Many users find it useful to work from a remote location using the Remote Desktop Client. Once connected, the Cisco AnyConnect VPN can be started on the remote desktop and access to business applications can be done as normal. Here are the steps to work in that environment.

Note that if you are using the Cisco VPN for the first time to connect to University administrative applications, you must also have had authorization for specific access configured. The tunnel will not connect if this isn’t configured.

Note: These instructions are for IE only, FF and Chrome to follow. This is not the recommended procedure for running the Cisco VPN over RDP. For that, please see: http://main.its.utoronto.ca/its-units/isea/etokens/technical-information/remote-desktop-client/

  1. Ensure that the local and remote computers have the SafeNet client installed and running.
  2. Plug the eToken into the local computer.
  3. Start the Remote Desktop Client on the local computer and connect to the remote computer.
  4. When connected to the remote machine, start the Cisco VPN using the following steps. Note: do not start the VPN in the usual way of using the systray client – this does not work with the Remote Desktop client.
  5. Start the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer on the remote machine.
  6. Ensure that the following URL is entered in the ‘trusted sites’ area of IE: https://port.eis.utoronto.ca
  7. For IE 11, add the following to the compatibility list: utoronto.ca
  8. Access the following URL: https://port.eis.utoronto.ca
  9. You will be prompted for the eToken password as usual.
  10. The tunnel should start normally.
  11. To close the tunnel, you may operate the ‘Disconnect’ button on the Cisco VPN client in the systray. Again – the ‘Connect’ button will not start the tunnel – you must use the above procedure.