With the growth of wireless locations and personal computers on campus, the number of people using the Wittenberg Wireless network continues to grow.
Protecting a campus user's identity and information is always a top priority of every campuswide network project. Just as important is the need to protect the campus network infrastructure from outside interference or usage that could limit availabilty to campus users.
As a result, when wireless was introduced on campus a few years ago, we implemented a program from Cisco Networks called the Cisco Virtual Private Networking client. The program essentially creates a secure tunnel where Wittenberg users could log into the wireless network without worry. The username and password were never available in clear text, and so someone scanning the wireless channels in the area could not pick up this information. It also rendered anything sent through this tunnel such as bank or other private information secure from such scanning.
As time goes on, more and better products come available for network infrastructure. This year, we've implemented a new solution to secure the campus wireless network from Juniper Networks, Inc. This included a server that directs and verifies that the network traffic (a purpose served previously by the VPN client and a different server) belongs to Wittenberg users only. The VPN client still exists, but with this product users need only open a web browser to log in - no need to remember to start up a third program before opening a browser window.
Would you like to connect your personal computer to Witt's wireless network? It is available to all active students, faculty and staff.
Directions to access Wittenberg's wireless network
This document last reviewed August 12, 2008.