OpenVPN on your home computer (Windows 10)

Download the OpenVPN software at: https://openvpn.net/community-downloads/
Select the latest release, do not try to install beta versions. Select Windows MSI Installer from the list (preferably 64-bit, older computers may need to install the 32-bit version. If you are not sure which one to choose, read Microsoft Help).

In addition to the software installation file, you need two configuration files (called uh-vpn-helsinkifi-only.ovpn and uh-vpn-allroute.ovpn), which contain the settings needed to start using the university’s VPN service.

Download the configuration files from Download Centre or here:
Tip: Right-click the link and select Save link as.

• uh-vpn-helsinkifi-only.ovpn
• uh-vpn-allroute.ovpn

NB! Select Save as type: All files.

If you need help with Download Centre, please see these instructions.

To start installation, click the installation file in the Downloads folder.

When the installation software starts, click Install Now.

Click the button Close after the installation has finished.

A message saying there are no connection profiles appears. That's normal, just click the OK button to close the window.

Now, move to the installation of the configuration.

After installation, you still need to install the configuration files before using the software.

Start the OpenVPN software from the Start menu by choosing OpenVPN  >  OpenVPN-gui.

When the OpenVPN software has started, you can upload the configuration files you downloaded earlier

• Right-click the OpenVPN icon in the menu at the bottom. In the menu that opens, choose Import file...  

Select the configuration file you downloaded earlier.

These files can be found in the Downloads folder if you used the default settings. Choose the file and click Open.

When the installation is complete, the software gives a notification of successful action. The notification window disappears quickly.

Close OpenVPN by right-clicking the icon on the taskbar. Select Exit.

Start OpenVPN. The program should look like this: 

You are ready to use the VPN connection.  

• You can delete unnecessary connections from the OpenVPN menu.
  
• Configuration files can be found under Local Disk (C:) > Users > user > OpenVPN > config. Delete any folders that are no longer needed. After this, they will no longer appear in the OpenVPN start menu.
  
  

To open the software, right-click the OpenVPN icon in the menu at the bottom and choose Connect.

The software then asks for your username and password (use the university username in the basic format, such as rkeskiva). The user information is sent to the university server in an encrypted format.

After a successful login, the OpenVPN icon in the status bar turns green. Hold the mouse over the icon to see a pop-up window with information about the connection.

To end the VPN connection, choose Disconnect in the OpenVPN start menu.