Installing VIA Client for Linux

The following sections describe the procedures to install the VIA Client for Linux, which includes downloading the VIA Client from the Aruba support site, installing the software on the client device, and then downloading the VPN profiles that will determine how VIA securely connects to your network.

To download VIA:

1. Login to the Aruba Support Portal.

2. Navigate to Software and Documents and select Aruba Virtual Intranet Access (VIA).

3. Filter the output for File Category: Linux and Major Version: 3, then download the installer file that is appropriate for your operating system and architecture. The file-naming format of the installer is via-<version>.<osname><architecture>.<ext>, and the supported file extensions are .deb and .rpm. For example, for RHEL and CentOS 64 bit, the VIA 3.0.0. file name is via-3.0.0.82618-rhel6-x86_64_bin whereas for Ubuntu 32 bit , the file name is via-3.0.0.82618-ubuntu1204-i386_bin.

Ensure that all prerequisites have been met before proceeding with installation.

Before you Begin

VIA 3.1.0 for Linux support for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, replacing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, which was supported in previous releases of VIA 3.x for Linux, but is not supported in VIA 3.1.0 for Linux or later releases. Before you install or upgrade to VIA 3.1.0 for Linux or any later releases of VIA for Linux, the following packages must be installed on the client device:

libqtcore4

libqtgui4

libgnome-keyring0

These packages are available for download from packages.ubuntu.com, and can be installed on the device using the command sudo apt install <package name>. When you first install or upgrade to VIA 3.1.0 for Linux, the application does not start automatically, and must be opened manually by selecting the VIA application link on the desktop. If the warning message untrusted application launcher appears, select the trust and launch option.

Installation Procedure

To install VIA:

1. Mark the downloaded installer file as executable:

a. Right-click the installer file.

b. Click Permissions.

c. Select the checkbox for Allow executing file as program, and then click Close.

Alternatively, you can run the chmod +x filename command to mark the downloaded file as an executable file.

2. Double-click the executable installer file to begin the installation process. The VIA Setup Wizard opens and displays the welcome screen.

3. Click Next.

4. On the End-User License Agreement screen, select the checkbox for I agree to the terms of the license. Click Next.

5. The Installing screen appears. After installation is complete, the Finished screen appears, indicating successful installation.

6. Click Finish. You will be prompted to enter the storage password to initialize VIA, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1  Enter Storage Password Prompt

7. Enter the storage password, and then click OK to complete installation.

 

The VIA tray icon and context menu is not supported in VIA 3.1.0 for Linux. To display the application main window, use a desktop shortcut or click the application icon in the left dashboard menu.

VPN profiles must be downloaded in order to connect VIA. To download a VPN profile:

1. Open VIA.

2. Select Click to download VPN profile on the VPN download screen. The Download VPN Profile screen appears

3. Enter the following details:

a. VPN Server URL: IP Address or FQDN provided by the administrator.

b. Username or Email ID: Username, domain username, or email ID.

c. Password: Password or domain password.

4. Click Download.

5. (Optional) A Server certificate error message appears if the server certificate name does not match the server name. Click Continue.

Figure 2  Server Certificate Error

6. (Optional) Select a web authentication profile from the Web Authentication Profile list.

 

This screen only appears if the server has multiple web authentication profiles.

If the web authentication list has more than one VIA authentication profile, users can select a VIA authentication profile. Upon successful authentication, the VIA client downloads the appropriate VIA connection profile.

Figure 3  Web Authentication Profile List

7. (Optional) A message appears if a login banner has been uploaded to the controller. Click Agree.

Figure 4  Login Banner Screen

VPN profile download is now complete.

Use either of the following procedures to uninstall VIA.

Ubuntu

1. Navigate to the Ubuntu Software Center.

2. Select the VIA application, and then click Remove.

You can also uninstall the VIA application using the CLI by executing the sudo apt-get purge via command.

RHEL and CentOS

1. Navigate to System > Administration > Add/Remove software.

2. Deselect VIA, and then click Clear.

You can also uninstall the VIA application using the CLI by executing the sudo yum remove via command.