Source: Freepik
We stay connected!
In the first part of our series, you already got to know our collaboration tools Sciebo and Gigamove. In the second part, you got an impression of our diverse communication tools and maybe discovered one or two new ones for you.
Have you already been able to use some of them? Which ones were new to you and which ones do you already use? Feel free to let us know in a comment!
Today’s post concludes this little #goodtoknow series focusing on VPN and eduroam.
To help you stay connected during your studies or while working at RWTH, we’re bringing these topics a little closer to you today.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
… allows secure, encrypted access from outside to the RWTH network
… is offered as a central service and as a service for institutes
… is realized with the help of a VPN client
… an account in the self-service is required for login
… RWTH employees and students receive the account automatically
… supported clients: Cisco AnyConnect.
What is VPN actually?
After the PC of an end user has established a VPN connection (Virtual Private Network), an encrypted, so-called “tunnel” exists between the computer and the VPN server. All data traffic into the RWTH network (and, depending on the operating mode, beyond) passes through this encrypted tunnel. The user’s computer has virtually moved to the VPN server’s network: It now appears to third parties with an IP address of RWTH Aachen University.
Therefore we offer you a secure remote access to internal resources.
However, there is also the option of split tunneling. In this case, only part of the traffic is routed through the VPN tunnel, while other components continue to run via the local router and the connected Internet service provider.
However, split tunneling carries some risks from a security point of view. For example, any data that does not pass through the secure VPN tunnel cannot be protected by the RWTH firewall.
Before the connection to the RWTH network can be established, the software “AnyConnect” from Cisco must first be installed. For security reasons and in the interest of better support, we recommend that you obtain this software from the IT Center. More information can be found on IT Center Help.
To log in, you need to have a self-service account and set a password for the VPN account.
Configuration instructions for your VPN can be found in our documentation portal. IT Center Help also has a lot of interesting instructions, information and FAQ’s for you. Feel free to have a look!
eduroam at the RWTH
You all use it for sure. Our well-known and popular eduroam!
eduroam
… is a university-wide WLAN network that is used by all universities of the eduroam federation.
… can be used by RWTH members via the device ID + password generated in the eduroam device manager
eduroam (education roaming) is not only available at RWTH. Hundreds of research institutions worldwide participate in it. After launching in Europe, eduroam has quickly expanded to the entire research and education community and is now available in 106 areas worldwide as well as new pilot areas. Once configured, a device can gain access at all eduroam facilities.
Through the Eduroam Device Manager, you can create, change, or delete device-locked identifiers for your devices.
With the created access data you can connect your devices to the eduroam network via the WLAN function on your computer or smartphone.
In addition to eduroam, other radio networks are also broadcast in parts of the RWTH, for example for internal institute networks or for guests of the university. You can find more information about this on IT Center help.
The UKA and eduroam
eduroam requires a valid status in the Identity Management of the RWTH.
Employees of the University Hospital do not have a status in Identity Management by default.
In order to obtain this status, they must go through the ConnectMe procedure. To do this, a ConnectMe coupon must be applied for in the UKA support portal.
After the ConnectMe procedure has been completed, it takes up to 48 hours until access to the eduroam device manager is available.
We hope we were able to give you a little insight into some of our services with our little series #goodtoknow.
You can find a complete list of all services of the IT Center on our website.
Which service are you most interested in?
We would be happy to pick up on special topics for you and report on them. Feel free to leave us a comment!
Responsible for the content of this article is Dunja Gath.
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