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Virtual Private Network (VPN) Connectivity

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows students to securely connect to the AIE network to access file servers, floating licensing servers for licensing software.

Support for Macs

Please note that we do not support Macs due to limited availability of software that we teach. If you require a loan computer, please see the Loan Program page for more information.

Installing & Setting up VPN Connectivity on your Personal PC

Video tutorial on how to connect to VPN

For specific information on how to connect, please select the location you are enrolled at.

Note: Students with Loan Equipment won't need to complete this step, it's already been done for you.

Select your campus from the tab bar above.
  1. Login to https://lft.vpn.aie.edu with your AIE student username and password
  2. Click the "VPN" tab on the left, then click “Download for Windows” for the Sophos Connect client and the SSL VPN configuration
  3. Once downloaded, install the Sophos Connect Client software to your computer
  4. In the windows system tray (next to clock in taskbar), click on the Sophos Connect icon:
  5. Click the "Import Connection" button, once it opens the file browser, navigate to your downloads folder and select the SSL VPN Configuration file you downloaded. Then click "Open"
  1. Login to https://aus.vpn.aie.edu with your AIE student username and password
  2. Click the "VPN" tab on the left, then click “Download for Windows” for the Sophos Connect client and the SSL VPN configuration
  3. Once downloaded, install the Sophos Connect Client software to your computer
  4. In the windows system tray (next to clock in taskbar), click on the Sophos Connect icon:
  5. Click the "Import Connection" button, once it opens the file browser, navigate to your downloads folder and select the SSL VPN Configuration file you downloaded. Then click "Open"

Installing & Setting up VPN Connectivity on a Loan PC

This should not be required as the VPN client will have already been installed by IT before you collected the loan PC.

Connecting & Disconnecting from the VPN

Select from the tab bar for more information.
  1. From the Windows taskbar (bottom right corner), click the Sophos Connect icon
  2. Click the connect button, and then login with your student account
  3. Click "OK" and after a couple of seconds, you should be connected.
  4. You can tell you've successfully connected as the traffic light icon will become green
  1. From the Windows taskbar (bottom right corner), click the Sophos Connect icon
  2. Click the "Disconnect" button to disconnect from the VPN.

Accessing Campus Servers

Once connected to the VPN, you'll be able to access campus servers much the same way you access them on-campus if you have a loan PC. A little bit of setup will be required if accessing from a Personal PC.

Accessing Classes & Reference Drives from an AIE Loaned PC

Loaned PCs are already setup to access Classes and Reference drives, you'll just need to ensure you are connected to the VPN to access.

Accessing Classes & Reference Drives from a Personally Owned PC

To access your Classes and References drives, you’ll need to manually connect to our file shares whilst connected to our VPN.

Select your campus from the tab bar above.
  1. First, ensure you are connected to the VPN.
  2. Open Windows Explorer and enter the share you wish to access:
    1. \\laffs1\Classes - To access your Classes drive
    2. \\laffs1\Reference - To access your Reference drive
    3. \\laffs1\\LAFData\Lockers\*studentnumberhere* (eg. \\laffs1\LAFData\Lockers\s198294)
    4. \\laffs1\ - To access any other shares you have access to
  3. You will be prompted to enter your AIE network username and password, enter it in the following format:
    1. AIE\sXXxxxx - For example if your username is "s191111" you would enter "AIE\s191111" as your username.
  4. You may also map these shares to a drive letter by clicking "Computer" then “Map A Network Drive” from Windows Explorer.
  5. Then selecting a Drive letter and entering in one of the above locations as the Folder. For example to replicate our Z:\Classes drive you would enter
  1. First, ensure you are connected to the VPN.
  2. Open Windows Explorer and enter the share you wish to access:
    1. \\adlfs2\Classes - To access your Classes drive
    2. \\adlfs2\Reference - To access your Reference drive
    3. \\adlfs2\homes$\sXXxxxx
    4. \\adlfs2\ - To access any other shares you have access to
  3. You will be prompted to enter your AIE network username and password, enter it in the following format:
    1. AIE\sXXxxxx - For example if your username is "s191111" you would enter "AIE\s191111" as your username.
  4. You may also map these shares to a drive letter by clicking "Computer" then “Map A Network Drive” from Windows Explorer.
  5. Then selecting a Drive letter and entering in one of the above locations as the Folder. For example to replicate our Z:\Classes drive you would enter.
  1. First, ensure you are connected to the VPN.
  2. Open Windows Explorer and enter the share you wish to access:
    1. \\canfs3\Classes - To access your Classes drive
    2. \\canfs3\Reference - To access your Reference drive
    3. \\canfs3\ - To access any other shares you have access to
  3. You will be prompted to enter your AIE network username and password, enter it in the following format:
    1. AIE\sXXxxxx - For example if your username is "s191111" you would enter "AIE\s191111" as your username.
  4. You may also map these shares to a drive letter by clicking "Computer" then “Map A Network Drive” from Windows Explorer.
  5. Then selecting a Drive letter and entering in one of the above locations as the Folder. For example to replicate our Z:\Classes drive you would enter


  1. First, ensure you are connected to the VPN.
  2. Open Windows Explorer and enter the share you wish to access:
    1. \\melfs1\Classes - To access your Classes drive
    2. \\melfs1\Reference - To access your Reference drive
    3. \\melfs1\ - To access any other shares you have access to
  3. You will be prompted to enter your AIE network username and password, enter it in the following format:
    1. AIE\sXXxxxx - For example if your username is "s191111" you would enter "AIE\s191111" as your username.
  4. You may also map these shares to a drive letter by clicking "Computer" then “Map A Network Drive” from Windows Explorer.
  5. Then selecting a Drive letter and entering in one of the above locations as the Folder. For example to replicate our Z:\Classes drive you would enter.
  1. First, ensure you are connected to the VPN.
  2. Open Windows Explorer and enter the share you wish to access:
    1. \\33mtnfs2\Classes - To access your Classes drive
    2. \\33mtnfs2\Reference - To access your Reference drive
    3. \\33mtnfs2\ - To access any other shares you have access to
  3. You will be prompted to enter your AIE network username and password, enter it in the following format:
    1. AIE\sXXxxxx - For example if your username is "s191111" you would enter "AIE\s191111" as your username.
  4. You may also map these shares to a drive letter by clicking "Computer" then “Map A Network Drive” from Windows Explorer.
  5. Then selecting a Drive letter and entering in one of the above locations as the Folder. For example to replicate our Z:\Classes drive you would enter




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