Using the VPN

Once connected to your VPN, there are several tasks that you might do. (To set up a VPN, check with someone such as your Tech Coordinator)
(Fair warning - I find the VPN slow and awkward to use. I find a flashdrive (USB Memory Stick) much more convenient for moving files back and forth. I would use the VPN for SiteBuilder access and emergency file transfer and little else. (although as a Tech Coordinator, I use it to access computers at school for other functions. If I did IEPs, I would use it for that.))

1) to access SiteBuilder through the Internet:

Start your favorite web-browser, go to the District Connection log-in page and sign in. Everything should work properly.

2) to access your Documents / Desktop folders or the Groups folders:

CAUTION: EASYGRADE PRO FILES ARE DISK-BASED. IF THE CONNECTION TO YOUR FILE BREAKS WHILE YOU ARE ACCESSING YOUR GRADES, A CORRUPT FILE COULD RESULT. I DO NOT RECOMMEND WORKING ON YOUR GRADES OVER THE VPN!

From a Windows computer, you should 'map' the drive. [by rights, you should be able to 'Add a Network Place' but I have not had good luck with this.]

• Open My Computer and from the Tools Menu, select Map Network Drive
• (in Vista, it shows up as a separate command at the top of the My Computer window)
• Leave Drive: set at Z: (or whatever) and for Folder: enter \\sofs02\home\sostaff\lastname_firstname
• (for the Groups share, do the same thing, but type \\sofs02\groups )
• Deselect the 'Reconnect at Login' box
• click on the 'Connect with a different username' link. Enter asd\lastname_firstname and the password that you use for e-mail.
• Click Finish and Finish in the two dialog boxes. It may take 30 seconds or so to connect and will then show a new link in My Computer.

From a Macintosh computer, you should connect to the server

• From the Go menu, select Connect to Server
• Type smb://sofs02/home/sostaff/lastname_firstname or smb://sofs02/groups and press Return
• You will be asked to 'authenticate'. Type in your lastname_firstname and the same password as for your e-mail
• The window should open. (The specifics of this method will vary for different schools. Check with a local.)

3) to connect to another server, such as the IEP server:

If you have a data file that you open that will take you through the connection steps, copy that file from your school computer and take it home. It should work, assuming that you have the necessary software installed. For IEPs, you will need Filemaker Pro version 7 installed on your home computer and the little 'starter' file. If you have a server name, you can connect in the same way as described in 2).

4) to upload grades or web pages through an FTP program:

This does not necessitate using the VPN. You can connect with CoreFTP (Windows) or Fetch (Macintosh) or Dreamweaver with any normal internet connection. Instructions are given elsewhere.

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