FAQs: Wireless Networking

End Users

How do I get connected to the wireless network?
What is the campus wireless network name?
I am a guest to the University, can I use the wireless too?
What operating systems are supported by the wireless network?
Can I use Napster, Gnutella, KaZaA, or any other peer-to-peer filesharing software?
Is my wireless secure?
Are there restrictions to using the wireless network?
What protocols does the wireless network support?
What are the risks of using wireless?
How do I change my uNID password in my wireless configuration on my device?
Why doesn't my VMware, VirtualPC or Parallels work?
Why should I use the UConnect wireless network instead of UGuest?

Network Admins

What is the process for requesting changes to the UConnect wireless network?
What central wireless services are offered to campus departments?
What kind of networking equipment will I have to upgrade?
Do you provide wireless engineering services?
Are there known wireless card issues?

End Users

How do I get connected to the campus wireless network?

If you look in your laptop or mobile device’s list of available wireless networks (while on campus), you should see “UConnect.” To complete the one-time configuration to use the new network, simply use our UConnect Setup Wizard. It’s quick and easy; just enter your uNID and password once, and you’ll be ready to use the UConnect network immediately. To get your mobile device configured for the new UConnect network wirelessly, click on the UGuest option in your available wireless networks, open a browser and click on the "Setup Wizard" button.

You may also configure your device for UConnect manually; manual configuration instructions are at http://wireless.utah.edu/index.html#manual.

Health Sciences users, please do not run the auto-wizard - if you need to use UConnect, contact your Hospital Help Desk at 801-587-6000 or follow the manual instructions for Odyssey clients.

What is the campus wireless network name?

The secure and recommended network is UConnect. This network uses the 802.1x/WPA2 Enterprise protocol for security and authentication, and is recommend for all campus members with a uNID or gNID. It has unlimited bandwidth and allows users to access IP-restricted campus resources. For users whose devices are 802.11n enabled, it is an extremely fast network.

The second campus network, which is an open, unsecure network intended for visitor use, is UGuest. It is bandwidth-limited and doesn't allow direct access to campus network resources.

I'm a guest to the University - can I use the wireless network?

Yes, guest access is available via the UGuest wireless network, or with a Guest Network ID or gNID on UConnect. Please see the Guest Account webpage for details.

What operating systems are supported for the wireless network?

These operating systems are officially supported.

Can I use Gnutella, Kazaa, or other peer-to-peer software?

Use of any and all software is governed by the Campus Information Resources Policy (4-002). This can be found at http://www.regulations.utah.edu/it/4-002.html. Please also read the August 2009 Peer-to-peer memo to campus from the CIO. More information about violations of copyright via peer-to-peer software is on the www.SecureIT.utah.edu website.

Is my wireless secure?

The UConnect network, uses WPA2 Enterprise. Based on the ratified IEEE 802.11i standard, WPA2 provides government grade security by implementing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 compliant AES encryption algorithm. (source: Wifi Alliance)

Are there restrictions to using the wireless network?

Use of the campus wireless services is governed by the Information Resources Policy 4-002. Additionally, individual departments may have specific requirements to help limit interference and bandwidth consumption on their networks.

What protocols does the wireless network support?

802.11a/b/g/n

What are the risks of using wireless?

Wireless connections are inherently less secure than wired connections. If you are not using a secure network or a VPN, your traffic may be easily intercepted by hackers.

Why doesn't my VMware, VirtualPC or Parallels work?

Symptom: When a wireless client has a virtual machine running on it (e.g. in VMware, VirtualPC or Parallels), then the Wireless Controller DHCP relay may drop DHCP packets from the VM client, with a "dhcpProxy: Dropping packet (no mscb)" message.

Conditions: The virtual machine is operating in bridged mode, rather than in NAT ("shared networking") mode.

Workaround: Configure the virtual machine software for NAT ("shared networking") mode, not bridged mode.  This is a known Cisco Bug "CSCsq46427".  The Wireless team is working closely with Cisco on this issue and a solution should be forth-coming in a future code release.

Why should I use the UConnect wireless network instead of UGuest?

In addition to the security that the encrypted UConnect network provides, and direct access to campus network resources, new 802.11n wireless access points (APs) across main campus and student housing make UConnect the fastest it’s ever been, up to 8 times faster than before.

  • The new access points are backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g wireless devices, which most users currently have.  This allows for a consistent and faster connection even if you don’t have an “n” device, so all campus wireless users can enjoy benefits from the new environment.
  • The new access points have MIMO: Multiple Input and Multiple-Output.  MIMO radio technology means greater range, link reliability and increased throughput. 
  • For all users with 802.11a/b/g adapters in their mobile devices, MIMO means multiple combined signals and increased receive sensitivity for better wireless performance. 
  • For those using 802.11n laptops, multiple antennas transmit concurrently on the same channel which increases bandwidth.  
  • Another feature that “n” users get is channel bonding:  two 20Mhz channels are bonded together into one 40 Mhz channel.  This increases performance and throughput significantly.   

 

In order to get the most out of these new features, users can look for the following in their new mobile devices or when considering upgrades:

-Make sure the device carries the WiFi Alliance's "n" certification which looks like this:  abgwifin

-If possible, look for a dual-band (2.4 + 5Ghz) 802.11n adapter.

 

Network Admins

What is the process for requesting changes to the UConnect wireless network?

You can request changes to wireless infrastructure online.

Do you provide wireless engineering services?

Yes. We can provide consulting services for wireless or other networking needs.  Please contact your Account Executive for more information:

 

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Product and Service Information

More Frequently Asked Questions

For questions or problems, please contact the Campus Help Desk at 801-581-4000 option 1.