SRI - AnyConnect VPN

Owned by Zach Robert , created
Last updated: Nov 29, 2022
3 min read

We provide two different VPNs for SRI Researchers, one for dedicated SRI Workstations, and one for access to Virtual SRI Workstations. The instructions below will cover connecting to both.

Please be sure to only use the Virtual SRI Workstation VPN from your personal machine. The dedicated SRI Workstation VPN will lock down your machine, potentially causing network connectivity issues.

 

Virtual SRI Workstation VPN

We’ve created a second VPN to enable access to the Virtual SRI Workstations. This can be used from any computer, personal or work.

  1. Press Start by using your keyboard or selecting the Start button on your taskbar, and then type AnyConnect. Select the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client. Click Connect if the VPN box says UConn SRI VM VPN.

    1. If it does not say UConn SRI VM VPN, enter “anyconnect.uconn.edu/sri-vm” in the text window.

  2. You will be prompted to enter your NetID and Password. Enter your credentials, and click OK. You will receive a DUO 2FA push that you will have to approve to continue logging in.

  3. At this point, you will be connected to the UConn SRI VM VPN. If you double-click on the AnyConnect client while connected, you can check how much time remains before you must reconnect.

Dedicated SRI Workstation VPN

For SRI Workstations, AnyConnect utilizes a Start Before Login feature which allows the VPN to be connected before logging into the machine. This allows authentication to occur even with the locked down state of the machine.

Failure to login to AnyConnect before logging in to Windows will more than likely cause your login to Windows to fail.

  1. Upon powering up the laptop, you’ll be greeted with the login screen. Before entering your NetID/Password like usual, click on the small icon in the bottom right that looks like 2 computers.

     

  2. This will bring up the AnyConnect Client, and should have the AnyConnect SRI VPN pre-filled. Click on ‘Connect’.

     

  3. Enter in your NetID & Password, then click on ‘OK’ - You’ll receive a Duo prompt on your mobile device, be sure to accept it to complete the login.

     

  4. Once the AnyConnect client disappears and is connected, you can enter your NetID & Password into Windows and sign-in like normal.

     

If you run into any issues connecting, please reach out to techsupport@uconn.edu for assistance.