Connect to the BYUCS VPN¶
Motivation¶
A number of the lab resources are only available from within the BYU CS network, which protects them from being attacked from the internet. That also means that you have to be connected to the BYU CS network somehow. When you are in the Talmage building, this is as easy as connecting to the BYU CS department wifi. When you are elsewhere though, you can connect to the BYU CS VPN, and it is as if your computer is on the BYU CS network.
A virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network, and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. Applications running across the VPN may therefore benefit from the functionality, security, and management of the private network.1
Aside from being able to access lab resources, this also enables you to access any resources that are normally available on campus, like accessing conference and journal paper databases like IEEE for free, just like you can from the BYU Library website.
Setup the VPN¶
Follow the instructions found on the BYU CS department documentation: How to Setup Your Computer to Connect to the CS Department VPN
Connecting to the VPN¶
Follow the connecting instructions in the instructions above anytime you need to be on the network. For example, if you want to connect to Glamdring while you are in Austrailia giving a conference presentation, then connect to the VPN, and then SSH into the machine as you would here on campus.