This page explains how to use the Informatics OpenVPN service on a Mac.
(Summary: get admin rights; install the software; add the configuration files; connect.)
Get admin rights
Before going further, you will need to have admin rights on your Mac.
- If it's a Supported Mac, you can get admin rights using the Privileges app.
- If not, start System Settings then click Users & Groups, where you can check that your account is "Admin" rather than "Standard".
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.
This might be a good time to read their Privacy and Security document.
Choose configuration files
You will also need configuration files. There's a choice of these, but you will probably just need one or two. Once you have downloaded the ones you want, please return to this page.
Install configuration files
Next, install your configuration files in Tunnelblick. There are several ways to do this - 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 automatically convert configurations to "Tunnelblick VPN Configurations", please agree.
How to connect and disconnect
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.
If you can't connect, or you're getting warning or error messages, see our OpenVPN FAQ.