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Setup VPN on Windows

This article is for faculty and staff installing the GlobalProtect VPN client on a Windows PC. Not sure you need the VPN? Check VPN Overview - Connect to District Resources from Off Campus first — most everyday tools don't require it.

Download the installer

  1. Log in to myportal.fhda.edu with your CWID and MyPortal password.
  2. Under the IT Tools card, find and click the GlobalProtect VPN link.
  3. You'll be taken to the ETS website to download the GlobalProtect installer appropriate for your computer (Windows or Mac).

Install and connect

  1. Open your Downloads folder and double-click the installer (GlobalProtect64.msi).
  2. Click Next through the installer's screens and wait for it to complete.
  3. When the Welcome to GlobalProtect dialog box appears asking for a portal address, type davpn.fhda.edu
  4. Click Connect. When asked to sign in, enter your CWID as the username and your MyPortal password as the password.
  5. Look in the system tray (lower-right corner of your screen): a globe with a green check mark means you are connected.

Sign in with your MyPortal password, not your computer password. The GlobalProtect sign-in is your CWID and MyPortal password — the same login as MyPortal. Repeated failed attempts with the wrong password can lock your district account.

Add the backup gateway (recommended)

If the main gateway (davpn.fhda.edu/fhvpn.fhda.edu) is ever unavailable, a second gateway keeps you working. Add it once and it's there when you need it:

  1. Click the GlobalProtect icon in the system tray to open the connection window.
  2. Click the three-line menu icon in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
  3. On the General tab, click Add.
  4. In the Portal Address field, type fhvpn.fhda.edu/davpn.fhda.edu and click Save.
  5. Both davpn.fhda.edu and fhvpn.fhda.edu now appear under Portal. Close the window with the X in the upper-right corner.

To switch to the backup gateway: open the GlobalProtect window from the system tray, click the portal menu at the bottom, select fhvpn.fhda.edu/davpn.fhda.edu, and click Connect.

Updates

When you connect, GlobalProtect may tell you a newer version is available. Click Yes (or OK) and follow the prompts. After the update finishes, connect to the VPN again.

Troubleshooting

Sign-in fails
  1. Username is your 8-digit CWID (no @fhda.edu), password is your MyPortal password.
  2. Changed your MyPortal password recently? Use the new one.
  3. Still failing? Stop before your account locks and reset your password or call the Call Center.
Can't reach davpn.fhda.edu
  1. Check that your internet connection works (open any website).
  2. Switch to the backup gateway fhvpn.fhda.edu (see above).
Connected, but Banner or SARS still won't load
  1. Confirm the tray icon shows the green check mark.
  2. If your computer is on Wi-Fi and Ethernet at the same time, use one or the other — dual connections cause conflicts reaching Banner.
VPN is slow or drops
  1. Disconnect when you don't actively need the VPN — capacity is shared.
  2. Try the other gateway.

Get help

Submit a ticket at helpdesk.fhda.edu or call the ETS Call Center at (408) 864-8324 (x8324 on campus). Leave a callback number — most issues resolve over the phone.