow all prompts.
4. Mac users: you will likely get an error that says System Extension Blocked. The installation will finish, but before you can use the software you need to open the Apple menu, select System Settings, open the Privacy & Security pane, and click Allow next to the message System software from developer "Palo Alto Networks" was blocked from loading. You may need to wait a moment for the message to appear, and restarting your computer may also be required.
5. Continue to Configuring and Connecting below.

Configuring and Connecting

These steps apply no matter how you installed GlobalProtect.

1. On Windows: go to the bottom right corner, click the small carrot to see applications in your system tray, and find the icon that looks like a gray globe. Click the globe and enter vpn.emerson.edu as the portal address.
2. On a Mac: go to the top right menu bar and find the gray globe. Click it and enter vpn.emerson.edu as the portal address.
3. Your default browser will launch and send you to Duo. Log in with your email, password, and multi-factor. When prompted, click Trust Browser.
4. When you complete the first log in, a second browser tab or window will launch and request that you log in a second time. Complete it, and click Trust Browser when prompted. Trusting the browser means you will not have to log in twice in the future.
5. Your browser will present a prompt saying it is trying to open GlobalProtect. Click Allow or Open, and if your browser allows it, check the box next to Always Allow to connect automatically in the future.
6. If you do not get a prompt, click the click here hyperlink, or the page will keep spinning and never connect.

Disconnecting

When you are done using resources that require Emerson's VPN, it is a good idea to disconnect.

1. Click the GlobalProtect globe icon in your menu bar or system tray.
2. Click Disconnect.

When you are disconnected, the globe icon will lose its shield and the pop-out window will say Not Connected.

Connecting to the VPN with your mobile device

Using the VPN on your iOS or Android device is relatively straightforward and does not require you to download any apps.

iOS

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to General > VPN > Add VPN Configuration.
3. Tap Type and select IPSec.
4. Tap Back. The CISCO logo will be at the top of the Add Configuration screen.
5. Enter the information here. Leave Certificate and Proxy set to Off.
6. Tap Done.
7. Back on the VPN screen, toggle the Status switch on.
8. Check your phone for a Duo request and accept it.
9. You are connected. A VPN icon will appear in your device's status bar, and all of your traffic will now go through Emerson's VPN.
10. When you are done, return to Settings > General > VPN and toggle the Status switch back off.

To reconnect after the first setup:

1. Go to Settings > General > VPN.
2. Toggle the Status switch on.
3. Check your phone for a Duo request and accept it.

Android

1. Open Settings.
2. Under Wireless & Networks, select More > VPN.
3. Press the + sign to add a new VPN connection. Enter the information here.
4. Tap Save.
5. To connect for the first time, in Settings, under Wireless & Networks, select More > VPN > Emerson VPN.
6. Enter your Emerson username and your Emerson password.
7. Check the box next to Save account information.
8. Tap Connect.
9. Check your phone for a Duo request and accept it. If a second request comes through, accept it again.
10. You are connected. A key icon will appear in your device's status bar, and all of your traffic will now go through Emerson's VPN.
11. When you are done, return to Settings > Wireless & Networks > More > VPN > Emerson VPN and tap Disconnect.

To reconnect after the first setup:

1. Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > More > VPN.
2. Tap Emerson VPN.
3. Check your phone for a Duo request and accept it. If a second request comes through, accept it again.