[Macpartners] VPN Release effort underway

[Deb Bowser]

Date: Thursday, 4 November 2004
To: MIT Community: itpartners at mit.edu, winpartners at mit.edu, 
macpartners at mit.edu, sw-release-announce at mit.edu
From: VPN Client Release Team <vpn-release at mit.edu>
Subject: VPN Release effort underway
Cc: is&t at mit.edu, vpn-release at mit.edu


In July, MIT deployed a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service to assist MIT 
clients with connectivity from off campus. The VPN provides a solution to 
work through the various port blocks and other limitations implemented by 
most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to protect their customers and try 
to prevent spam, virus outbreaks, and other network abuse. These 
preventative measures can often impede legitimate computing work (e.g., 
connection problems, email). The MIT VPN can resolve problems associated 
with e-mail, Windows file sharing, and other network-based applications 
without needing to determine the particular preventative measures your ISP 
has implemented.

The VPN provides a secure connection along with a way for clients to have a 
consistent set of policies for their Internet connectivity regardless of 
connection location.

A release effort is currently underway for an updated VPN client for the 
Windows, Macintosh and Linux platforms.  Enhanced documentation is being 
developed for each platform.

New features and improvements
-------------------------------------------------
  - a customized installer that bundles the MIT profile (for connecting to 
MITNet)
  - solves various e-mail, file sharing and other network problems for 
clients connecting from off campus
  - utilizes Kerberos authentication, so no separate VPN password needed

For more information on VPN, please visit 
<http://web.mit.edu/ist/services/network/vpn.html>http://web.mit.edu/ist/services/network/vpn.html

The VPN Release Team will send updates throughout the process. For more 
information on the VPN and the release effort, see the VPN release 
notebook: http://web.mit.edu/swrt/releases/vpn/.

If you have questions, suggestions, or would like to participate in the 
release of VPN please contact the team via email at vpn-release at mit.edu.

Deb Bowser for Jon Hunt
QA Coordinator - Client Support Services
Information Services and Technology (IS&T)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Room W92-176
Cambridge, MA 02139
617-253-3879
bowser at mit.edu  
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