Wharton is starting the transition from our current VPN (FortiClient) for most uses to the University's SecureRemoteAccess (SRA) VPN. You may already be familiar with the University VPN client, GlobalProtect, as it has long been required to access certain University Resources.
SecureRemoteAccess (SRA) uses the same GlobalProtect client, but gives access to a wider range of resources (including Wharton's file-sharing and printer servers).
Installing GlobalProtect
If you don't see the GlobalProtect application on your computer, it is available via Self Service.
Windows Instructions
- Locate the BigFix icon in your system tray. (The system tray is at the bottom right corner, next to the time. You may need to click on the up/down arrow to expand it.)
- Double-click the BigFix icon to open the app.
- Locate the offering titled GlobalProtect (UPenn VPN).
- Click Install - note if you don't see sra.vpn.upenn.edu in the Connections section when you launch GlobalProtect, you'll need to follow the configuration instructions below.
macOS Instructions
- Open your Applications folder in the Finder app and open the Self Service app.
- Locate the offering titled GlobalProtect (UPenn VPN).
- Click Install. Note: If you don't see sra.vpn.upenn.edu in the Connections section when you launch GlobalProtect, you'll need to follow the configuration instructions below.
Configuring access to SRA
- Launch GlobalProtect from the Start menu, system tray, or menubar.
- Click the menu in the top-right corner and click Settings.
- Click on Connections and click the (+).
- Enter sra.vpn.upenn.edu and click Add.
- You'll see the sra.vpn.upenn.edu listed on the connections screen. Close Settings and launch GlobalProtect from the Start menu, system tray, or menubar.
Connecting with SRA
Connecting to SRA with GlobalProtect is easy, but it does require clicking on two browser prompts (the most common issue we encounter with people having trouble connecting is forgetting to click the second time!).
The screen recording below shows the process for connecting to SecureRemoteAccess on a Mac using Chrome:
Here are the steps to connect with SRA using GlobalProtect:
- Launch GlobalProtect from the Start menu, system tray, or menubar.
- Select sra.vpn.upenn.edu as your portal and click Connect.
- GlobalProtect will display a connecting screen and launch a webpage in your default browser.
- If you aren't already logged in with PennKey, the PennKey login screen will appear. Log in with your username and password.
- Next, your browser will ask for permission to launch GlobalProtect twice. The button will be labeled differently based on what browser you use (here you can see in Chrome you'd click Open GlobalProtect, while in Safari you'd click Allow).
- You are now connected to Penn's SecureRemoteAccess.
