Wireless Configuration Guide & VPN Connect/Configuration Guide

PRELIMINARY PREPARATION

1. User completes the “Remote Access User Agreement” if not already done. One time requirement for each user, keep original on hand in Helpdesk files. Scan image with signature and email copy to Helpdesk  
2. If user has not logged on with this particular laptop before, they MUST logon the laptop plugged into network BEFORE they can use it for remote access outside the office. This is necessary to establish the user’s cached local profile, and set up any required programs such as Outlook. After the user’s profile is established, have them power down the laptop and disconnect it from the network. Have the user power it back up without a network connection and ensure they can log on stand-alone using their Login with their cached profile.

• CONNECTING TO A WIRELESS NETWORK  

1. Power up the computer and log on using your USERNAME, allow time for all software to load. Depending on signal strength of local wireless connections, you may want to give the computer about 5 minutes to discover any local networks before proceeding. NOTE: After a few minutes a popup window may come up indicating the computer has detected wireless networks. If you have not already started the connection process, you may click that message and proceed to step 4 to set up a connection. Otherwise proceed to next step.  
2. On the desktop, locate the wireless connection icon in the lower right corner.  
3. Right click on the wireless icon, and select View Available Wireless Networks on the popup menu.  
4. You will get a popup window showing a list of available wireless network(s); select the appropriate wireless network (as provided by your hosting facility) for your location.  
5. Single left-click on your chosen wireless network. Then click the Connect button in the lower right-hand corner of the window.  
6. After clicking on connect, you should see a few status update messages for that connection in another popup window as shown below.  
7. Eventually, you should see a status of “Connected” and a yellow star. The green bars represent the wireless signal strength, the more the better.  
8. Close the Network connections windows, the wireless connection icon in the lower right of the desktop should show connected (no red “X”) If you see a pop up that says “little or no connectivity”, you will need to do little troubleshooting. The following steps will display your laptops network information which will help to determine if the Hotel’s or Home wireless router is working properly.
9. Open a command prompt:  
10. Select Start (lower left of the display) and then select Run  
11. Type “cmd” in the Run dialog box and press OK.
12. Type “ipconfig /all” as shown in the command window. If the Default Gateway address is blank you will need to advise the Hotel’s Manager to have their service provider troubleshoot the problem.  

• CONNECTING TO VPN

• Prior to launching the Virtual Private Network you should determine if the Hotel requires you to access their network to acknowledge something, enter an access code, or accept an access charge; if this is the case you must temporarily alter your browser, IE’s, Proxy Server settings.  

1. Open IE  
2. Select the Tools Pull down
3. Select Internet Options, Connections, LAN Settings
4. Temporarily uncheck the Proxy Server check box
5. Click OK to close all of the dialog boxes
6. Close and re open IE
7. Access the Hotel’s web site to perform the required acknowledgment or agreement  
8. Then go back through the menus above to recheck the Proxy Server check box  
9. Close IE and proceed to activation the VPN connection.
10. After establishing a wireless network connection, double click the correct VPN icon on the desktop.
11. Enter your Username and Password in the popup VPN Connect window, then click OK.  
12. After clicking OK, you should see several status updates in the VPN dialogue box as shown below Updates will include: Connecting to XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX Verifying username and password Registering your computer on the network Authenticated  
13. After successfully connecting to the VPN, the popup window will go away and you will get a notification bubble in the lower right indicating connection to the VPN. Note that it is indicated by an additional icon of two computers with no red “X”.  

• CONNECTING TO MIN/INTERNET EXPLORER SETTINGS

•  You will need to verify the correct proxy server setting for both the wireless LAN connection and the VPN connection in order browse outside web sites.

1. Launch Internet Explorer, when the selection dialogue box pops up, please select your credentials, and click OK.
2. On the command bar at the top, click on Tools then select Internet Options on the dropdown menu.
3. In the Internet Options window, click on the Connections tab, and then click on the LAN Settings button in the lower right part of the window.  
4. In the LANSettings window, ensure the information is set to match the picture below exactly, and then click OK.
5. Back in the Internet Options window, single left click the VPN entry listed under the Dial-up and Virtual Private Network settings area so it is highlighted in blue, then click the Settings button to the right.  
6. In the VPN settings window, ensure information is set to match the picture below exactly, and then click OK.
7. Close the Internet Options window, and verify you can access external websites. The example below shows Google, but any external address that is normally accessible from your desktop should be accessible now. If you cannot reach any of these resources, go back and verify settings as shown in this guide.  

• COMPUTER IDENTIFICATION

• If you need assistance, the helpdesk number is the right place to start. The technician may need to know your computer name or network node. You can locate this information as shown below:

1. On the desktop, right click on the My Computer icon,  
2. Select Properties from the drop down menu  
3. In the System Properties window, click on the Computer Name tab, then note the first part of the text next to “Full computer name”.