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Wireless Networking

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Introduction

Wireless networking is available throughout all three floors of the Penn State Harrisburg Library. Any Penn State student or employee with an active Access Account can use the wireless local area network (LAN) to connect a laptop to the Internet from anywhere within the building.

What You'll need:

Hardware: A laptop with a built-in wireless adapter (or a separate 802.11b or 802.11g compatible wireless network card).

Software: VPN (Virtual Private Network) client software (https://www.work.psu.edu/access/vpn/) that allows you to make a secure connection between your laptop and Penn State's wireless network.

Penn State Access Account: Your Penn State user ID and password (http://aset.its.psu.edu/accounts/access.html).

Step One: Check Your Laptop's Wireless Connection

The easiest way to check your laptop's wireless connection is to see if you can access the Download VPN Client Software Web page (https://www.work.psu.edu/access/vpn/). Take your laptop to the library (or anywhere else on campus where wireless networking is available), and then open the Web page in Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or another Web browser.

If you are able to make a wireless connection to the Download VPN Client Software Web page from your laptop, proceed to Step Two. You will not be able to access any other Web page until you download and install the VPN client software as outlined in Step Two and Step Three.

If you are unable to get to the Download VPN Client Software Web page from your laptop, check the following:

  • Do you need to use a key combination or a switch to activate your laptop's wireless networking?
  • Are your laptop's network connections configured for DHCP? Make sure that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties are configured to Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically.
  • Is your laptop detecting the wireless radio signal? Click Start and then click Control Panel. Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. In the Choose a wireless network window, check to see if pennstate is listed.
  • If your laptop uses an external wireless network card (instead of a built-in wireless adapter), try reseating it by removing it from the laptop's PC card slot and then reinserting it.

Step Two: Download the VPN Client Software

Download the VPN client software installation file and save it to your desktop:

  • Open the Download VPN Client Software Web page (https://www.work.psu.edu/access/vpn/). As noted in Step One, you can make a wireless connection to this Web page from your laptop, but you will not be able to access any other Web page until you finish downloading and installing the VPN client software as outlined in Step Two and Step Three.
  • Click on the link that corresponds to your laptop's operating system (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, or Solaris).
  • Enter your Penn State Access Account user ID and password when prompted.
  • In the File Download dialog box, click Save.
  • In the Save As dialog box, select Desktop in the Save in drop-down list box, and then click Save.

Step Three: Install the VPN Client Software

Use the downloaded installation file to install the VPN client software:

  • Double-click the installation file you saved to the desktop.
  • Run the installation software and follow the prompts in the Cisco VPN Client Setup dialog windows.
  • When the VPN client installation is complete, be sure to restart your laptop.

After you've confirmed that the VPN client software is working properly (see Step Four), you can delete the downloaded installation file from your desktop.

Step Four: Connect to the Wireless Network

After your laptop restarts, start the VPN client and create a shortcut on the desktop:

  • Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Cisco Systems VPN Client, and then click VPN Client.
  • In the Connection Entry list, click to select ITS Wireless at Harrisburg.
  • On the Connection Entries menu, click Create Shortcut.

Use the following procedure to connect to the wireless network each time you visit the library:

  • Start your laptop.
  • Double-click the ITS Wireless at Harrisburg desktop shortcut (or, alternatively, start the VPN client by clicking Start, pointing to All Programs, pointing to Cisco Systems VPN Client, clicking VPN Client, and then double-clicking ITS Wireless at Harrisburg in the Connection Entry list).
  • Enter your Penn State Access Account user ID and password.
  • Disconnect the VPN client when you are done.

For Further Information

If you have any questions regarding wireless networking or other Electronic Services (http://www.hbg.psu.edu/library/es/) in the library, please contact Eric Delozier (epd103@psu.edu), electronic services librarian, or Alan Mays (axm22@psu.edu), information technology consultant (electronic services assistant).

The Instructional and Information Technologies (IIT) Wireless Connectivity Web page (http://www.hbg.psu.edu/iit/wireless/) provides VPN client software installation instructions for connecting laptops that use the Apple (Mac OS X), Linux, and Windows operating systems and personal digital assistants (PDAs) that use the Pocket PC and Palm operating systems.

The IIT Wireless Connectivity Web page also includes information about the design and installation of the ubiquitous wireless LAN that enables wireless access throughout the Penn State Harrisburg campus.

The Pennsylvania State University ©2008
Last updated Aug 28, 2007.
Have a question? Contact the library.