Setting up your Windows PC  to use the SimplyExpats.net Professional Service

Part 2 – Setting up the SimplyExpats.net VPN Service

Note: These setup instructions are for the SimplyExpats and Esix Group Professional Service ONLY. SimplyExpats.net Home Access Service subscribers users should use the setup instructions <<HERE >>

1.0 Ensure that your User Control Panel is Activated

If you followed the previous Setup Guide for the SimplyExpats.net Anti Virus Service, your User Control Panel will have been activated as per Sections 1 & 2.

Your User Control Panel, MUST be activated, in order to login to the Professional VPN Service.

2.0 Configuring your Windows PC to use the SimplyExpats.net VPN Professional Service

Setting up your Windows PC to use the Esix VPN Professional service is simple.

2.1 Download the OpenVPN Software

The ESIX VPN Professional Service uses the latest OpenVPN software.

Download our OpenVPN software from our Website by clicking the link HERE>>, and save to your Desktop.

Extract the ZIP file to your desktop.

Double Click on the Install Wizard (openvpn-client.msi) to install OpenVPN.

The OpenVPN installer will load.

Press Run.

The Main install window will be displayed.

Press Next.

The Licence Agreement window appears, tick I Accept, and then press the Next button.

The install location folder window is displayed.

The Ready to install window is displayed. Press Install.

The progress window is displayed.

During the installation, OpenVPN will need to install a new driver on your system. You may receive a message from Windows asking if you wish to install the drivers.

Press Yes to install the drivers.

The Install TAP device window is displayed. Press install to install the TAP device.

The completion window will be displayed.

Press Finish.

The software installation is now complete.

2.2 Load the OpenVPN software

The main window will be displayed.

Import the Esix VPN Access Service Professional configuration files from your desktop.

Press the + button of the Connection Profiles.

Select Import from a local file.

The file open dialog will be displayed.

Select the Esix_VPN_Pro file from your desktop.

Press Save.

Repeat the last step to import the Esix_VPN_Backup connection.

Press Save.

The configuration is now complete, and you should be able to connect to the ESIX VPN Professional service.

Note: Some users have reported that they can connect to the service but can not access any web sites following the installation.

This appears to be caused by a conflict between the old TAP driver, and the one installed during the OpenVPN installation.

We suggest that you reboot your computer before connecting to the service, to ensure the old driver is removed correctly.

3.0 Connecting to the ESIX VPN Professional Service

Load the OpenVPN client.

3.1 Connecting to the Service

To connect to the service, simply click on the Esix_VPN_Pro service icon.

The Login dialog will be displayed as below.

Enter your username and password, and check the Remember Password option.

The OpenVPN software will connect. Once connected, you should see the connection dialog as below.

3.2 Disconnecting from the Service

To disconnect from the service, simply click on the disconnect button on the connection dialog box.

4.0 Connecting to the ESIX VPN Professional Backup Connection

Some users (usually in hotels and some countries where Internet restrictions are imposed) may not be able to connect to our service using the standard ESIX VPN Professional connection.

In such cases, we recommend you connect using the Backup ESIX VPN Professional connection. This connection is marginally slower than our standard service connection due to the nature of the way it connects to the service, so should only be used if you cannot connect to our standard connection.

Press the ESIX VPN Professional Backup connection icon from the OpenVPN main window.

The Login dialog will be displayed as below.

Enter your username and password, and check the Remember Password option.

The OpenVPN software will connect. Once connected, you should see the connection dialog as below.

5.0 Delete the installation files

Once you have successfully connected to the service, you can, safely  delete the temporary installation files from your desktop.

These files are no longer required.

The files are as follows:

Esix_Pro.zip

ca.crt

Esix_VPN_Pro.ovpn

Esix_VPN_Backup.ovpn

6.0 Access to UK iPlayers

Whilst most iPlayers will connect with no issues when using the Professional Service with the Anti Virus Service enabled, we are aware that one or two may be adversely effected. This is due to technical inconsistencies in streaming software used by these sites. In this case, we suggest that you temporally disable the Anti Virus Service in your Web Browser, and then connect the VPN Professional Service.