How to Connect Your Mac to Any VPN (and Automatically Reconnect)

How to Connect Your Mac to Any VPN

Mac OS X has intrinsical support for connecting to commonest varieties of VPNs. If you wish to confirm your waterproof mechanically reconnected to your VPN or connect with Associate in Nursing OpenVPN VPN, you’ll would like a third-party app.

This method is analogous whether or not you’re using Windows, Android, iOS, or another software package. OS X provides a menu bar icon for dominant the VPN association.

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Connect to L2TP over IPSec, PPTP, and Cisco IPSec VPNs

Use the Network instrument panel to attach to most kinds of VPNs. To open it, click the Apple menu, choose System Preferences, and click Network or click the Wi-Fi icon on the menu bar and choose Open Network Preferences.

Click the sign button at all-time low left corner of the window and choose “VPN” within the Interface box. select the kind of VPN server you would like to attach to within the “VPN Type” box and enter a reputation that may assist you establish it.

Like different operative systems, mackintosh OS X doesn’t embrace built-in support for OpenVPN networks. Scroll down for directions for connecting to OpenVPN networks.

How to Connect Your Mac to Any VPN

Enter the VPN server’s address, your username, and alternative settings. The “Authentication Settings” button permits you to produce the authentication you’ll got to connect — something from a parole or certificate file to RSA SecurID, Kerberos, or CryptoCard authentication.

The “Advanced” button permits you to set up the VPN affiliation in alternative ways in which. for instance, the default settings mechanically disconnect from the VPN after you sign off or switch users. you'll uncheck these boxes to forestall the macintosh from mechanically disconnecting.

Click Apply to save lots of your settings. Before you are doing, you'll change the “Show VPN standing in menu bar” choice to get a menu bar icon for managing your VPN association. Use this menu to attach to your VPN and disconnect from it as necessary.

Automatically Reconnect to a VPN When The Connection Drops

By default, your waterproof won’t mechanically reconnect to the VPN if the association dies. to save lots of yourself it slow and trouble, use the VPN AutoConnect application. It’s offered for $1 on the waterproof App Store.

This is a straightforward application that primarily replaces the inbuilt VPN menu bar icon on waterproof OS X. If the VPN association drops, it'll mechanically reconnect. This application uses the inbuilt VPN support in waterproof OS X, therefore it’ll solely work with connections you'll be able to put together within the Network Settings panel. If you employ a third-party VPN consumer — for instance, to attach to Associate in Nursing OpenVPN VPN — it won’t assist you. however third-party VPN shoppers might have this feature integrated.

If you would like to save lots of a dollar or simply like DIY solutions, you'll tack together your own auto-VPN-reconnect resolution victimisation AppleScript.

Connect to OpenVPN Networks

You’ll want a third-party application for connecting to OpenVPN VPNs. The official OpenVPN web-site recommends the ASCII text file Tunnelblick application for this.

Install Tunnelblick, launch it, and it'll evoke the configuration files provided by your OpenVPN server. These typically have the .ovpn file extension and square measure needed for connecting from any OpenVPN shopper. Your OpenVPN server supplier ought to offer them to you.

How to Connect Your Mac to Any VPN

Tunnelblick provides its own menu bar icon for managing your OpenVPN connections. choose “VPN Details” and you’ll see Tunnelblick’s association window, wherever you'll be able to tack however it works.

For example, you'll be able to have Tunnelblick mechanically connect with OpenVPN networks once this application launches. It will mechanically keep you connected to the VPN network, thus you won’t want a tool like VPN AutoConnect.

If you need to connect to another type of VPN network, you’ll need a different third-party VPN client with support for that type of network.