OSU Wireless Network Help

»Introduction

Overview

This section is dedicated to the helping you with the OSU Wireless Network. We hope you find what you are looking for.

About This Document

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»Section Index: OSU Wireless Network

OSU Wireless Network

• What is the OSU Wireless Network?
• Who can connect to the OSU Wireless Network?
• Where can I connect to the OSU Wireless Network?
• What do I need to connect to the OSU Wireless Network with Wireless?
• I don't have a network card or a cable. Where can I get one?
• How do I register my computer so it will work on the OSU Wireless Network?
• What about my handheld device?
• What about Privacy?
• Install OSU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Client for Windows
• Logging on with the Windows Client
• Install OSU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Client for OS X
• Logging on with the Mac OS X client
• I'm having problems. Where can I find troubleshooting tips?
• It still doesn't work, who do I contact for help?
• Network engineering wireless page

What is the OSU Wireless Network?

The OSU Wireless Network allows OSU Students, Faculty and Staff to connect their personally-owned laptop computers to OSU's backbone for Internet and e-mail access in a limited number of locations.

Who can connect to the OSU Wireless Network?

Current OSU Students, Faculty, Staff, Emeritus and Associates who have an ONID account.

Where can I connect to the OSU Wireless Network?

Coverage Map

• If you've never configured your computer for networking please refer to the following documents for assistance:
  • Configuring your computer for Networking

What do I need to connect to the OSU Wireless Network with Wireless?

• A laptop computer running Windows (98, ME, 2000, XP or Vista), Mac OS 9.x or 10.x (English versions only).
• An internal WI-FI 802.11b compliant Wireless LAN Card or a PCMCIA Wireless LAN Card.
• Your ethernet port's Hardware address
  • How to find your Hardware Address using Window 98/ME
  • How to find your Hardware Address using Windows 2000
  • How to find your Hardware Address using Windows XP Pro or Home
  • How to find your Hardware Address using Windows Vista
  • How to find your Hardware Address using Mac OS 9
  • How to find your Hardware Address using Mac OS X

I don't have a network card or a cable. Where can I get one?

You can get network cards and cables from the Computer Base located in the OSU Bookstore. For information on the Computer Base and the products they sell, click here.

How do I register my computer so it will work on the OSU Wireless Network?

If you will be using Wireless you can register your laptop anywhere in the Library or MU Commons that you can get a wireless signal.

There are two types of regitration on the OSU Wirless Network: temporary and permanent*. Temporary access uses your ONID authentication to give you 600 minutes of internet access before you are redirected to the welcome page and have to enter your credentials again. If you choose to do the permanent regitration, you will not have to enter this information every time and you device will be ready as soon as it gets a connection. We strongly recommend registering your device permanently in Maintain. To register your device from the registration page, follow these steps:

1. Turn on and log into your laptop
2. Open your preferred web browser
3. Your web browser will be automatically redirected to the OSU Wireless Network Authentication Page
4. Click the link that says "Show Your Wirless Hardware Address". Copy your hardware address from the next page then click the back button in your browser.
5. Click the link that says "Click Here to Register" then log in with your ONID username and password.
6. Read through the acceptable use policy, check the box at the botton indicating your compliance with the use policies, then click "I agree".
7. On the next screen, paste the value for your hardware address(it should be 12 values, ranging from 0-1 and A-F, excluding colons and spaces) into the text box and be sure that the type is set to Wireless. Click "Add Hardware Address" then click "Continue" on the next screen.
8. Wait 5-10 minutes for your comptuer to be registered. If you want to use the internet immediately, you can do the temporary login back at the registration page.
9. Congratulations! You are not registered permanently on the OSU Network.

*Note: Permanent registration only refers to the times when you have an active ONID account. An active ONID account is required for access to the OSU wireless network.

What about my handheld device?

Your wireless handheld devuce may work with the OSU Wireless Network. We are unable to provide technical support for handhelds at this time. Laptop computers running Windows (98, ME, 2000 or XP), Mac OS 9.x or 10.x (English versions only) are the only devices currently supported on the OSU Wireless Network.

What about Privacy?

Wireless networks operate by communicating the signals by radio from your computer to the OSU Wireless Network. These radio signals are broadcast just like your local radio station and anyone with the right equipment can "listen" to your communications. So what do you do to keep people from listening in as you surf the web and read your e-mail? Install and use OSU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Client! or use the OSU Secure wireless network.

Install OSU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Client for Windows (Versions 4 and up)

The following information is for users setting up VPN for use on OSU's on-campus Wireless network. For additional VPN information, including how to get VPN at home, please see our VPN page.

• Go to http://oregonstate.edu/net/security/vpn/ and follow the links to obtain the VPN Group ID and password (you will need your ONID ID & password to obtain this information).
• Download the Windows VPN client
• Extract the files to a temporary directory (e.g.: C:\temp)
• Go to the location in Windows Explorer where the files were extracted and run "Setup"
• Allow the setup process to begin
• If prompted about disabling the Windows IPSec agent you must answer yes in order to make the VPN client work.
• Continue with the installation and reboot when prompted.
• After Reboot click on Start
• Click on Programs
• Click on Cisco Systems VPN Client
• Click on VPN Client
• To make a new Connection Entry click on "Connection Entries" at the top of the VPN Client window.
• Click on New
• Enter a connection name in the Connection Entry Box: "Secure Data Link" will do, but this name is arbitrary
• Enter a Description of the connection if needed
• Enter the host name of the server as sds.oregonstate.edu
• Make sure the Group Authentication button is selected
• Enter your Group Access Information (Note: will only work on campus)
  • In the Name box put in the Group ID you got from http://oregonstate.edu/net/security/vpn/
  • Enter the Password
  • Confirm the Password
• Click Save
• Close the window or continue from Press "Connect" below

Logging on with the Windows Client (you must do this each time you connect to the wireless network)

• Click on Start
• Click on Programs
• Click on Cisco Systems VPN Client
• Click on VPN Client
• Press "Connect"
• Enter ONID username and password
• Click Continue
• Once connected, all network traffic to and from OSU IP addresses will be securely routed through the VPN. Because of the user of split tunneling, other traffic will not go through the tunnel.

NOTE: If you have problems connecting with the Cisco VPN Client try the following:

• Click on the Modify icon
• Click on the Transport tab
• Click on the IPSec over TCP button
• Try to connect again.

Install OSU's Virtual Private Network (VPN) Client for OS X (Note: VPN support for OS 9 is not available at this time)

• Go to http://oregonstate.edu/net/security/vpn/ and follow the links to obtain the VPN Group ID and password (you will need your ONID ID & password to obtain this information).
• Download the newest version of the Mac OS X VPN client and save it to your desktop.
• Double click on the downloaded file.
  • This will mount a virtual drive called "CiscoVPNClient."
  • Open this drive and run "Cisco VPN Client.mpkg."
• You will most likely be asked for the administrative password for your computer.
  • Enter it continue through the license agreement.
• When asked to select a destination for the software, choose the drive that OS X is installed on
• click continue
• click install.
• The installer will process for awhile
• When it is done, click close.

• The software is now installed under Applications/VPNClient
• Run the client software
• Click on "New." This will open the "Create New VPN Connection Entry" window.
• Fill out the form as follows:

  Connection Entry: OSUVPN
  Description: Oregon State University VPN
  Host: sds.oregonstate.edu

Under the authentication tab:
Select "Group Authentication."
Name: [group name]
Password: [group password]
Confirm Password: [group password]

Under the transport tab:
Check "Enable Transparent Tunneling."
Select IPSec over TCP

• Hit save.
• You have now set up the VPN client.

Logging on with the Mac OS X client (you must do this each time you connect to the wireless network)

• Run the client software installed under Applications/VPNClient
• Highlight the OSUVPN connection
• Click on "Connect."
  

I'm having problems. Where can I find troubleshooting tips?

Can't log in to register?

• Are you an OSU Student, Staff, Faculty, Emeritus or Associate?
  • Yes
    • Have you set up your ONID Account?
      • Yes
        • Did you forget your password?
          • Yes
            • Go to the ONID Change Password form and reset your password
          • No
            • Contact OSU Computer Helpdesk online or at (541) 737-3474
      • No
        • Go to the ONID Signup page and register your account.
  • No
    • The OSU Wireless Network is only available to members of the OSU community. There are public terminals available for your use in the Computer Commons at The Valley Library.

Can't connect to the network?

• Is your SSID set to OSU_Access?
  • Yes
    • Is the Windows XP Firewall on?
      • Yes
        • Turn off the Windows XP Firewall
      • No
        • Is WEP turned on?
          • Yes
            • Turn WEP off. Contact OSU Computer Helpdesk online or at (541) 737-3474 for help.
          • No
            • Is your network card installed and configured?
              • Yes
                • Contact OSU Computer Helpdesk online or at (541) 737-3474
              • No
                • Install your network card.
  • No
    • Set your SSID to OSU_Access.

It still doesn't work, who do I contact for help?

Contact OSU Computer Helpdesk online or at (541) 737-3474

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