The HQ Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides access to private network resources such as file servers and internal Web sites and applications. It is not necessary to use VPN to connect to HQ publicly available services.

To use VPN, you will need the following:

• NASA-issued laptop
• High-speed Internet connection
• SecurID token and PIN
• Your Outlook/Entourage userID and password for accessing e-mail

Note: These comments apply to either Windows or Mac OS computers.  When connecting your NASA-issued laptop to DSL modems, you may encounter problems obtaining any high-speed Internet connection and will be unable to use Outlook Web Access (OWA), Secure Nomadic Access (SNA), or VPN.
 
NASA’s VPN service requires Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to assign IP addresses or a known static IP address.  Some modems that have been issued over the past few years have varied in type and quality, and a significant proportion of them are not DHCP enabled.  While workarounds are often possible, each of the different types of modems requires a different solution.  To obtain the correct instructions for your modem, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

If the modem is too difficult to work with, you may invest in an “air card,” available for purchase via PCMall.  Air cards are small devices that plug into a computer.  They utilize cell phone technology rather than wireless access points and provide a fast, more reliable signal in most urban areas.  An air card would make your laptop Internet-ready in any location where cell phones function.