Abstract: A method and system for dual channel network connections where one channel can be used for normal data transmission and the second channel can be used for administration tasks such as correcting error on the data channel or running diagnostics. A first data processing system and a second data processing system communicate on a physical network by transmitting data packets on the network using a virtual private network (VPN). Data packets are transmitted through a first VPN channel. Administrative packets are transmitted through a second VPN channel independently of the first VPN channel. The data packets may be transmitted using Internet Protocol (IP), and a portion of the network may include the Internet. The data VPN channel and the administrative VPN channel share a single network interface card, hence only a single network interface card (NIC) is required for each data processing system.