What is a VPN for?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a private data network that uses the public telecommunications infrastructure, maintaining the privacy of communication data through the use of security protocols, protecting the data that passes over the line public and making it impossible for third parties to access it.
When establishing a VPN connection, the computer behaves as if it were connected to the FCUL network, allowing access to resources available only to those within the faculty network (posting notes, accessing the network file service, connecting to FCUL jobs).
Please note that the "eduroam" wireless network for users with FCUL accounts is considered an internal network to FCUL, so you will not need to use the VPN to access FCUL's internal resources.
Who can use VPN connections
All users of the Faculty of Sciences who have a valid user account can use VPN connections.
How to use VPN
To use the traditional VPN you will need to have an active Internet connection and you will need to configure VPN access on your computer. To do this, see the appropriate guide below for your operating system and distribution. For other systems, you will have to consult their manual and research how to configure the corresponding options.
The following guides illustrate VPN authentication with a sample account. You must enter as username the full email address for your Science account and its password.
Note: Due to its stability and ease of configuration, it is recommended that the IKEv2 protocol be used whenever possible.
IKEv2