Remote Connecting to IBM with Windows Vista: AT&T Global network client and Lotus Mobility Client


Being a techno geek requires me to use the latest and greatest software available. Really, it does. Unfortunately, not everything works with the latest and greatest. For those IBMers who have tried installing Windows Vista, the hardest part of completing the puzzle is getting a remote VPN connection to IBM working with Windows Vista.

The two options that are available at this time are AT&T Global network client and Lotus Mobility Client (the client formerly known as IBM Mobility Client formerly known as WECM). The IBM Standard Software Installer (ISSI) only has the old version of both of these clients and neither of them works with Windows Vista.

The Lotus Mobility Client version 5.1.1.4 will install correctly in Vista, but it never connects. This problem is documented on the IBM Support pages. They state that a new version is in the works that will be compatible with Windows Vista and to “Please watch the WebSphere Everyplace Connection Manager Support page News & FLASHES for when this updated client becomes available.”

The AT&T Global Network Client version 5.09.2 will install somewhat correctly, but when you reboot Vista – you’re left with a permanent Blue Screen of Death. Ewww, not cool at all.

After doing some searching, I found this AT&T Global Network Client community website that allows you to install the AT&T Global Network Client v7 alpha which is supposedly somewhat Vista compatible. It won’t work with the Vista firewall settings and you’re s@#$ out of luck if you run the 64 bit version of Vista. To download the alpha version, you have to register with the forum AND have a valid IBM email address (use your IBM email address when registering – registration for alpha testing the client for non-IBMers appears to be closed at this time).

Until recently, I have been using the Mobility Client to connect to work. It was fast, java (so it worked in Linux too), and had persistent connections so that if I unplugged and went wireless, I didn’t have to re-login (I’m honestly not sure how it does that). Recently, the connection has been *incredibly* slow – to the point where Lotus Notes would take 5 minutes to open a single email and w3 took 10 minutes to load. I switched back to AT&T Global Network Client, even though they charge some exorbitant fee to the department just for having an account.

I am still waiting for approval for the alpha version of the AT&T client, but I will edit this post once I get access and try installing it on Vista. For now, I am stuck using vmware to emulate Windows XP to do my IBM related work.

Update:

Success! I am now using the AT&T Global network Client v7 alpha 52 and I can connect to the IBM w3 homepage! IBM users only need to install the VPN component in order to get remote access – not sure what use the rest of the alpha versions are for. Just register with that forum listed above and you’ll be set up in no time! I like the slick new interface.

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February 12th, 2007
11 Responses
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Reader Comments

Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Michael Halladay
Posted on:
March 7, 2007 at 8:24 am

Hi Benjamin,

Apparently the “alpha” list is now closed. I registered, used my IBM address, and tried to join the forum. I can look, but can’t join. Can you point me to where I can get the ‘alpha’. I’m running VISTA Ultimate, and would like to connect to IBM. Thx… Michael

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Michael Halladay
Posted on:
March 7, 2007 at 8:26 am

Hmmm, I was just able to join the ‘beta’ group, so let’s see if ‘alpha’ moved to ‘beta’. Waiting now for confirmation. Thanks. … Michael

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Benjamin Chodroff
Posted on:
March 7, 2007 at 8:31 am

Hi Michael - they now have a beta client available. It takes some time for them to update your status to download the beta client. If you still can’t see where to download the beta client after 24 hours, send an email to them and they should fix you right up. Contact me if you’re still having problems and I’ll try to help you out quickly.

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Michael Halladay
Posted on:
March 7, 2007 at 8:48 am

Amazing, I was approved within 10 minutes. Fast response from ‘them’ and from you. Thanks Benjamin.

…Michael

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
murty patchipala
Posted on:
March 28, 2007 at 11:28 pm

Benjamin,
Please let me know the process how you could able to resolve the VPN client problem on vista. I am at the same point where you were earlier. Is VPS client is something we need to get from IBM website or any other place. Please send me the process to trouble shoot VPN client issue I am facing on vista version.

Thank you
Murty Patchipala
murty@us.ibm.com

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
Frank Laszlo
Posted on:
October 5, 2007 at 8:31 am

Anyone happen to know where to download Lotus Mobility Client for linux on the intranet?

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
Jeroen Caubergs
Posted on:
December 10, 2007 at 1:12 pm

Hi Benjamin,
I suffered from the same problems getting AT&T VPN to work on my Vista pc. Finally i gave up, but now i noticed IBM is pushing the new version of the AT&T Network Client: 6.9.0.3006 - January 13, 2007
QUESTION: any clue if this version would work on Vista? Thanks :-)

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
Bernd Hauser
Posted on:
December 10, 2007 at 1:36 pm

Hi Jeroen,
I’m also one of the IBM guys trying to play with Vista as an eClient :) I just tried out to use the AT&T Version 6.9 but I can say: Forget about it…. Instead of this you’ ve got to visit the following page: http://attnetclient.com/
There you can purchase version 7.1.1 for free. But do not ask me why we as IBM employees only get one of the older versions…
Greetz Bernd from Germany

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
Andre Koonings
Posted on:
January 16, 2008 at 7:41 am

Hi,
I got an at&t client and am testing it in a vmware virutal client.

P.S. does anyone has a working tacacs client on ubuntu 7.10?

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Virgil
Posted on:
March 14, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Does anyone has any news regarding Vista problem connection to IBM network using AT&T client vers.7? For me the installation goes well until one point, when it has to install the virtual network card, and for some unknown reason, it roll back. Any clue? thx

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
Denis
Posted on:
May 3, 2008 at 1:20 am

Has anyone figured out the problem with VISTA. I am running VISTA Home Premium and planning to upgrade to VISTA Ulitmate. Does Ultimate has problems connecting to IBM. Any advise is appreciated.

Denis