Cisco VPN Client Frequently Asked Questions

Cisco VPN Client Frequently Asked Questions

Document number: 54101

Frequently Asked Questions

What features are part of the Cisco VPN client software?

Where do I install the Cisco VPN software? (Document 54102)

When do I have to upgrade from the Nortel VPN client software?

What is my password? Where do I enter the displayed token token number?

Why can't I reach other machines or printers on my network when connected with Cisco VPN?

Does the Cisco VPN client software support multiple network cards?

What is the session timeout for Cisco VPN? (Document 54121)

Are there any known hardware or configuration issues?

Is mapping a network drive slower using the Cisco VPN client software?

Do I need to change or configure the Cisco firewall software?

Do I need a static IP address to use the Cisco VPN client software?

What features are part of the Cisco VPN client software?

The Cisco VPN client software offers several features that increase the ease-of-use and security of creating and maintaining a VPN connection to PeopleSoft. These features include:

Ease of Configuration - There are no network settings or properties that you need to set or change to use the Cisco VPN client. (There may be settings you must change based on your Internet Service Provider's connection requirements.)
Firewall Tolerant - The Cisco VPN client allows a connection from behind a client network, firewall, or other private network environments. (The Cisco VPN client relies on common TCP ports to communicate, such as 80, 8080 and 443; these ports are valid for use at nearly every location where the internet is accessible.)
Logging - The Cisco VPN client allows you to create and save logs of your VPN connection directly onto your machine.
Security - The Cisco client includes a client-side firewall while connected to the PeopleSoft network The firewall's configuration is centrally managed by the Cisco VPN server.
Server Stability - There are two Cisco VPN servers to provide load balancing and failover in the event one server becomes unavailable. The server is configured to automatically direct your VPN connection to the optimal server - there are no settings that must be set on your laptop or desktop.

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When do I have to upgrade from the Nortel VPN client software?

The current deadline for upgrading from the Nortel VPN client software to the Cisco VPN client software is September 30, 2002. However, you are encouraged to upgrade to the Cisco VPN client software at your earliest opportunity because the additional features available in the Cisco VPN client software increase the performance and security of your VPN connection.

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What is my password? Where do I enter the displayed token number?

There is only one field to enter both your password (PIN) and the displayed token number. On the Cisco VPN client window "User Authentication for PeopleSoft", you will be asked for your username and password.

Username. This is your network login name, which must be entered in lower case letters. (For example, Stephanie Foster would enter sfoster.)
Password. This is your password (PIN) and your displayed token number. (For example, if your password is "orange" and the number displayed on your token is 299595, you would enter orange299595.)

After entering the username and password, click OK. The Cisco VPN client will authenticate your login information, and once you connect, you will receive a "Cisco Systems VPN Client" window. This window contains an acknowledgment that unauthorized access is prohibited. You must click Continue to accept the terms of use. (If you do not agree, you may click Disconnect.)

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Why can't I reach other machines or printers on my network when connected with Cisco VPN?

The Cisco VPN client handles network routing and communication differently than with the Nortel VPN client. For that reason, when you are connected to the PeopleSoft network using Cisco VPN, you are not able to access other computers or printers that may exist on the same network (including home or client networks).

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Does the Cisco VPN client software support multiple network cards?

No. The Cisco VPN client will not connect to the VPN server if your machine has two (or more) network cards installed. Your PeopleSoft machine was issued with only network card, and that is the only card that is needed to use VPN. If you have additional network cards in your machine, you must remove them before you can successfully connect using the Cisco VPN client software.

Please note that a USB wireless network adaptor is also treated as a second network card by your computer.

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Are there any known hardware or configuration issues?

There are a few issues that have been found with the Cisco VPN client and some hardware that has been reported as problematic:

USB network devices have consistently shown to not work with the Cisco VPN client. (PeopleSoft does not issue any USB network equipment, however; these are all privately owned types of equipment that are not supported by PeopleSoft.)
The Cisco VPN client is designed to deny a successful connection if there are two or more network cards in the machine.

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Is mapping a network drive slower using the Cisco VPN client software?

There may be a short delay the first time you map a network drive, it may take up to a minute before the connection is successful. Additional network drives being connected is much faster, however, and the issue appears to be limited to the first time a drive is mapped using the Cisco VPN client software.

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Do I need to change or configure the Cisco firewall software?

No. The included Cisco firewall software is configured when it is installed, and configuration is managed by the Cisco VPN server software, and updated as changes are required. You should not change or configure any settings on the Cisco firewall software. Making any changes to the installed firewall on your machine may prevent your machine from successfully connecting to the PeopleSoft network, or prevent you from being able to access your machine remotely for other purposes.

There is an option for "Stateful Firewall (Always on)" option. The default is that this option is not checked, and this should never be checked. (The option being checked with check mark may prevent your machine from reconnecting to the PeopleSoft network from an office connection, or leave your machine inaccessible from other locations on the PeopleSoft network, preventing you from pinging the machine, using PC-Duo to access the machine, accessing personal web server content on that machine, etc.)

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Do I need a static IP address to use the Cisco VPN client software?

No. The Cisco VPN client software will work with a dynamic IP address (also referred to as a DHCP assigned IP address).

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