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Setup VPN on a Mac

This article is for faculty and staff installing the GlobalProtect VPN client on a Mac. 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 GlobalProtect.pkg. If a window titled Opening GlobalProtect.pkg appears, click OK; the installer starts when the download completes.
  2. Click Continue, make sure the GlobalProtect box is checked, then click Continue again.
  3. Click Install, enter your computer password when asked, and wait for the installer to complete.
  4. If asked whether GlobalProtect can access your Keychain, enter your computer password and click Always Allow (see the warning below).
  5. When the dialog box asks for a portal address, type davpn.fhda.edu/fhvpn.fhda.edu and click Connect. (If no sign-in box ever appears, see Troubleshooting below — macOS security is probably blocking the extension.)
  6. In the sign-in box, enter your CWID as the username and your MyPortal password as the password.
  7. When authentication succeeds you'll see a small window with a globe and check mark saying Connected, and a globe icon with a shield appears in the menu bar (top right) showing the connection is secure.

Click Always Allow on the Keychain prompt. If you click a one-time option instead, GlobalProtect will ask for your password over and over every time it connects. Choosing Always Allow (with your computer password — not your MyPortal password) stops the constant prompts.

Add the backup gateway (recommended)

If the main gateway (davpn.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 globe icon in the menu bar to open the GlobalProtect connection menu.
  2. Click the three-line menu icon in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
  3. With General highlighted, click the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the window.
  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.

To switch to the backup gateway: open the GlobalProtect menu from the menu-bar globe, 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 to the prompts that appear and follow them through. After the update finishes, connect to the VPN again.

Troubleshooting

No sign-in dialog ever appears

macOS security is blocking the GlobalProtect system extension:

  1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings (System Preferences on older macOS).
  2. Open Privacy & Security (Security & Privacy on older macOS). On older macOS, click the lock at the lower left and enter your computer password to unlock changes.
  3. In the General/Security section, under Allow apps downloaded from:, click Allow next to the GlobalProtect system extension.
  4. Re-lock the preferences if you unlocked them. If there is no Allow button, call the Call Center.
GlobalProtect icon missing from the menu bar

In Finder, open the Go menu, choose Applications, and double-click GlobalProtect to launch it.

Asked for a password constantly

The Keychain prompt was answered with a one-time option. Next time it appears, enter your computer password and click Always Allow.

Sign-in fails
  1. Username is your 8-digit CWID (no @fhda.edu), password is your MyPortal password — not your computer 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).

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.