Zentraler Informatikdienst

Setting up FreeOTP as second factor for VPN

For:  students    employees

This user guide will help you set up the FreeOTP app as a second factor for multi-factor authentication for VPN.

You will then need to configure the VPN software before you can establish a VPN connection.

Requirements

  • a device (i.e. laptop) on which you want to use VPN with multi-factor authentication
  • a mobile device with Android or iOS, iPadOS and a precisely set time for the app FreeOTP

Android

  1. Install FreeOTP
  2. Open FreeOTP
  3. (Set up super password)
  4. Plus symbol – QR code symbol
  5. Form Setting up second factor – Setting up TOTP authentication app – scan QR code
  6. Display one-time password
  7. Enter one-time password in form

Detailed user guide

1. Installing FreeOTP

Download and install the FreeOTP Authenticator app from Red Hat from the Google Play Store.
How do you download and install an app? To the basic user guide Installing smartphone or tablet app

2. Opening FreeOTP

  1. Swipe up on your home screen to open the app overview.
  2. Launch the app by tapping the FreeOTP icon.
  3. Follow the instructions and tap Get started.

3. Setting up super password

  1. When you open FreeOTP for the first time, you must set up a super password. You will be asked for this when you want to restore a backup.
  2. Tap on Done.

4. Adding account

  1. Tap the plus symbol.
  2. Tap the QR code symbol.
  3. Allow the app to take pictures and videos by tapping Allow.

5. Scanning QR code

  1. In the browser of your other device (i.e. laptop) that you want to use VPN on, open the form Setting up second factor.
  2. Click Setting up TOTP authentication app.
  3. Scan the QR code displayed there with your mobile device.

6. Displaying one-time password

  1. An account with the name ZID Universität Wien has now been added to the authentication app.
  2. Tap this account to display the one-time password. The password is renewed every 30 seconds. The line below the one-time password indicates how long the one-time password is still valid.

7. Entering one-time password in form

  1. Enter this one-time password in the One-time password field of the form.
  2. Click OK before the time expires.

iOS, iPadOS

  1. Install and open FreeOTP
  2. QR code symbol
  3. Form Setting up second factor – Setting up TOTP authentication app – scan QR code
  4. Select icon
  5. Display one-time password
  6. Enter one-time password in form

Detailed user guide

1. Installing FreeOTP

Download and install the FreeOTP Authenticator app from Red Hat from the App Store.
How do you download and install an app? To the basic user guide Installing smartphone or tablet app

2. Adding account

  1. Open the FreeOTP app.
  2. Tap the QR code symbol in the upper right corner.
  3. Tap OK to allow access to the camera.

3. Scanning QR code

  1. In the browser of your other device (i.e. laptop) that you want to use VPN on, open the form Setting up second factor.
  2. Click Setting up TOTP authentication app.
  3. Scan the QR code displayed there with your mobile device.

4. Selecting icon

  1. FreeOTP prompts you to assign an icon for the account. Select an icon.
  2. Tap Next.

5. Displaying one-time password

  1. An account with the name ZID Universität Wien has now been added to the authentication app.
  2. Tap this account to display the one-time password. This password is renewed every 30 seconds. The circle in the icon indicates how long the one-time password is still valid.

6. Entering one-time password in form

  1. Enter this one-time password in the One-time password field of the form.
  2. Click OK before the time expires.