This page explains how to use Informatics OpenVPN on a Mac.

(Summary: get admin rights; install the software; add the configuration files; connect.)

Some managed Macs already have Informatics OpenVPN set up. If yours does, skip straight to Connect.

Setting your OpenVPN password

Your password can be set here in the Password Portal. This password must be unique. Your username looks like uun/ovpn.

Get admin rights

Before going further, your Mac account will need admin rights.

Install the software (Tunnelblick)

We recommend Tunnelblick. Their page Downloading and Installing Tunnelblick explains how to install it. Installing Tunnelblick can be fiddly, but that page explains it very carefully.

Get configuration files

Next, download this configuration file or this one or both.
(Why is there more than one configuration file?)

There are several ways to install these configuration files in Tunnelblick - just choose one:

  • Double-click each configuration file in a Finder window.
  • Drag and drop the configuration files onto the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar.
  • Click the Tunnelblick icon in the menu bar and choose 'VPN Details' to make the Tunnelblick window appear. Then drop the configuration files onto the 'Configurations' tab.

If Tunnelblick asks for permission to convert configurations to "Tunnelblick VPN Configurations", please agree.

Connect

Once Tunnelblick and the configuration files have been installed correctly, there should be a Tunnelblick icon in the Mac's menu bar. Click this icon to bring up a menu which lets you "Connect" to your chosen configuration, or "Disconnect" if it is already connected.
Note: When prompted, enter your username as <UUN>/ovpn when connecting via OpenVPN.

When you connect, Tunnelblick may warn you that "this computer's apparent public IP address" is "unchanged". This is expected, and nothing to worry about.

If you can't connect, or you're getting other warning or error messages, see our OpenVPN FAQ.

References

Last reviewed: 
31/07/2025