How to Install the VPN Client of the University of Mannheim
Some services, such as databases of the Mannheim University Library or FileServices, are only available as secured connection on campus. If you wish to access such services from your home or from anywhere else, you need a VPN connection to the university network.
Who can use the VPN client?
The VPN client is only available to staff members, enrolled doctoral students, students (including senior and visiting students) and senior academic staff members (Privatdozent*innen) at the University of Mannheim.
Installing the VPN client on Windows
Step 1 – Start
Open a webbrowser and go to https://vpn.uni-mannheim.de/.Step 2 – Login
Please login with your Uni-ID and your password. If you have set up a WLAN/VPN password instead of your password, please use this password. Forgot your password?
Please follow our passwort reset instruction.Forgot your password and your Uni-ID?
Please contact our support team by calling +49 621 181-2000 or sending an e-mail to itsupportuni-mannheim.de. We are happy to help you.Step 3 – Download VPN Client
Please click “Download for Windows“.Step 4 – Save VPN Client
Please save the file.Step 5 – Installing the VPN client
Please execute the file you downloaded by double-clicking on it.Step 6 – Installation
6.1. Please go through the installation process by clicking “Next”.6.2. During the installation process, please agree to the License Agreement.
6.3. Please start the installation by clicking “Install”.
6.4. Please complete the installation process by clicking “Finish”.
Step 7 – Running the VPN Client
Please run the Cisco Anyconnect Secure Mobility Client.Step 8 – Establishing the VPN connection
Please enter “vpn.uni-mannheim.de” and click on “Connect”.
Step 9 – Establishing the VPN connection
9.1. Login: In the new window, you are asked to enter your user name and the corresponding password. If you have set up a WLAN or VPN password, please use this password.9.2. Profile: In the new window, you are asked to enter your user name and the corresponding password. If you have set up a WLAN or VPN password, please use this password.
There are two profiles:
1. WebVPN: This is the standard profile. With this profile, your entire Internet traffic goes through the VPN tunnel. This profile is required if you want to use the library’s databases.
2. WebVPN Split: With this profile, only data traffic to the university goes through the VPN tunnel. For you, this means that not the entire Internet traffic is channeled through the VPN tunnel and your connection will be faster. This is the recommended setting for the university’s employees. Please note that it is not possible to access the library’s databases with this profile.
After you entered your user name / password, please click “Ok”. The VPN connection is then established.
Step 10 – Existing VPN connection
After the VPN connection has been established, the window automatically disappears into the background. In the task bar, you will now see an icon of a “globe with a lock”.Step 11 – Access to internal resources
The VPN connection now allows you to access all drives and services which are only available in the network of the university.
Step 12 – The connection window
If you double-click on this symbol, the Anyconnect window will open. In this window, you can also terminate the connection.
Installing the VPN client on macOS
Step 1 – Start
Open a webbrowser and go to https://vpn.uni-mannheim.de.Step 2 – Login
Please login with your Uni-ID and your password. If you have set up a WLAN or VPN password instead of your password, please use this password.Forgot your password?
Please follow our passwort reset instruction.Forgot your password and your Uni-ID?
Please contact our support team by calling +49 621 181-2000 or sending an e-mail to itsupportuni-mannheim.de. We are happy to help you.Step 3 – Download VPN Client
Please click “Download for Windows“.Step 4 – Save VPN client
Please save the relevant file.Step 5 – Installing the VPN client
Please run the file you downloaded by double-clicking on it.Step 6 – Installation
Please go through the installation process by clicking “Continue”.6.1. During the installation process, please read the License Agreement and click “Continue”.
6.2. During the installation process, please agree to the License Agreement.
6.3. Please start the installation by clicking “Install”.
6.4. The program is now being installed.
Step 7 – Running the VPN Client
Please run the Cisco Anyconnect Secure Mobility Client.Step 8 – Establishing the VPN connection
Please enter “vpn.uni-mannheim.de” and click on “Connect”.Step 9 – Establishing the VPN connection: Login
In the new window, you are asked to enter your user name and the corresponding password. If you have set up a WLAN or VPN password, please use this password.There are two profiles:
1. WebVPN: This is the standard profile. With this profile, your entire Internet traffic goes through the VPN tunnel. This profile is required if you want to use the library’s databases.
2. WebVPN Split: With this profile, only data traffic to the university goes through the VPN tunnel. For you, this means that not the entire Internet traffic is channeled through the VPN tunnel so that your connection will be faster. This is the recommended setting for the university’s employees. Please note that it is not possible to access the library’s databases with this profile.
After you entered your user name / password, please click “Ok”. Then, the VPN connection is established.
Step 10 – Existing VPN connection
After the VPN connection has been established, the window automatically disappears into the background. In the task bar, you will now see an icon of a “globe with a lock”.Step 11: The connection window
If you double-click on this symbol, the Anyconnect window will open. In this window, you can also terminate the connection.Installing the VPN client on Android
Step 1 – Open Google PlayStore
Open Google PlayStore.Step 1 – Open Google PlayStore
Open Google PlayStore.Step 2 – Cisco Secure Client
Search for “Cisco Secure Client”.Step 3 – Installation
Click “Install”.Step 4 – Open
After the installation, click “Open”.Step 5 – License Agreement
Please accept the License Agreement.Step 6 – Allow Access
The Cisco Secure Client requires access to system information. Please confirm and allow.Step 7 – VPN connection
Now you can set up the VPN connection.7.1. Click on “Connections”.
7.2. Enter the details of the VPN connection.
7.3. Please define a description for the connection, e.g. University of Mannheim.
7.4. Enter the server address “vpn.uni-mannheim.de”.
7.5. Click on the button indicating “done”.
7.6. The VPN connection has now been set up.
Step 8 – start VPN connection
Now you can start the VPN connection with the switch.Step 9 – VPN login data
In the new window, you are asked to enter your username and the corresponding password. If you have set up a WLAN or VPN password, please use this password.There are two profiles:
1. WebVPN: This is the standard profile. With this profile, your entire Internet traffic goes through the VPN tunnel. If you want to use the library’s databases, you need to select this profile.
2. WebVPN Split: With this profile, only data traffic to the university goes through the VPN tunnel.
Step 10 – Start VPN connection
The Android system now asks you if you agree that Cisco AnyConnect Client starts a VPN connection.Step 11 – Successfully connected
You are now connected.Installing the VPN client on iOS
Step 1 – Open App Store
Open Apple App Store.Step 2 – Search for Cisco Secure Client
Search for “Cisco Secure Client”.Step 3 – Install
Click “Install”.Step 4 – Open program
After you have installed the program, click “Open”.Step 5 – VPN connection
Now you can set up the VPN connection.5.1. Click on “Connections”.
5.2. Click on “Add VPN connection”.
5.3. Now you need to enter the details of the VPN connection. Please define a description for the connection, e.g. University of Mannheim. Enter the server address “vpn.uni-mannheim.de”.
5.4. Click on “Save”.
5.6. iOS now asks you if the Cisco Secure Client is allowed to add a profile. Please confirm this by clicking “Allow”.
5.7. Now you need confirm this with an “iPhone code”.
5.8. The VPN connection is now set up. You can start the VPN connection with the switch.
Step 6 – Login
In the new window, you are asked to enter your username and the corresponding password.
There are two profiles:1. WebVPN: This iss the standard profile. With this profile, your entire Internet traffic goes through the VPN tunnel. If you want to use the library’s databases, you need to select this profile.
2. WebVPN Split: With this profile, only data traffic to the university goes through the VPN tunnel.
You are then connected.
Frequently asked questions
The installation of the AnyConnect Client fails:
Error message
“The VPN client agent was unable to create the interprocess communication depot”Potential cause
“Shared Internet connection” is activated on one or more network interfaces.Solution
Deactivate “Shared Internet connection”.
1. Control panel ► Network and sharing center
2. Right mouse button on Network adapter LAN connection / wireless network adapter ► Properties ► Now open the tab “Enable” and uncheck the checkbox, if it has been checked ► Click the “ok” button next to ”Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection”.Some online libraries cannot be accessed via VPN:
Potential cause
There are several potential causes (wrong VPN profile / license terms of the publisher)Solution
1. These are the options you have: You need to select the “WebVPN” profile before you connect. If you select the “WebVPN Split” profile, you do not have access to the online libraries.
2. These are the options you have: Please see the instructions under “Using databases” (https://www.bib.uni-mannheim.de/datenbanknutzung/)Which data go through the VPN tunnel when I connect to the university’s VPN?
Prior to connecting, you can decide for yourself which data are channeled through the VPN tunnel. There are two profiles:
Profile 1: WebVPN
This is the standard profile. You need to select this profile, if you want to or need to access online libraries.
With this profile, your entire Internet traffic, e.g. all data, goes through the VPN tunnel. Private network areas are excluded (e.g.192.168.X.X / 10.x). This means that you can use your network printer while using the VPN connection.Profile 2: WebVPN Split:
With this profile, only the Internet traffic, e.g. data, to the University of Mannheim goes to the VPN tunnel. Other Internet traffic is not channeled through the VPN tunnel.When I connect to Cisco AnyConnect, the following error message appears: “The following certificate received from the Server could not be verified”:
Problem
The AnyConnect client searches for valid SSL root certificates in different parts of the operating system. Unfortunately, the SSL root certificates may be stored at different locations on different Linux distributions. Therefore, it is possible that no matching SSL root certificate can be found when connecting and the error message described above appears.Solution
The Cisco AnyConnect Client on Linux uses the directory "/opt/.cisco/certificates/ca” for the SSL root certificates. A symbolic link from the “T-TeleSec GlobalRoot Class 2” SSL root certificate has to be created in this directory.1. cd /opt/.cisco/certificates/ca
2. ln -s /etc/ssl/certs/T-TeleSec_GlobalRoot_Class_2.pem
Use our speed test to find out whether the quality of your connection to the university network is sufficient for running various applications:
