How to make Nortel VPN faster use the local network connection and not the secure tunnel

A few years ago, I posted a question for some advice on how to make the Nortel VPN client allow the user to use their local internet connection, and not the (very slow) remote secure tunnel. The reason for this was because I have a 100mb connection at home and because my office only uses 4mb I was restricted to that speed. It made my entire remote user experience very slow and very frustrating.

Unfortunately, in the UK, BT don't give very good support on the IP Softphone and Remote Worker software and neither do Nortel. So I was left to my own devices to find a solution.

I have searched high and low and couldn't find any help so decided to play around with the settings on the Business Secure Router (BSR) which is the "gateway" from my home network to the office. Once connected to my office, the IP address for this was 192.168.0.91 (you might find yours elsewhere). The default username was nnadmin and the password was PlsChgMe! - including the ! mark.

Once inside, I changed one setting at a time, disconnecting after each, to try and discovered the correct place. Eventually (after a lot of trial and error) I discovered the place where the network traffic was channelled. It's under 'AUTH SERVER'. I selected my username (the one that Nortel Contivity VPN connects to) and the changed Enabled Split Tunnelling and selected the BCM50 as the first option (see below).

It worked. I can now connect to my office and use my Softphone, whilst still benefitting from 80mb+ speeds!

Does data come out of my monthly allowance when using Vodaphone Suresignal

Yes, it does.

I made the mistake of using my 3G connection for downloading a number of apps on the Suresignal service thinking "hey it's my broadband connection beeing used for the Suresignal so it's my data allowance". I was wrong.

I found out £75 later in excess data charges!

Tory Will Quince calls for action over Colchester dog foul

Following on from my last complaint about the issue of dog foul in Colchester, the local newspaper have reported that Conservative representative Will Quince has called for action about the issue of dog fouling in Colchester.

I have to say it’s great to finally hear someone addressing this issue. It’s an issue my wife and I once raised with local MP Sir Bob Russell but which seemed to fall on deaf ears. No surprise there really, Bob’s busy entertaining Her Majesty of late.

Part of Mr Quinces’ suggestion in the newspaper article is to tackle this problem is to allow local residents to be trained as enforcers. It’s a nice idea, but one I fear would fail in practice. Imagine the scenario – you’re walking down the street dressed as one of these wardens and you see a local scumbag with his ‘status dog’ as it takes a massive crap on the footpath. In typical fashion, the owner just walks away from the pile so you approach him and try to issue a fine. The likelihood is that one of two things could happen – he’ll either throw a load of verbal abuse at you, or, (if you’re really unlucky) mug you and run off. OK, so I’m probably going a bit over the top but you get the point.

Don’t get me wrong – I see why Mr Q is suggesting it (not enough Council staff, costs, blaa blaa) but I just think it could end up with someone getting assaulted. What is good is that he has taken a serious issue and raised the profile of the problem. Nice one Will.

One idea could be to make it an offence to fail to carry a means of cleaning up after your dog. Again, difficult to enforce but it might at least encourage more dog owners to clean up after their dogs. The number of people that we see walking dogs in the local woods without so much of a plastic bag is staggering. I’m sure that many of these people are hard working and friendly people who would never throw litter but for some reason they feel that it’s acceptable to leave a brown germ-fest in the local park.

Another answer could be that the council actually get the current dog warden out and about in these areas that are frequented by dog walkers (radical idea, I know). Something needs to be done though as this problem is gradually turning in to a public health issue.