VPN: Secure connection to the network of the University of Basel

Working from home? VPN - Virtual Private Network - offers a secure connection to the network of the University of Basel. Regardless of whether you are sitting at a desktop or on the road with your laptop, you can use VPN to access internal university resources or, via the university network, external resources that can only be accessed from the university network (e.g. online journals). If, on the other hand, you want to view web pages, the simple WebVPN service is usually sufficient. For full access, your computer can become part of the network of the University of Basel via a so-called VPN tunnel. In order to establish such a connection, a special software (VPN Client) has to be installed. This software is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. On this page you will find instructions on how to connect to WebVPN and install the VPN client on your personal device. When connecting via VPN, the directives of the Rectorate on the use of IT resources apply.

Instructions

With the WebVPN, a secure connection to the VPN servers of the University of Basel can be established from any computer via an internet browser. In doing so, a VPN session is established in your web browser. With this WebVPN connection you can use most of the offers directly, but there are some restrictions regarding the functionality compared to the VPN client. The WebVPN service is basically open for all members (employees and students) of the University of Basel. WebVPN can be used if the conventional VPN software cannot be installed or used. With a click on the button below you can connect to WebVPN.

Requirements

a) You have administrator rights on your computer.

b) You know the terms of use of the University of Basel.

c) You need your current access data of the University of Basel (username and password).

d) Only the latest three macOS versions are supported (please note that beta versions are excluded).

Username:
If this is not known to you, you can view it in the SelfService Portal Viaweb.


Installation

Connect to a WLAN network (unibas-public or eduroam) in buildings of the University of Basel or use an alternative internet connection.


Click on the "macOS CLIENT" button below.


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You will be asked for your access data (user name e.g. muster0000 and password) of the University of Basel. Enter them and make sure you enter the user name and not the email address in the first field.


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The download starts after successful authentication. Save the file in a place where you can find it again. For example, in your "Downloads" folder. Then execute the downloaded file (annyconnect-macosx-XX.dmg).


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Navigate to your desktop where you will find a virtual hard disk. Open it. There you will now find the installation program, which you need to run.


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Click "Continue" in the installation dialog.


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Read the Terms of Use carefully and click "Continue".


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Click on "Accept".


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Start the installation process by clicking on "Install".


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In the following dialog, enter the administrator password of your MAC and click on "Install software".


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After the successful installation you can close the dialog.


Use

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The VPN client can now be started. You can find the program by starting the Finder from the Dock and navigating to the "Applications" folder.


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Open the "Cisco" folder and start the VPN client.


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Enter the server "vpn.mobile.unibas.ch" at the first start. Then click on "Connect" to establish a VPN connection.


Cisco AnyConnect Username and Password

The standard login window of the university will now appear. Enter your current access data of the University of Basel and then click on "OK".


Cisco AnyConnect Verification

If you have already set up the so-called "2-Step Login", a window will now appear to confirm the login with the method you have set up (approval via Microsoft Authenticator/code from Authenticator App/SMS code).

If you have not yet set up the "2-Step Login", a window will now appear asking you to set up the required method.


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Accept the reminder of our terms of use. You should be connected afterwards. You can recognize the status in the taskbar by the icon with a closed lock.


Known problems

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Click on "Keep Me Safe" and quit the VPN client if you get an error message when you first try to connect. This error occurs because the university's security certificate is not yet known to your Mac.


(copy 40)

Click on the button below.


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Enter your access data and save the file in your "Downloads" folder.


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Now open the downloaded file. If necessary, the data will be unpacked into a new folder. Start the file VPN_UniBasel_CertificateFix_XX.pkg


Click on "Continue" and "Install". Again, enter your computer password and wait until the installation is complete. Now click on "Close". You can now use the software.


Voraussetzungen

Sie besitzen Administratorenechte auf Ihrem Computer.


Deinstallation

Screenshot Deinstallation VPN

Suchen Sie mit dem Finder nach "Uninstall anyconnect" und starten Sie die Applikation.


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Bestätigen Sie das Entfernen der Applikation und klicken auf "Uninstall".


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Geben Sie im folgenden Dialog das Administratorkennwort Ihres MACs ein und klicken Sie auf «OK».


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Die Applikation wurde erfolgreich entfernt und Sie können das Programm schliessen.

Nun können Sie eine Neuinstallation des VPN Clients vornehmen.

Requirements

a) You have administrator rights on your computer.

b) You know the terms of use of the University of Basel.

c) You need your current access data of the University of Basel (username and password).

d) A supported Linux operating system (64bit; Tested distributions are Ubuntu 20.04 or higher).

Username:

If this is not known to you, you can view it in the SelfService Portal Viaweb.


Installation

Connect to a WLAN network (unibas-public or eduroam) in buildings of the University of Basel or use an alternative internet connection.


Click on the "LINUX CLIENT" button below and enter the username (not email address) and password of the uniaccount in the popup.


Now use the terminal to navigate to the folder where you downloaded the file (e.g.: cd ~/Downloads/). Make the installation file executable: sudo chmod +x <filename>. Then run the installation file: sudo ./<filename>.sh. Enter your administration password when prompted.


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The Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client now appears in your program folder.


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Start this and enter the server address vpn.mobile.unibas.ch. Then click on "Connect".


Cisco AnyConnect Username and Password

The standard login window of the university will now appear. Enter your current access data of the University of Basel and then click on "OK".


Cisco AnyConnect Verification

If you have already set up the so-called "2-Step Login", a window will now appear to confirm the login with the method you have set up (approval via Microsoft Authenticator/code from Authenticator App/SMS code).

If you have not yet set up the "2-Step Login", a window will now appear asking you to set up the required method.


Disconnect the connection as soon as you don't need it anymore.


Known problems

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Click "Keep Me Safe" and exit the VPN client if you receive this error message.


Start the terminal and execute the following commands:


sudo ln -s /etc/ssl/certs/QuoVadis_Root_CA.pem /opt/.cisco/certificates/ca/QuoVadis_Root_CA.pem
sudo ln -s /etc/ssl/certs/QuoVadis_Root_CA_2.pem /opt/.cisco/certificates/ca/QuoVadis_Root_CA_2.pem
sudo ln -s /etc/ssl/certs/QuoVadis_Root_CA_3.pem /opt/.cisco/certificates/ca/QuoVadis_Root_CA_3.pem


Now start the VPN client again. You should no longer receive an error message.


Deinstallation

Navigate to the folder containing the shell uninstall script: cd /opt/cisco/anyconnect/bin/

To run the AnyConnect uninstall script, enter the following: sudo ./vpn_uninstall.sh

This will begin the uninstall process using superuser permissions

At the prompt, enter the sudo password and the client software will complete uninstallation.

Requirements

a) You have administrator rights on your computer.

b) You know the terms of use of the University of Basel.

c) You need your current access data of the University of Basel (user name and password).

d) The following Windows versions are supported:

- Windows 11
- Windows 10 (All versions, except IoT and "Mobile Device Versions" which obtain the version from the Microsoft Store)

Username:

If this is not known to you, you can view it in the SelfService Portal Viaweb .


Installation

Connect to a WLAN network (unibas-public or eduroam) in buildings of the University of Basel or use an alternative internet connection.


Click on the "WINDOWS CLIENT" button.


In a few cases (e.g. various Surface devices) another version (arm64) is necessary. You can find the installation file here.


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You will be asked for your access data (user name e.g. muster0000 and password) of the University of Basel. Enter them and make sure you enter the user name and not the email address in the first field.


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The download will start after successful authentication. Save the file.


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Now start / open the downloaded file. This will normally be located in the "Downloads" folder (file name: anyconnect-win-X.X.XX-web-deploy-k9.msi).


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The installation will now start and the installation dialog will appear in a new window. Continue with a click on "Next".


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Read the license agreement carefully and confirm with "Next".


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In the following dialog step, you can now start the installation by clicking the "Install" button.


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Windows will ask you in a security message if you want to install the software. Confirm this query with "Yes" (enter the password of your computer if necessary).


The program will now be installed. To exit, click on "Finish".


Use of the program

Start the program "Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client", to be found in the start menu under "Cisco".


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Enter the server "vpn.mobile.unibas.ch" at the first start. Then click on "Connect" to establish a VPN connection.


Cisco AnyConnect Username and Password

The standard login window of the university will now appear. Enter your current access data of the University of Basel and then click on "OK".


Cisco AnyConnect Verification

If you have already set up the so-called "2-Step Login", a window will now appear to confirm the login with the method you have set up (approval via Microsoft Authenticator/code from Authenticator App/SMS code).

If you have not yet set up the "2-Step Login", a window will now appear asking you to set up the required method.


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Read the Terms of Use carefully and accept them by clicking "Accept".


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You will now be connected to the University of Basel network.


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Right-click on the icon in your taskbar and "VPN Disconnect" to disconnect as soon as you no longer need the VPN connection.


Deinstallation

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Uninstall the program via the Control Panel.


iOS / Android / Chrome OS

Install the AnyConnect app from the

iTunes Store

Google Play Store

The server address is:

vpn.mobile.unibas.ch

follow the further instructions on the device to connect.


Service Desk

IT-Services
Spitalstrasse 41, 3rd Floor
CH-4056 Basel
Phone +41 61 207 14 11
E-mail support-its@unibas.ch