Employee - Connecting to GlobalProtect VPN

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to guide CWI users through the process of launching the GlobalProtect client, connecting securely to the CWI VPN portal and gateway, and understanding key functions such as refreshing the connection, disconnecting, and the behavior of the Always‑On configuration. This ensures users can reliably establish and maintain a secure VPN session to access CWI resources from any location.

Process

Launch the client

• Windows: Start Menu → GlobalProtect OR click the globe icon in the system tray.

• macOS: Applications → GlobalProtect OR menu bar → globe icon.

Connect to the portal and gateway

1. If prompted for Portal, enter vpn-gw1.cwi.edu.

2. Click Connect. Your browser opens to the CWI sign‑in page.

3. Enter CWI credentials and complete MFA.

4. Return to the client; Status should show as Connected with the active gateway.

Disconnect or refresh connection

• Refresh Connection: disconnects and reconnects to the current gateway.

• Disconnect: stops Always‑On from retrying until you manually reconnect.

Always‑On behavior

CWI configuration uses Always‑On: the client auto‑connects at boot or when Internet is available, and auto‑retries after timeouts. Use Disconnect if you need it to stop retrying.

Downloading Global Protect on Another Device

If you'd like to download the VPN onto another device, navigate to https://vpn-gw1.cwi.edu/ and select the appropriate agent. 

• For Windows devices, if unsure select Windows 64 bit. 
• For Mac OS devices, select Mac 32/64 bit 

Still Need Help?

Contact the IT Help Desk at:

Email: support@cwi.edu

Phone: 208-562-3444

Online: support.cwi.edu