How to set up NTUVPN on Ubuntu

For Ubuntu users, the NTU’s official instruction to setup a VPN client requires them to install a java plugin in order to connect to its server. However, the client can only run on a 32-bit JVM, and even if it is running on one, the client seems to hang. Therefore, to save you from all these hassles, this post will help you set up a VPN client that runs natively on Ubuntu.

Installing the required package

Firstly, you need to install the PPTP plugin for Network Manager, which provides a PPTP VPN plugin to connect to a Microsoft VPN server.

Open up your Terminal and type in

sudo apt-get install network-manager-pptp

Enter your password if required and wait until it finishes installing.

Setting up a VPN connection

Click on the Network Manager icon, select VPN Connections and choose Configure VPN...

In the Choose a VPN Connection Type dialog, select Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and click Create

In the newly opened dialog, type in the following:

• Connection name: → NTUVPN
• Gateway: → vpngate.ntu.edu.sg
• User name: → your NTU user name, prefixed by STUDENT\, e.g. STUDENT\name1
• Password: → your password

Click on Advanced..., tick Use Point-to-Point encryption (MPPE), and click OK

Finally, click Save...

Connect to NTUVPN

Click on the Network Manager icon, select VPN Connections and choose the newly created NTUVPN. The connection should be established now.

Disconnect from NTUVPN

To disconnect from NTUVPN, click on the Network Manager icon, select VPN Connections and choose Disconnect VPN