So, let's talk VPN ...

[Abhoth]

This is a tough one ... I've rarely used VPN and it was some time ago and I'm no networking wizard!

Here's the story... my wife works at a small company and they have out-sourced their IT support. She gets the lucky duty of being the liasion between the company and the ITDorks...

The company has servicemen out in the field that need to VPN into the company system from time to time... the ITDorks have installed SonicWall on the company network... and the previous VPN method no longer works as the ITDorks seem pretty helpless all the way around.

The ITDorks are telling her that they need to purchase (x) number of VPN licenses from SonicWall @ $75 a pop in order for them to configure this thing.

And now the question ... Are they blowing smoke up her arse????? ;-)
A side question in this regard: The ITDorks are telling her it'll be at least 2 weeks before they can get the licensing from SonicWall... that sound odd, does it not????

I don't know a great deal about this company's network ... I do know the remote users are trying to access an IBM server (Unix) I believe. So would think there may be some emulation software requirement involved here... but VPN licenses for SonicWall??? That one has me stumped really...

I'd really like some opinions on this ... sorry for the lack of network info, let me know if you need some specific info and I'll see if I can track that down for you. TIA

[greengoose1]

Here is a quick review of VPN if you need it.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/vpn.htm

And here is a little on the license concepts.

http://www.wingate.com/showfaq.php?faqid=15

Hope this gets you started. Looks like the licenses are needed but if the technicians don't have the answers they are not worth much. It is frustrating to have to go to these people at any company.

[Abhoth]

Thanks GG ... that should help a bit. The trouble my wife is having is getting a straight answer out of the "support" folks. It's not a good situation and I haven't seen much good from this outside support group... ;-)

And the fact that it's going to take a couple of three weeks to get those licenses has me baffled...

[greengoose1]

The licenses will not fix a lack of expertise. In other words getting the license does not answer the technical questions. Once the money has been sent their could be other excuses. Somewhat of a paradox.

[Abhoth]

No, it won't ... this group that was hired has not shown me much. The company already had a remote access thing set up. But this IT group they hired altered the network in such a manner and now can't get it to work the way it used to... thus a need to find alternate ways. I'm so glad I don't work there, I would have been fired sooooo many times!!! ;-)
My only real duty is to help my wife deal with the idiots she must deal with and help her understand just what's going on and such. A rather interesting situation it is!

[greengoose1]

I don't envy what you have to do in the least. The first time I called a tech support outfit for help was the last time.

And to think all you want to do is tie some computers together so they can talk to each other.

I don't know if I should ask this, but did they not back up the system before "tweaking" it?

[Abhoth]

Oh well hell no! ;-) Why would they do that! Just makes me want to cry! Laughing while doing so by the way...
It's a classic case of a small company (200 or so emp) meets an IT firm who does outsourced support for multiple small outfits. When they first came in they just started changing things... heard this from the wife and was amazed! Generally, in that situation, I'd go in and first do a "needs analysis" and determine just what's best for the network they currently had installyed... oh no! They just started changing things ... and of course "things" stopped working ... and so they've been going merrily along fixing as they go. And now they are coming to the remote access part of the equation.... absolutely the worst way to go and how IT gets a bad name for sure!

Been quite a ride and is costing this small company a few bucks eh... quite a few I'd think. My wife is the only one there that has the slightest clue about IT thus she was assigned as the liasion, no dollars involved in that headache!