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FortiClient installation and VPN connection


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Install FortiClient on the computer, tablet or phone on which you want to use a secure VPN connection to university or OAMK services outside the campus network. As an alternative to FortiClient, you can use OpenVPN together with the eduvpn profile.

The contents of this instruction:

FortiClient installation and use in different operating systems:

Windows: FortiClient installation, its use and removal

1. Load and install FortiClient on your own computer

2. Open the VPN connection this way

  • Open FortiClient from the Start menu or desktop icon.
  • In the case of the first start-up session of FortiClient installed on your own device, do these actions:
    • Accept Terms of use
    • Select Configure VPN
    • Change from SSL-VPN tab to XML tab
    • Select Import XML Configuration and open the downloaded configuration file forticlient.conf
  • Choose the desired connection; “OAMK VPN” or ”UniOulu VPN
  • Choose ”SAML Login” and enter your user name in form:
    • account@oamk.fi,
    • account@students.oamk.fi,
    • account@univ.yo.oulu.fi or
    • account@student.oulu.fi.
  • When you don’t use the connection, choose Disconnect.

3. Uninstall FortiClient from a home computer

If you don’t need the software anymore and want to remove FortiClient from the computer, act this way:

  • Remove the FortiClient installation on the same way like other software through Windows Control Panel.

Linux: FortiClient installation and use

1. Load and install FortiClient on your own computer

Instructions and packages do not exist on a distribution-by-distribution basis, but e.g. in Ubuntu 22, installation and use is as follows:

2. Open the VPN connection this way

  • Open FortiClient.
  • In the case of the first start-up session of FortiClient installed on your own device, do these actions:
    • Accept Terms of use
    • Select Configure VPN
    • Change from SSL-VPN tab to XML tab
    • Select Import XML Configuration and open the downloaded configuration file forticlient.conf
    • In the field Password, type oulu2023 and select Import
  • Choose Remote Access and the desired connection; “OAMK VPN” or ”UniOulu VPN”.
  • Choose ”SAML Login” and enter your user name in form:
    • account@oamk.fi,
    • account@students.oamk.fi,
    • account@univ.yo.oulu.fi or
    • account@student.oulu.fi.
  • When you don’t use the connection, choose Disconnect.

Mac: FortiClient installation and use

1. Load and install FortiClient on your own computer

2. Open the VPN connection this way

  • Open FortiClient from Start menu or using the desktop icon.
  • In the case of the first start-up session of FortiClient installed on your device, do these actions:
    • Accept Terms of use
    • Select Configure VPN 
    • Enter the name of the connection in the field Connection Name, for example “UniOulu VPN” or “OAMK VPN
    • You can use the same text in the Description section as in the Connection Name
    • Enter in Remote Gateway either the university server vpn.oulu.fi or Oamk’s server vpn.oamk.fi
    • Select Enable Single Sign On (SSO) for VPN Tunnel
    • Save data by pressing Save
  • Choose  the desired connection
  • Choose ”SAML Login” and enter your user name in form:
    • account@oamk.fi,
    • account@students.oamk.fi,
    • account@univ.yo.oulu.fi or
    • account@student.oulu.fi.
  • When you don’t use the connection, choose Disconnect.

Mobile device iOS:

1. FortiClient installation

  • Load and install the app from App Store. Please note that the correct application is FortiClient VPN, not e.g. FortiClient or FortiClient 6.0!
  • When installing, give the application the requested permits.
  • After the installation, open the application and accept Terms of use.
  • Add the needed VPN connections:
    • Choose Connections -> Add configuration
    • Slide the SSO button to ON position
    • Type the name for the connection in the Name field e.g. UniOulu VPN or OAMK VPN
    • Type the host name in the Host field, e.g. for university connection vpn.oulu.fi and for Oamk connection vpn.oamk.fi
    • Save the configuration with Save.

2. Open the VPN connection this way

  • Open FortiClient.
  • Select Connections and choose the desired connection
  • Connect using the VPN slide button.
  • Enter your user name in form:
    • account@oamk.fi,
    • account@students.oamk.fi,
    • account@univ.yo.oulu.fi or
    • account@student.oulu.fi.

Mobile device Android:

1. FortiClient installation

  • Load and install the app from Google Play Store. Please note that the correct application is FortiClient VPN, not e.g. FortiClient or FortiClient 6.0!
  • When installing, give the application the requested permits and accept Terms of use.
  • In the field ”Input the VPN Name” give a name for the VPN connection, e.g. UniOulu VPN or OAMK VPN. 
  • Choose the type: SSL VPN and  select Create.
  • Select Single Sign On and Enable. 
  • Choose Servers and give the address vpn.oulu.fi for the university server and vpn.oamk.fi for Oamk, and accept two times with OK.
  • Open the side menu from the icon in the upper right corner (three blue lines) and choose VPN.

2. Open the VPN connection this way

  • Choose the desired VPN connection.
  • Choose Connect.
  • Enter your user name in form:
    • account@oamk.fi,
    • account@students.oamk.fi,
    • account@univ.yo.oulu.fi or
    • account@student.oulu.fi.

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