Zentraler Informatikdienst

Configuring VPN software in macOS

For:  students    employees

This user guide will help you to configure the BIG-IP Edge Client on your macOS device.

You can then establish a VPN connection in macOS.

Requirement

Set up multi-factor authentication and authentication app on smartphone or YubiKey

Notes

  • If you have problems establishing a connection with the BIG-IP Edge Client you can also configure the F5 Access app.
  • If macOS autocorrect converts the first letter of your u:account UserID into an uppercase letter, then replace it with a lowercase letter.

Configuring BIG-IP Edge Client

  1. Open VPN page – log in with u:account access data and one-time password
  2. Download BIG-IP Edge Client macOS – log out from VPN page
  3. Run mac_edgesvpn.pkg – follow installation wizard

Detailed user guide

1. Logging into VPN page

Open the VPN page of the University of Vienna in the browser.

Enter your u:account access data and the one-time password:

With an authentication app on smartphone:

  1. Open the authentication app.
  2. On the VPN website, enter the currently valid code in the field One-time password, which is displayed in the app in the ZID Universität Wien or ZID account.
  3. Before the code expires, press Logon.

With YubiKey:

  1. Position the cursor in the One-time password field.
  2. Plug the YubiKey into a USB port on your device and then press the button on the YubiKey. The one-time password is entered in the text field.
  3. The Logon button is activated automatically.

2. Downloading BIG-IP Edge Client, logging out

Click the button BIG-IP Edge Client Mac to download the VPN software.

Close the VPN session after the download by clicking in the right upper corner on Logout.

3. Installing BIG-IP Edge Client

  1. There should now be a folder in your download directory called BIGIPMacEdgeClient. If not, unzip the ZIP file with the same name.
  2. Open the mac_edgesvpn.pkg file in the folder.
    How do you download and install an app? To the basic user guide Installing desktop app
  3. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard.
  4. You will be asked to enter the password of your local macOS account.
    Then click Install Software.
  5. Click Close to complete the installation.

Configuring F5 Access App

If you have problems establishing a connection with the BIG-IP Edge Client you can also configure the F5 Access App.

  1. Install F5 Access App via App Store
  2. Open F5 Access App – Agree – OK
  3. Menu bar F5 Access – Manage VPN Configurations – plus symbol
  4. Enter UniVPN, https://vpn.univie.ac.at, activate Web Logon – Apply

Detailed user guide

1. Installing F5 Access

Open the App Store and install the F5 Access app.
How do you download and install an app? To the basic user guide Installing desktop app

2. Opening F5 Access

  1. Open the F5 Access app.
  2. Click Agree to accept the terms and conditions.
  3. You will be informed that F5 Access wants to use a new network extension. Click OK. 

3. Adding VPN connection

  1. Click F5 Access in the menu bar at the top right of the screen.
  2. Select Manage VPN Configurations.

Click the plus symbol to configure a new VPN connection.

You will be asked whether F5 Access may add VPN configurations. Click Allow.

4. Entering connection details

  1. Enter:
    • VPN Name: UniVPN (or any other name)
    • Server: https://vpn.univie.ac.at
  2. Activate the option Web Logon
  3. Click Apply.