Using openSUSE, how do I connect to the IU Secure wireless network?

At Indiana University, to connect to the IU Secure wireless network using openSUSE 11, you must obtain a valid Thawte certificate, and then configure KNetworkManager. For instructions for other Linux distributions, see Using Linux, how do I connect to the IU Secure wireless network?

On this page:

• Obtaining a Thawte certificate
• Connecting to IU Secure with openSUSE 11

Obtaining a Thawte certificate

The IU Secure authentication server uses Thawte as its root certificate authority. You must have a valid Thawte root certificate in Privacy-Enhanced Mail (PEM) format to connect to IU Secure.

UITS recommends that you use the certificate installed with your operating system. If you do not have the root certificate installed, you can download it from Thawte's Download Root Certificates.

After you download the thawte-roots.zip file, extract the Thawte SSLWeb Server Roots/thawte Premium Server CA/Thawte Premium Server CA.pem file to your home directory.

In a default openSUSE 11 installation, you can find the certificate in /etc/ssl/certs/thawteCp.pem or /etc/ssl/certs/Thawte_Premium_Server_CA.pem.

Connecting to IU Secure with openSUSE 11

1. In the lower right corner, right-click the KNetworkManager globe icon. Select New connection, and then click wlan0 (or the interface name of your wireless adapter).
   
   
2. From the list of available wireless networks, choose IU Secure, and then click Next.
   
   
3. The Connections window will appear. Configure the settings as follows:
   
   
   • Set "Security:" to WPA Enterprise Under EAP.
   • Set "Method:" to PEAP.
   • For "Identity:" and "Password:", enter your IU Network ID username and passphrase, respectively.
   • Set "CA Certificate:" to: /etc/ssl/certs/thawteCp.pem or /etc/ssl/certs/Thawte_Premium_Server_CA.pem
   • Under Phase 2, set "Method:" to MSCHAPV2.
   
   
4. If you would like to have your computer automatically connect to IU Secure when you are in range, click Next until you see the final screen. Check Autoconnect, and then click Connect & Save. Otherwise, click Connect & Save without clicking Next.

   After successfully connecting, you should see the KNetworkManager globe icon change to a signal strength meter.

At Indiana University, for personal or departmental Linux or Unix systems support, see At IU, how do I get support for Linux or Unix?

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