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Wireless Computing

How to use Wireless Computing in the Business Building

How to use Wireless Computing in the Business Building

Penn State provides wireless networks in the Business Building as well as numerous other locations across campus.

Printable Instructions

Wireless 2.0 - No VPN Required

What Do I Need?

To get connected to the Penn State Wireless 2.0 service, you'll need:

The Penn State Wireless 2.0 service incorporates recent 802.1X wireless authentication and encryption methods that are aimed at enabling an improved level of security and improved performance. You no longer have to download a VPN or relaunch a VPN session when moving from building to building. Just open your laptop and you'll see the psu network.

Unplug and Fire Up a Connection!

It's easy to get connected to Penn State Wireless 2.0. All you have to do is

  1. Power up your laptop.
  2. Use the psu wireless network for your tasks.

Wireless 1.0 – VPN Required

What Do I Need?

To get connected to the Penn State Wireless 1.0 service on your laptop, you'll need:

  • Penn State Access Account: Access Accounts enable Penn State students, faculty, and staff to use the full range of Internet Services including wireless network services.
  • A laptop with an 802.11 compatible wireless network card, such as those that are wireless-ready or that have a PCMCIA card slot. You can purchase a wireless adapter card from the University's Computer Store. To obtain a list of cards, enter wireless adapter in the search field at http://computerstore.psu.edu/.
  • The VPN Client Software: The Penn State VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a secure network connection that uses encryption and other security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users access the network and that data is secure. Download and configuration of the VPN is necessary in order to authenticate and to access the Penn State wireless 1.0 pennstate network. VPN software clients for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X are available for download with or without an Internet connection, as well as documentation and installation instructions for each client.

Download and configure the VPN with an Internet connection.

Download the VPN without an Internet connection. Note: you will need to authenticate with your Penn State Access Account userid and password in order to access the VPN client.

Instructions for:

Unplug and Fire Up a Connection!

It's easy to get connected to the ITS Wireless SecureNet, All you have to do is:

  1. Power up your laptop
  2. Launch your VPN Client software and choose ITS Wireless at UP (or your location)
  3. Click Click connect and enter your PSU user ID and password to authenticate
  4. Use the wireless network for your tasks

Disconnect the VPN client when you are done.

Using Penn State Wireless 1.0 or 2.0

Wired Access via Mobility Ports

Ensure that the network cable is plugged into the laptop and into the wall before you start up the computer.

  1. Open up an internet browser.
  2. Proceed to the following address: https://clc.its.psu.edu/PortLogin.aspx to authenticate (verify that you are an authorized PSU user) by entering your Access Account user id and password. Then click on I Agree. (Please note that you only need to visit and authenticate via the Port Login page while you are on the PSU campus)
  3. A page will open up that tells you that you are now authenticated. You can now surf the web or check email, etc.
  4. Once you are done using the network, it is very important to logout via the logout page; this page can be accessed at https://clc.its.psu.edu/PortLogout.aspx.

If you find that you are having trouble accessing the network, try following the steps below:

  1. Click on Start, and select Run.
  2. Type cmd and click OK.
  3. A window will open up; next to the prompt ( ex. C:\> ) type ipconfig /release all and hit Enter.
  4. At the next prompt, type ipconfig /renew all and hit Enter.
  5. Try visiting and authenticating via the PortLogin page again.
  6. If you are still unable to access the Port Login page, you may have network card issues.
  7. Click Start and select Settings, Control Panel and then double click on Network and DialUp Connections.
  8. Right click on the Local Area Connection icon and choose Properties.
  9. In the window that opens, scroll down and choose the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) entry.
  10. Highlight it and click on Properties.
  11. Under Properties, verify that "Obtain an IP Address Automatically" and "Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically" are selected.
  12. Click OK and you should be set.
  13. If you made any changes here, you may be prompted to reboot before you can try connecting through Netscape or Internet Explorer again.
  14. Click OK and you should be set.

If you made any changes here, you may be prompted to reboot before you can try connecting through Netscape or Internet Explorer again.

Using the VPN Client - Including Wireless 1.0

At the Smeal College of Business and elsewhere at Penn State University, access to specific computing resources over the network, or access to the Wireless 1.0, requires using the University’s VPN services. Depending on the location and/or resource to be accessed, the use of different profiles within the VPN client may be required. Within the Smeal community, the following profiles are most commonly used:

  1. ITS Wireless at UP - The first generation wireless access at Penn State (including Smeal) requires the use of this profile to connect to the campus wide wireless network named "pennstate". *This profile is NOT needed to access Penn State’s second generation wireless service (Wireless V2.0). Not all Smeal computing resources are available through the Penn State wireless VPN profile at this time.
  2. ISP to PSU – This VPN profile is required when accessing certain Penn State computing resources from your home network or some other off-campus network. For example, if you need to access your office desktop from home via remote desktop or if you need to utilize certain library resources requiring a Penn State connection, the ISPtoPSU option will be necessary.
  3. Smeal from ISP – By default, this VPN profile is only accessible by Smeal faculty and staff. However, other users such as visiting professors, non-Penn State research colleagues or other "ad-hoc" users requiring access to restricted Smeal computing resources may do so by having their Smeal based peer make a request to his or her department’s IT support contact. *The Smeal profile is currently not included in the Mac or Linux clients. Mac users may download and import the profile directly. Linux users may be required to create a profile manually. Please contact the RIIT Group for further assistance with using the Smeal VPN on Linux.

AT&T Visitor Wireless

In conjunction with AT&T, Penn State offers the Visitor’s Wireless service.

The Smeal College of Business often hosts visitors, including potential students with their families, alumni, corporate associates, vendors, guests and more. To facilitate network access in our building, as a visitor to our campus, you may access our AT&T wifi visitor wireless service (.pdf 1.3Mb) from your personal computer in our Business Building.

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