UdeM VPN (Windows VM on Ubuntu)

🛠️ Part 1: Create a Clean Windows 10 VM (LTSC Recommended)¶

1. Download Windows 10 LTSC (64-bit)¶

Visit: https://archive.org/details/Windows10EnterpriseLTSC202164Bit
Select LTSC 2021, 64-bit ISO
Download and save the .iso to your ~/Downloads folder

2. Install VirtualBox¶

sudo apt update
sudo apt install virtualbox

3. Create the VM in Bash¶

VM_NAME="WindowsVPN"
VM_DIR="$HOME/VirtualBox VMs/$VM_NAME"
ISO_PATH="$HOME/Downloads/your-downloaded-iso.iso"  # replace with real filename
DISK_SIZE=51200  # MB
RAM=4096
BRIDGE_ADAPTER=$(ip route | grep default | awk '{print $5}')

VBoxManage createvm --name "$VM_NAME" --ostype "Windows10_64" --register
VBoxManage modifyvm "$VM_NAME" \
  --memory $RAM --vram 128 \
  --boot1 dvd --graphicscontroller vmsvga \
  --nic1 bridged --bridgeadapter1 "$BRIDGE_ADAPTER" \
  --firmware efi

VBoxManage createhd --filename "$VM_DIR/$VM_NAME.vdi" --size $DISK_SIZE
VBoxManage storagectl "$VM_NAME" --name "SATA Controller" --add sata --controller IntelAhci
VBoxManage storageattach "$VM_NAME" --storagectl "SATA Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium "$VM_DIR/$VM_NAME.vdi"
VBoxManage storageattach "$VM_NAME" --storagectl "SATA Controller" --port 1 --device 0 --type dvddrive --medium "$ISO_PATH"
VBoxManage startvm "$VM_NAME"

Tip

If you get the following (scary) error when starting the VM:

VirtualBox can't enable the AMD-V extension. Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_SVM_IN_USE)

Try to run the following instead of recompiling the kernel (!):

sudo modprobe -r kvm_amd
sudo modprobe -r kvm

🪟 Part 2: Install and Configure Windows¶

4. Install Windows¶

Go through the install steps
Choose “I don’t have a product key”
Select Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation
Skip updates and telemetry
Log in and reach the desktop

5. Install Guest Additions (Clipboard & Resolution Fixes)¶

In the VM: Devices → Insert Guest Additions CD
Run the installer from File Explorer
Reboot the VM

6. Enable Copy-Paste Between Host and VM¶

On Ubuntu:

VBoxManage controlvm "$VM_NAME" clipboard bidirectional
VBoxManage controlvm "$VM_NAME" draganddrop bidirectional

7. Mouse auto-capture¶

When you put your mouse on the virtual machine window it will auto-capture your mouse and you’ll start interacting with the desktop inside the VM. There is a special key to toggle mouse autocapture on/off which will be handy to get back to ubuntu, resize the window or access other information. By default this key is the right control key, although it can be remapped through the VBOX interface.

🌐 Part 3: Install the UdeM VPN¶

8. Download Ivanti Secure Access VPN¶

In the VM, go to:

https://vpn.umontreal.ca/campus

Download the Ivanti Secure Access client for Windows

8. Install the VPN Client¶

Run the downloaded installer

Reboot if prompted

9. Configure the VPN¶

Open Ivanti Secure Access

Add a new connection:

Name: UdeM Campus

Server: https://vpn.umontreal.ca/campus

Save the profile

10. 🐧❤️ Profit!¶

Activate the connection in the Ivanti Secure app, open FireFox and be ready to access all the wonderful UdeM online resources off campus, from the comfort of your Linux machine!

11. Keep on your toes!¶

It is very possible that Ivanti will push mandatory updates on you, and UdeM will not fail to double authenticate you constantly. Do not feel too comfortable. You can use VBOX to save a new snapshot of your virtual machine to save your progress in the menu Machine -> “take snapshot”

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