About wireless connections to the Internet at IUB and IUPUI

On this page:

• Levels of wireless access at IU
• Preparing your computer to connect to IU's wireless network
• Connecting to IU's wireless network
• Locations where you can connect to IU's wireless network
• Wireless for IU visitors
• If you have trouble

Levels of wireless access at IU

Indiana University offers two levels of wireless connectivity at IU Bloomington and IUPUI:

• For better security and full access to IU resources, use VPN over wireless as described below.
  
  
• If your mobile device cannot make a VPN connection, you can use the unencrypted wireless service to access non-IU resources and IU services that use secure protocols (e.g., web sites that use HTTPS, such as https://onestart.iu.edu/. For more, see At IU, what is unencrypted wireless access?

If you need to access an IU site or service that does not use a secure protocol (e.g., a web site that does not use HTTPS), you'll need to make a VPN connection before you can access it with your wireless device.

For both levels of access, your computer must be registered on IU's network as described below. If your computer is not registered, you will be able to reach only a very limited subset of IU resources designed to help you register and make a VPN connection.

Preparing your computer to connect to IU's wireless network

1. Configuring your wireless card: You'll need to configure your computer's wireless card to see IU's wireless network. For help, see At IU, how do I configure my Windows wireless network card?
   
   
2. Registering your computer: If you're in an area where you can see IU's wireless network, you'll need to connect to it and then register your computer. For more about connecting, see At IU, how do I make a wireless connection with ORiNOCO or Windows XP? or In Mac OS X, how do I configure my network settings to use my AirPort card? For more about registering, see At IUB and IUPUI, how do I register my computer?

   Note: If you're not in an area where your computer can see and connect to IU's wireless network, you can skip this step for now.

3. Configuring your VPN connection: VPN provides authentication and encryption when you use the wireless network. For more about VPN, and links to instructions for configuring a VPN connection, see The basics of VPN at IU.

   Note: If you had to skip step 2 above, you won't be able to follow all of the directions under "Connecting to IU's wireless network" until you're in an area with an IU wireless signal. That's all right; just configure the VPN settings, and then connect when you're able to.

Connecting to IU's wireless network

When you're in an area where you want to connect wirelessly, do the following:

1. Verify you're connected to IU's wireless network. In certain areas, especially near the physical campus borders, you may see other wireless networks unrelated to IU. Make sure you're connected to IU's wireless network before proceeding. How you verify your connection depends on the software your wireless card and computer use. In general, the software will announce the available networks. For example, on a Windows XP computer the connection icon near the clock will say "Wireless Network Connection is now connected. Connected to: IU Wireless". Alternatively, if you're using the Windows software itself (as opposed to third-party wireless software), you can use the Wireless Network Connection control panel. For instructions, see In Windows XP, how can I see what wireless networks are available to my computer? In all other cases, refer to At IU, how do I configure my Windows wireless network card?
   
   
2. After you're certain you're on IU's wireless network, launch your VPN connection. In many cases, you can simply double-click the VPN icon on your desktop. For more information, see In Windows XP, how do I make a VPN connection to the IU network?, In Windows Vista, how do I make a VPN connection to the IU network?, or In Mac OS X, how do I make a VPN connection to the IU network?

Locations where you can connect to IU's wireless network

A list of UITS-supported wireless sites at IUB and IUPUI is available on the UITS wireless sites page.

In Bloomington, you can also make a wireless connection off campus at any of Kiva Networking's wireless access KSpots, using your IU Network ID and a VPN connection to IU's network. For more information, see At IUB, what is Kiva Everywhere?

Wireless for IU visitors

If you are visiting IU and need to access the Internet via your personal computer while on campus, you can get temporary wireless Internet access by obtaining a Network Access account. See At IUB and IUPUI, what is a Network Access account, and how do I get one?

Note: Indiana University and Purdue University have implemented a partnership that allows researchers and visitors wireless access to their own networks from each other's campuses. For more information, see Wireless access at Indiana University and Purdue University.

If you have trouble

If you have trouble connecting to IU's wireless network, see Troubleshooting your on-campus wireless networking connection.

Also see:

• What is Wi-Fi?