Wireless Networking
The Materials Research Institute has deployed wireless networks in and around its buildings. The "pennstate" wireless network is intended primarily for anyone with a Penn State Access Account to use. The "MRI-wpa" network is a specialized wireless network designed to provide "behind the firewall" access to the MRI's network as if you were plugged in at your desk; access to this network is restricted to those with a demonstrated need (see below).
Wireless FAQs:
- Why wireless networking?
- What areas are covered?
- What about status and outage information about the MRI wireless networks?
- How do I set up my computer to access the wireless networks?
- What is meant by "demonstrated need"
- How do visitors get access to our wireless networks?
- What other networks are available on campus?
Why wireless networking?
- We've heard from our occupants over the last few years that wireless networking in and around our buildings would be advantageous for a number of reasons including the ability for faculty, staff and students to take wireless-enabled laptops from their offices to the labs to the conference rooms and still have connections to the network without having to carry cables or find an open network jack.
- Visitor (Penn State and non-Penn State) access to our networks has always been difficult. We need to ensure that our networks are secure and available for our primary customers--the occupants of our buildings. By allowing visitors to introduce computers that would diminish the security and availability of our networks--because those computers might contain viruses, worms, etc.--we fail in our service to our primary customers.
- Wireless networks may reduce the number of wired network jacks that we need to add to provide additional connections for computers.
- Everyone else is doing it, why can't we?
What areas are covered?
- All occupied/lab spaces and surrounding exterior:
- MRI Building
- MRL Building (including the annex)
- RUA (excluding the trailer--we are examining this possibility)
What about status and outage information about the MRI wireless networks?
- When necessary, information about changes, outages or problems will be posted on this site.
- Notices about maintenance work or planned outages will be posted to the MRI and MRL Building LISTSERVs
How do I set up my computer to access the wireless networks?
- Using the "pennstate" wireless network
- Using the "MRI-wpa" wireless network
- Obtain authorization to access the "MRI-wpa" wireless network from the MRI Information Technology (IT) Staff. Providing you have a demonstrated need (see below), your Access Account UserID (i.e., xyz123) will be added to the authorized users list--it will take about 5 minutes for the change to take effect. If you fail to perform this step, the connection will not work regardless of whether or not you have properly configured your computer!
- Configuring "MRI-wpa" for Windows XP
- Configuring "MRI-wpa" for Mac OS X
What is meant by "demonstrated need"
- Examples of "demonstrated needs" include access to resources on our wired networks such as:
- File servers
- Print servers
- E-mail servers
- Other resources that are not available from outside our firewalls
- Examples where a "demonstrated need" is not met include:
- Simple Internet access (web and e-mail)
- Visitors (Penn State and non-Penn State) to our buildings
- The MRI Information Technology (IT) Staff can assist you in determining "demonstrated needs"--contact us...we're here to help.
How do visitors get access to our wireless networks?
- Penn State visitors (i.e., people who have Penn State Access Accounts)
- Use the "pennstate" wireless network just like you would anywhere else on campus where it is available
- Non-Penn State visitors
- Access to the "pennstate" wireless networks will be granted using Short Term Access Accounts (STAA)
- Photo identification (driver's license, passport, company id, etc.) will need to be provided before a STAA is issued
- For the MRI Building, contact one of the following to receive a STAA:
- For the MRL Building or RUA, contact one of the following to receive a STAA:
What other networks are available on campus?
- ITS maintains a list of wireless networks.
- The College of Earth & Mineral Sciences provides "pennstate" and "ems-wpa" in many of their buildings.
- The College of Engineering provides the ITS "pennstate" wireless network in most Engineering buildings, including Research East.
- Other Colleges and units may also operate their own networks as well.
