What can VPN do for me and my school?

Link2ICT envisage the use of the VPN service to be of great benefit to all Teaching and ICT staff members within schools.  By installing and configuring the VPN Client distributed by Link2ICT you will have the ability to:

• Connect to the school Network from any school owned Internet connected laptop/PC *
• Browse and Authenticate against your local Windows Domain and connect to your network drives
• Provide Remote Support access from Home/Other Office for IT Network Managers & Technicians

Sounds great! Tell me more about Link2ICT's VPN Solution (techy bit!):

VPN, or "virtual private networking," is a general name for a system that can allow remote computers, connecting over the Internet, to appear to be on the BGfL network. VPN systems use authentication and encryption to allow secure communications to take place over the Internet.   The VPN system Link2ICT have implemented is based around Cisco's VPN 3000 Concentrator series and remote clients will have to connect using the Cisco VPN Client distributed by Link2ICT.

The VPN system makes use of your existing Internet connection method, whether that be a dialup account, an ISDN, ADSL or cable modem connection, etc. 

The VPN client software can be run selectively as needed, or it can be set to connect automatically when the software is loaded.  When a connection is established over the Internet using the VPN client software, the VPN Server on the BGfL assigns an IP address to the client computer.  The VPN client sends all network communications out by way of the VPN server for the duration of your VPN session.   This allows your network connections to appear to be coming from within the BGFL Network and thus we can 'allow' them to connect the school network.

For modem-speed/dialup connections, some impact on speed may be noticeable when the VPN client is in use, and access to bandwidth intensive applications such as SIMS and CMIS may prove un-useable.  For higher-speed connections, there is generally no noticeable impact

* Link2ICT will only support and make the client available to users running Windows 2000 and above.  Users of 95/98/ME may have success in installing the client, but will not be offered support by Link2ICT in the advent of connection difficulties. Some users who connect via AOL have experienced problems, that ourselves and Cisco are aware of, but we suggest you try to connect first and then seek advise from Link2ICT if you have problems connecting via AOL.  

How do I go about requesting VPN Access 

You should read the BGFL VPN Security Policy   which can be also be downloaded by following this link (right click and choose 'Save Target As...'):

BGfL VPN Security Policy v1.2

You can then download and fill out the Customer installation form, which you can download below (right click and choose 'Save Target As...'). Please complete the appropriate form in full and return care of LINK2ICT - Service Birmingham:

Form for School-employed Staff: BGFL VPN Customer Installation form v1.8

Once you have returned the completed form to Link2ICT - Service Birmingham you can download the client from this link

VPN Client Download Page