General
Options for Connecting to Network Drives from Off Campus
This document discusses three options for accessing campus network drives from off campus. Advantages and disadvantages are listed for each option.
Microsoft VPN Client
VPN Client software restricts off-campus access to UW-Eau Claire network resources to UW-Eau Claire users while providing a secure, encrypted network connection.
| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Only have to setup once | Number of steps involved in the setup |
| View is similar to what a user sees on campus | Issues can arise that are harder to troubleshoot |
| Can upload and download files |
For instructions on establishing a Microsoft VPN connection, refer to the appropriate documentation: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista.
Outlook Webmail Documents
You can use Outlook Webmail to map to a campus network drive without needing a VPN connection. This mapping provides read-only access to the files stored on the drive. Read-only access means that in order to make any changes to a document, you will have to save a copy locally and then make the changes.
If you map to a drive that you access frequently, you can save it as a Favorite, providing convenient access to your files anywhere.
| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| One-time setup (save paths with the FAVORITES button) |
Can only download files (cannot save back to the drive) |
| Accessible via the Internet on any IE 7 or IE8 browser | Does not work with Safari or Firefox |
For instructions on using this option, refer to Outlook Webmail: Mapping a Drive.
Web VPN
Rather than using Microsoft VPN Client, which is specific to a computer, you can use web VPN from any computer with an Internet browser. This provides secure access from anywhere to files stored on campus network drives.
| Advantages |
Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Works with any browser | Cannot save network names |
| Can upload and download files | Interface may look unfamiliar |
For instructions on using this option, refer to Using Web VPN.
