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Wireless Network
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News on New Wired and Wireless Network |
The contractor has completed installation of the Cu based GigE (1000Base-T) network. This network will provide 1000 mbit connectivity to all new network jacks in the Physics Building (082); these jacks have not yet been connected to the switches and so are not active. Until all devices have been migrated to the new network, both networks will continue in operation.
PCS will send out a PGP Signed email to the department when the new GigE jacks become active. It is not known when this will occur; there are mechanical delays.
As part of this massive upgrade in connectivity speed is the activation of a new high speed wireless network (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g). The old Cisco Access Points, of which there were 23, have been deactivated since they were connected to the old 10Base-T CAT3 network. The new network is now using a slightly more advanced version of these Access Points, of which there are 98, connected to the new GigE network.
The Office of Information Technology is taking steps to improve the security of this University wireless network. Effective Monday, November 20th, 2006, the UMD community can now use the 'umd-secure' wireless network to encrypt traffic sent over the wireless network and ensure it is being sent to a legitimate UMD wireless access point. Users who opt to use 'umd-secure' can also say goodbye to the web browser authentication page. Instead, users will be prompted with a pop-up box when authentication is necessary.
Devices that support WPA2/WPA technology can take advantage of this new service. WPA2 offers the highest level security and should be available on most wireless devices purchased in the last year. WPA also provides state of the art security and should be supported on wireless devices purchased in the last few years.
OIT broadcasts two SSIDs (a description of an SSID will be found in the next two indented paragraphs) to provide wireless access to the university community. The “umd-secure” network encrypts all traffic sent and received from a wireless device using WPA2/WPA technology. As it offers the best data security available, this is the preferred wireless network for all university faculty, staff, and students. Since the 'umd-secure' network supports 802.1x, Web browser-based authentication is not required. For users of many PDAs, this option can eliminate the problems associated with running a Web browser solely to reach the Web authentication page required to use the 'umd' network.
SSID - Short for service set identifier, a 32-character unique identifier attached to the header of packets sent over a WLAN that acts as a password when a mobile device tries to connect to the BSS. The SSID differentiates one WLAN from another, so all access points and all devices attempting to connect to a specific WLAN must use the same SSID. A device will not be permitted to join the BSS unless it can provide the unique SSID. Because an SSID can be sniffed in plain text from a packet it does not supply any security to the network.
An SSID is also referred to as a network name because essentially it is a name that identifies a wireless network.
The 'umd' network is intended to provide wireless access to university guests as well as faculty, staff, and students who have not (or cannot) set up WPA2/WPA on their wireless device. Authentication for this network is handled by a Web browser redirect to a login page. This authentication process is the one presently in use. Its use may continue, although users are encouraged to migrate to 'umd-secure'.
Information on the Secure Wireless Network at UMD see:
http://www.oit.umd.edu/wirelessDetails on how to configure your particular device can be found at
http://www.oit.umd.edu/nts/noc/wireless/connect.html
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