Getting Connected to NGS while on the Road

1
Getting Connected to NGS while on the Road

• Donna V. Shaw, NGS Convocation

2
Out of the office

• Because there are many users who must work
  offsite (State Advisors, Teleworkers,
  Contractors, Employees who are on travel), its
  necessary to make many network services available
  from remote locations.
• Access to these services may be slightly more
  complex, because of security considerations, but
  the users will find that they have much of the
  functionality that they would have in the office.

3
Available Remote Services

• Email
• Internet
• NGS Intranet (with a valid account)
• Access to files on Internal Servers, behind the
  NOAA TCN firewall (via ftp, telnet, etc.)

4
NOAA Dial-up Account

• With a NOAA Dialup account, also called a RAS
  (Remote Access Server) account, users may access
  their NOAA e-mail or the Internet for free from
  any computer that has a modem and access to a
  telephone line.

5
NOAA Dial-up Account (continued)

• To request an account, and the 1-800 or local
  (301) phone number, contact the NGS Help Desk.
• Your NOAA Dial-up login information (username and
  password) are the same as those you use to access
  your NOAA e-mail.

6
NOAA Dial-up Account (continued)

• From Windows 2000 and XP machines- You can
  configure the dialup session by right-clicking on
  the Desktop My Network Places icon. Then
  scroll down to and select Properties, and
  choose Make (Create) New Connection.

7
What is a VPN?

• A Virtual Private Network is a system which uses
  encryption and other security features to allow
  private data communications over a public network
  (such as the Internet). This system is comprised
  of hardware and software, that create a tunnel
  between authorized, authenticated hosts and
  users. Once this tunnel is established, all
  data that is sent across is protected from other
  users of the public network infrastructure.

8
Why is the VPN necessary?

• Most systems on NOAAs network are now located
  behind a firewall. Host systems behind this
  security hardware have private addresses that
  cannot be contacted by outside internet systems.
  NOAA refers to this as the TCN (Trusted Campus
  Network)

9
Systems You May Access via the VPN

• UNIX Servers
• Windows Servers
• ngs-s-daedalus
• ngs-s-rsdlic
• future (for NGS employees) your home
  directory on ngs-s-brunswick

10
What You Need to Get Started

• Internet Access
• VPN Instructions
• VPN Software
• Account Configuration Information

11
Internet Access Methods

• NOAA Dial-up Account
• Your ISP (Internet Service Provider)
• dialup, DSL, cable-modem,
  wireless/satellite
• Wireless Hot Spots
• Free Internet offered by most Hotels,
  Universities, and Government buildings

12
Wireless Internet

• You can perform an Internet search to locate
  places that offer wireless Internet connectivity.
  http//www.jiwire.com/

13
VPN Requirementsfor the Cisco VPN client version
4.6

• The Cisco VPN Client supports Windows 98, ME, NT
  4.0, 2000, and XP Linux (Intel) Solaris
  (UltraSparc 32- and 64-bit) and Mac OS X 10.2,
  10.3, and 10.4.

• Windows PC Requirements
• A single, Pentium-class processor.
•   One of the following operating systems
•   MicrosoftWindows 98, or Windows 98 (second
  edition)
•   Windows ME
•   Windows NT 4.0 (with Service Pack 6, or
  higher)
•   Windows 2000
•   Windows XP
•   Microsoft TCP/IP installed. (Confirm via
  Start gt Settings gt Control Panel gt Network gt
  Protocols or Configuration.)
•   50 MB hard disk space.
•   RAM
•   32 MB for Windows 98
•   64 MB for Windows NT and Windows ME
•   64 MB for Windows 2000 (128 MB recommended)
•   128 MB for Windows XP (256 MB recommended)

14
VPN Instructions
15
How do I obtain the VPN software?

• Via email
• Have a CD sent by Fedex to your location
• NGS Help Desk can install it for you
• Onsite, from the network server

16
Installing and Configuring the Cisco VPN Client
17
Installing and Configuring the Cisco VPN Client
18
What am I able to do then?

• You will be able to access NGS servers similarly
  to the way you would if you were onsite- by IP
  address or hostname.
• Command prompt, telnet client (Putty, etc.)

19
NGS Wide Area Network
20
For More Information
Contact- Donna V. Shaw Donna.Shaw_at_noaa.gov (301)
713-3257 ext. 102 NGS Help Desk ngs.helpdesk_at_noaa
.gov [phone]