Remote Access v3 (RAv3) Retirement on 07/11/2023
Following on from the successful launch of Freedom2Roam in 2020, the time has now come to decommission LGfL’s previous remote access platform, Remote Access v3 (RAv3). The decommissioning of RAv3 is planned for 07/11/23.
Why is LGfL decommissioning RAv3?
When LGfL launched Freedom2Roam in March 2020 it was always intended to be the replacement for RAv3 but at the time of its launch, we entered a global pandemic on a scale that we haven’t seen before in our lifetimes. To not disrupt schools any further, the decommissioning of RAv3 was delayed to help ensure that schools relying on the platform for remote access, could continue to do so.
What will my school need to do to migrate to Freedom2Roam?
All of your settings have already been copied over to Freedom2Roam and you will not need to make any administrative changes on the LGfL Support Site. However, the version of the Cisco AnyConnect client on your laptops will require an upgrade. This will start to be automatically deployed when staff members connect to RAv3 from the 3rd of October 2023. There is also a step by step guide that can be found here - VPN AnyConnect (lgfl.org.uk) should you wish to manually update your software or if there are any technical issues when the software is automatically updated.
How do I access Freedom2Roam WebVPN?
You can access the Freedom2Roam WebVPN by following this link - Secure Remote Access (Freedom2Roam) | LGFL. As mentioned above, all of your settings from RAv3 have already been copied over to Freedom2Roam.
Do I need to upgrade the version of the Cisco AnyConnect software?
YES. The version of the Cisco AnyConnect software that is used for RAv3 is not compatible with Freedom2Roam and must be upgraded but as mentioned above, the software upgrade should happen automatically. If the AnyConnect client is not upgraded before RAv3 is decommissioned on 07/11/23, then the remote connection will not be established and this will cause disruption to your remote workers until the software has been upgraded.
Does Freedom2Roam provide all of the same functionality as RAv3?
YES! With the exception of the Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol and this is because Cisco have removed the support of CIFS from its product range as it is not deemed a secure protocol.
Freedom2Roam does however, provide full support for VNC, RDP and VPN access in the same fashion as RAv3.
What is replacing CIFS?
Although there is no direct replacement for CIFS, Freedom2Roam can provide you with remote desktop access (RDP) using the Guacamole technology.
Does Freedom2Roam support Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?
Absolutely! We would encourage all schools to use MFA for remote access and if you have not configured this already, there is a step by step guide configuration guide available here that will guide you through enabling this.
How do I see who is still using RAv3 at my school?
You are able to view the RAv3 access logs via the Support Site by selecting the Service Desk tab and then click on Remote Access resources. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the Access Log section and here you can enter a date range and view the results to identify your colleagues still using RAv3.
We do hope that you will enjoy using the new and improved LGfL remote access platform and should you require any further information or support, please do not hesitate to raise a case on the LGfL Support Site at https://support.lgfl.org.uk or call the Service Desk on 020 8255 5555, select option 3.
