An official NDSU wireless network is available is several locations on campus. This allows NDSU students, faculty, and staff with mobile computing devices to use the campus network and the Internet without an Ethernet cable.
If you'd like mobile access to the network, equip your laptop with a wireless network card, and when you're in range of a wireless signal, log on to the Internet. Be sure you are connecting securely to the wireless network identified as NDSU on campus.
Wireless access is not available in Residence Halls.
Network security is of high concern; using radio signal broadcasts, wireless is inherently insecure
without taking additional steps. The NDSU wireless network supports WPA2 (Wireless Protected Access) and, for older
computers, the VPN (Virtual Private
Network) client.
You should always secure your wireless connection by using WPA2 or the VPN client. Using WPA2 or the VPN client will encrypt your data before it is transmitted over the wireless network. If you do not use WPA2 or the VPN client, you should be careful never to provide sensitive information (passwords, personal, or financial data) to unsecured Web sites. Most browsers show a "padlock" when a Web site is secured.
Access points are available in several locations on campus within
buildings which may attract mobile users. Look for the wireless "Hot Spot" signs.
Please be careful to make sure you are connecting to the wireless network identified as NDSU on campus. If you connect to a different network, the VPN will likely not work and you could be at risk for having information intercepted.
In accordance with the NDSU Computer Use Policy and the North Dakota University System Computer Use Policy, network access is granted only to NDSU students, staff, faculty, and authorized guests. All users are subject to the NDSU and NDUS policies.
Your NDSU electronic ID and password are needed to request the wireless service from http://enroll.nodak.edu . The same ID and password are also used when you activate WPA2 or the VPN client.
No. Wireless is intended for use with mobile devices. The wired network is still much more reliable, faster, and more secure than wireless. We will continue to wire offices and other dedicated work areas. For example, staff members may use a laptop connected to the wired network through a docking station on their desks. But when going to a meeting in a wireless-covered conference room, she can use the wireless network and VPN to access files, view Web pages, etc.
Wi-FI Protected Access 2 is the most recent standard method to provide security on wireless networks. WPA2is based on the IEEE 802.11i standard which uses AES encryption. NDSU recommends using WPA2 to secure your connection to the NDSU wireless network.
The VPN is an interim solution for older computers and will be supported until all computers are capable of using WPA2.
Virtual Private Networking (VPN) allows you to connect to NDSU's network using the on-campus wireless connection. It is also used to ensure a secure 128-bit encryption that prevents unwanted users from eavesdropping on your connection.
That depends. When you first connect to the wireless network, your computer is assigned a special "private" Internet address. With it, you can only browse the Web to access common sites, including Wemail at NDSU. However, other services such as printing, Novell network connectivity, use of e-mail clients such as Outlook or Eudora, and other general network access are not available.
To use the full power of the wireless network, you must "authenticate" using WPA2 or the VPN client. You need an NDSU electronic ID and password as well as an enabled WLAN service to connect; enable WLAN service at http://enroll.nodak.edu. See the general wireless information page for more information on obtaining and using WPA2 or the VPN client. When you enable WPA2 or the VPN client, you are given a "real" Internet address and have access to the network just as you would if you plugged into a wired LAN connection. In addition, all your information sent across the wireless network will be encrypted to prevent someone else from "snooping" or intercepting it.
NOTE: When you are connected without using WPA2 or the VPN client, your information is sent across the wireless network "in the clear." Others might snoop or intercept your traffic. You should make sure that any sensitive Web connections are secured with what is called "SSL" (Secure Socket Layer; the little padlock on your browser should be closed when you connect). Some public services such as Yahoo! provide both secured and unsecured options. Always chose the secured option when using this sort of public wireless access.
The following items will be needed to access the wireless network at NDSU:
You must have a valid NDSU electronic ID (generally Firstname.Lastname) and password. You must also enable the WLAN service at http://enroll.nodak.edu. Special wireless-only electronic IDs and passwords are also available for guests to use for a few days.
The general wireless information page provides more information and links to information on obtaining WPA2 or the VPN client. Please note that the VPN client is licensed and restricted software, and you must never transfer it to another person. Users should download their own copies.
* System requirements for WPA2 and VPN client
You must use WPA2 or the VPN client and log in with your NDSU electronic ID and password before you can print. Before you start up WPA2 or the VPN connection, you are on a private, restricted network. After you have started WPA2 or the VPN client and securely connected, you will have a normal campus Internet address. If you use Novell, you may then start your Novell network client, log in to Novell, and access your shared network drives and printers. Other forms of printing directly using the "IP address" or name of the printer will work once you have your secure WPA2 or VPN connection.
We now have instructions for laptop users who wish to print to selected "GoPrint" printers in the clusters. You must have a secure connection via WPA2 or the VPN before you can print to the GoPrint printers.
Coverage refers to the areas where you can consistently make a quality connection to the wireless network. The coverage area can be influenced by many factors. The wireless radio waves travel through a constantly changing environment in which transmission errors are expected. Radio signals decrease in strength as they radiate through the coverage area. Objects such as furniture, various types of construction materials, surfaces, and other obstacles all affect the signal strength. Interference from electronic equipment such as computers, microwave ovens, cordless phones, etc. can cause interference. The wireless protocols try to optimize the speed of the connection for the given signal. You can get some idea of your connection quality on a Windows computer by holding the mouse pointer over the wireless network icon in the system tray and noting the speed.
Capacity refers to how many concurrent users an "access point" can support. As more and more users "contend" for access at the same time, performance can suffer. The wireless protocol may adjust speeds downward when more people are connected, or transmissions may have to be automatically resent which makes the connection seem slow. The wireless equipment NDSU is using allows us to monitor usage and, in the future, it might be possible to add additional access points in areas with high-capacity usage.
No, the VPN client is used to access and to authenticate to the ITS wireless access points.
The access points listed and identified as NDSU are the only official ones that are supported by NDSU and ITS. Other access points are set up for department use only and may be insecure. You should not use these other access points without permission.
Please call the NDSU Help Desk at 231-8685 (Option 1) or e-mail the Help Desk at ndsu.helpdesk@ndsu.edu if you have any more questions concerning wireless connections.