This guide will explain how to connect an off campus computer to our VPN and optionally to your on campus office computer using the VPN and Remote Desktop.

Prerequisites for this process which include: 

  • an approved Information Systems Access Request Form (aka TSR) for VPN access, 
  • Know the name of your on campus office computer (if you want to remotely connect to your on campus computer) 
  • The VPN only works off campus. You do NOT need VPN when you are at any Blue Ridge CC campus location
  • Note: The VPN runs over the Internet. Therefore, you may notice some delay or lag which will most likely be due to whatever internet connection you are connected to. 


In general, the Blue Ridge CC VPN client is already installed on every College-owned laptop computer -- including employee loaner laptops. 


If you need to use the VPN from a personal computer, you can install the VPN client by following the steps below.


How to Install the Blue Ridge CC VPN software


1. Go to https://vpn.blueridge.edu

2. Login using your Blue Ridge CC Active directory username and password. (This is usually the same thing you use to log into most Blue Ridge CC resources)

3. Follow the on screen instructions to download and install the appropriate VPN client for your operating system. 


Note: You will need to have administrator rights to your computer to install the VPN client. 





How to Connect using the VPN:

 

1.  Double click on the Cisco AnyConnect icon to establish a VPN connection.

 

2.  Make sure vpn.blueridge.edu displays in the drop-down menu and click connect.

 

3.  You will be greeted with a pop up message asking for credentials.  In the Group make sure “AnyConnect_Employee_VPN” is selected.  Enter your AD credentials for Username and Password (this is the same username and password that you use to sign into your work computer).

 

4.  You’ll see a pop up display in the bottom right notifying you that you have successfully connected to the VPN.

 


If you need to access SharePoint forms from off campus, you can now use Internet Explorer and go to "https://share.blueridge.edu".


If you wish to remotely connect to your on campus desktop computer, you can proceed to the steps below.



5.  Once you have successfully made a connection to the VPN, you should be able to double click on the “Office Computer” icon.

 

6.  You will again be asked to enter your AD credentials and click OK.

 

 

7.  If you have multiple monitors and they are not showing up, you can edit the connection settings by right clicking on the “Office Computer” icon and clicking on Edit.

 

8.  Once you are connected, you should see your office computer’s desktop.  You’ll notice that you have a Remote Desktop Connection toolbar at the top of the screen which will look like this:

 

You can minimize, restore down/restore up, or close the connection with the buttons on the right side.

You can unpin the toolbar by clicking the thumbtack (to get the toolbar back, you will move the mouse to the top of the screen and it should show you the bar.  You can click on the thumbtack to pin it back so it won’t disappear). 


Once you are finished with the connection you can click the X.  Do NOT shut down the computer as this will prevent you from connecting because the computer will be off (there's no way to turn it back on without physically turning it on).


9.  To exit out of the VPN, you click the up arrow next to the time in the bottom right corner and then find the icon below with the lock and double click on it.



10.  Once the pop-up appears, click the "Disconnect" button.





Troubleshooting

Click on the “Display” tab and choose the “Use all my monitors for the remote session” checkbox.  Click on “Connect”.