Folks visiting China (for example) can benefit from using a VPN service to allow otherwise prohibited access to Internet resources. Cornell VPN is not the right tool for this,, but there are many other commercial VPN services available to meet this need.

See also

• Using CU's VPN
• VPN use in specific countries, including China

Table of contents

Why not simply use Cornell's VPN?

Bottom line: If you are in another country (thus, you are off campus), and you are trying to reach a non-Cornell resource in the U.S. or yet another country, Cornell's VPN service will not help you do this.

Specifics: Cornell's VPN service is designed to facilitate access to ONLY Cornell-based resources. It is not a generic VPN service. Specifically, Cornell's VPN is a "split horizon" service so if you are off-campus and are accessing a Cornell resource, ONLY then is the VPN is invoked. But if you are using an off-campus service (Facebook, Box.net, Google, etc.), the traffic will not go through Cornell's VPN:

• https://it.cornell.edu/cuvpn/how-vpn-works

One person's VPN service recommendation (Feb. 2013)

• http://www.astrill.com/

This service was reportedly used with great success by a Chemistry colleague during trip to China. His need was for a period of days, which was just under the duration of the free trial period. :-)

For Jan. 2017 update regarding VPN use in China, see:

• VPN use in specific countries, including China