Logging on to AccessAnywhere Through Windows

New: BCIT has now released a new VPN client, myVPN!

myVPN should be the first choice for students, staff, and faculty to connect to BCIT’s secure network to access common resources. There is no approval or request process needed to use myVPN. All that is required is that you are a current student, staff, or faculty at BCIT.

For most of us, this means myVPN is the best way to access BCIT resources remotely.

Logging in through Windows

These instructions are for logging onto AccessAnywhere through Windows.

You will need to fill out the request form for approval before your account will have AccessAnywhere access enabled.

How to request and fill out the AccessAnywhere application.

1. Depending on your operating system, download the appropriate file’: If you do not know whether your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit, click on your Start Menu and search for ‘My Computer’ or ‘This PC’, then right-click and select ‘Properties’.

2. Right-click on the downloaded .zip file and click Extract All.

3. Double-click on the .exe file to launch it.

If you are running Windows Vista 64 bit or Windows 7 64 bit, you have to right click and choose Run as Administrator

4. Follow the prompts. Be sure to reboot.

5. After rebooting, select the network icon in your taskbar and click ‘AccessAnywhere’.

screen shot logging on to AccessAnywhere

6. Select ‘AccessAnywhere’ and ‘Connect’.

7. The login credentials are the same ones you use to log into your computer in your office.

Mapping your Network Drives

Your network drives should map automatically if you are on a BCIT Asset computer. Please allow up to five minutes for them to show up. However, if you are on a personal computer or your drives don’t show up, you can map your network drives manually.

Windows 10

Select the Start Menu, and search for ‘This PC’.
Right-click ‘This PC’ and select ‘Map network drive’.
For each of the required mappings, enter the appropriate information in the window as follows:
1. For Departmental shares (S: drive) enter
  \\files.ad.bcit.ca\shared
2. For the Share In (I: drive) enter
  \\home.fs.bcit.ca\shareinout\inFor the Share Out (J: drive) enter
  \\home.fs.bcit.ca\shareinout\out
Once you have finished entering your required drive mappings, click Finish and your drive(s) should appear in File Explorer after a short time.
If prompted for ID and password, append @ad.bcit.ca to the end of your ID number. The password is the same one you used earlier to sign into AccessAnywhere.

Windows 7

Click on the Start Menu.
Right click Computer
Click Map network drive
Click the down arrow to the right of the Drive selection box. You may pick any drive letter you like but we suggest that you use the same convention as used on BCIT campus computers.
1. I: for ShareIn
2. J: for ShareOut
3. S: for Departmental Shares
For each of the required mappings, enter the appropriate information in the Folder window as follows:
1. For the Share In (I: drive) enter
  \\home.fs.bcit.ca\shareinout\in
  For the Share Out (J: drive) enter
  \\home.fs.bcit.ca\shareinout\out
2. For Departmental shares (S: drive) enter
  \\files.ad.bcit.ca\shared
  NOTE: the S: drive mapping only applies to BCIT issued computers. Please call the Help Desk for assistance on personal (non-BCIT) computers.
Once you have finished entering your required drive mappings, click Finish and your drive(s) should appear in My Computer after a short time. If prompted for ID and password, append @ad.bcit.ca to the end of your ID number The password is the same one you used earlier to sign into AccessAnywhere.

Known issues

Restarting applications

Some applications may not function properly if you keep them open while connecting to AccessAnywhere. There have been reports that this happens to Cognos. Be sure to close applications before connecting to AccessAnywhere and restart them after AccessAnywhere has connected.