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Residential Computing supports approximately 10,000 housed students in the form of network connections, roughly 350 public computers in 77 locations and live-in computer consultants in every residence. ResComp, in collaboration with ITSS, has launched a wireless project to supplement the wired infrastructure already provided within the residences. Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout wireless in the residences
About wireless networking
Getting onto and using the wireless network
Other questions: About wireless in the residencesQ. What is the residence wireless project? A. The residence wireless project started as a pilot during the 2002-2003 academic year. 3Com, Cisco and Stanford's ITSS all donated equipment for ResComp to conduct a comparative evaluation of wireless networking in the residences. Equipment donated included wireless access points, wireless PC cards and management software. Wireless networking was first made available in Wilbur and Stern Halls as part of this pilot project. Wilbur and Stern, in consultation with Residential Education, were chosen for both technical and programmatic reasons: they present technical challenges because of all the reinforced concrete construction (wireless doesn't go so well through concrete), and they present programmatic opportunities with the critical mass of freshmen taking similar classes, the active ResEd program, and the presence of upperclass students. Equipment for Wilbur was provided by 3Com and equipment for Stern by Cisco and ITSS. ResComp is now working to add wireless networking capability to all of the residences we support. However, because of the current lack of funding specifically for this project, wireless is being added on a case by case basis as resources become available. For a list of residences where wireless has been added, click here. Q. What residences currently have wireless networking? A. University-provided wireless networking is available in the following residences:
The only remaining residences without wireless are Crothers and Crothers memorial, pending the future of those buildings. ResComp will hopefully be able add coverage to those buildings, and improve coverage in other buildings, as resources become available. If your residence does not have sufficient wireless coverage, you or your house (with help from your RCC) may want to set up your own wireless network. For information on how to do this, click here. Q. When will my residence get wireless networking? A. ResComp currently lacks funding specifically for this project. Hopefully, as resources become available, we will be able to add wireless networking to more and more residences. In the meantime, if your residence does not have wireless, you or your house (with help from your RCC) may want to set up your own wireless network. For more information on how to do this, click here.About wireless networkingQ. What is wireless? A. Wireless is a way to get onto the Internet using radio waves instead of actual wires. The wireless access points (WAPs or APs) installed in each of the residences act as a bridge between the wired network in the walls and the wireless network in the air. The location of the APs were chosen to provide maximum coverage, hopefully enabling the wireless signal to be available anywhere inside and outside the dorm, including all rooms and common areas, the courtyards, the adjacent grass areas, and the dining areas. No doubt, most of you have seen the APs in the lounge and on the second floor. This is an enhancement, not a replacement for, the existing wired network. Q. What are the pros and cons of the wireless network versus the wired one? A. The wired network is faster, more secure and more reliable. Because the wireless network is a shared resource, the speed of the signal decreases as more people use the network. Also, while we tried to provide maximum coverage through strategic placement of the APs, the signal may be weaker, or even non-existent, in some areas. For example, if you're sitting in the metal bathroom of your concrete bunker with a metal helmet and your computer is wrapped in tin foil to protect it from the prying eyes of the CIA, you might not get a wireless signal. Additionally, the wireless network is less secure since it is not a switched environment (as opposed to the wired network). On the wired network, only traffic meant for your computer goes to your computer. On the wireless network, traffic is broadcast into the air and your computer has to pick off traffic meant for itself, making the nature of the network less secure. However, in the end, any encrypted traffic, such as your username and password when you login using MacLeland, PC-Leland or Web authentication, is equally secure on both networks. Despite the disadvantages of the wireless network, there are many advantages to remember: the wireless network allows you to connect to the Internet anywhere there is a signal available- in your room, your friend's room, the hallway, the lounge, the dining hall and even outside. This is great for study groups, RT office hours, or just getting outside. Moreover, you can move locations as well- you could be working in the dining hall and move to your room or the lounge without dropping your connection. Q. What type of wireless networking are you using? (Warning: Geek Alert) A. We are using the most common implementation of wireless LAN technology, the IEEE 802.11b standard. It is reasonably fast with a maximum network speed of approximately 11 mbps and compliant with (uses the same frequency as) the newly ratified 802.11g standard, allowing for 802.11b cards to be used on 802.11g networks and vice versa. Getting onto and using the wireless networkQ. How do I get on the wireless network? Do I need to register? And how much does it cost? A. To take advantage of the wireless network, you will need a computer (usually a laptop, but not necessarily) with a wireless antenna or card (internal or PCMCIA for laptops and usually PCI or USB for desktops) installed. Your wireless card should support 802.11b and/or 802.11g wireless networking. For more information on buying a wireless card, click here. If you already have an in-room network connection for the computer that you would like to use on the wireless network, you simply have to update your registration information. Go to the In-Room Connection Forms and update your computer's registration by adding the hardware Ethernet address of your wireless card/interface in the box provided. If you do not already have an in-room network connection for the computer you would like to use on the wireless network, simply register for an in-room network connection as you normally would and use the hardware address of your wireless card. For more information on how to find your hardware Ethernet address and register your connection, click here. If you live off-campus and would like to get onto the wireless network, click here for more information. Q. I am an off-campus student. How do I get onto the wireless network? A. Off-campus students can register their laptops with the University so they can have Internet access and use the Stanford network while on campus. This holds true for both the wired and wireless networks-- you can plug into the wired network in public and academic areas on campus, such as the libraries or the Quad, and connect wirelessly where wireless is available. For a map of where wireless networking is available on campus, visit ITSS's Wireless Network site. If you are affiliated with a department (i.e., you are an undergraduate student who has already declared a major or you are a graduate student), you should contact the local network administrator (LNA) for your department. A list of department LNAs is available here. If you are a registered student, but not yet affiliated with a department, you can contact ITSS via HelpSU to register your laptop. To expedite registration, your request should include:
For more information on how to find your hardware Ethernet address, visit our step-by-step guide. And of course, to take advantage of the wireless network, your laptop will need to have a wireless antenna or card (internal or PCMCIA) installed. Your wireless card should support 802.11b and/or 802.11g wireless networking. For more information on buying a wireless card, click here. (Note: residential students should NOT register their computers with the University using the procedure described above. If you do, we will notice your regular use of the residential network and ask you to register your computer for an in-room network connection. For more on how to get onto the wireless network as a residential student, click here.) Q. I don't have a wireless card. Where can I get one and what should I buy? A. You will want to get a wireless card that supports 802.11b and/or 802.11g wireless networking from any major vendor. The Stanford Bookstore carries a number of different wireless cards. In some of the early pilot residences, a limited number of wireless cards were distributed to RCCs to loan to students for the year. If you would like to find out more about these cards, talk to your RCC. Q. Can I get on the wireless network with my desktop computer? A. You can buy PCI or USB wireless cards for your desktop, but if you do have a desktop computer, you should most likely stick to the wired network. Q. Where else is wireless available on campus? A. Wireless network access is increasingly available in public and academic areas on campus. Access is available in the main and branch libraries, the main Quad, academic departments and Tresidder Union and is provided by Academic Computing and ITSS. For more information on wireless access provided by AComp, visit the SULAIR Wireless Access Web site. For more information on wireless access provided by ITSS as well as a map of availability all over campus, visit the ITSS Wireless Website. Q. If my residence does not have wireless access, can I set up my own wireless network? A. If you do not have wireless access in your residence and would like to add it yourself, you can purchase and install your own WAP to act as a bridge between the wired and wireless networks. Make sure you check "Yes" when registering your computer when asked if you have a wireless access point/router. Although most do not, if your WAP needs its own IP address, you can include its hardware Ethernet address in your registration. (Either include this information when registering your computer or return to the registration forms and update your existing registration.) Make sure you turn off DHCP and NAT on your WAP. For more information, visit our page on what to buy and how to configure it. If you and/or your house would like to install a WAP in the common areas of your residence (the lounge, cluster, etc.) for communal use, you should contact your RCC. Q. How do I get wireless access for a guest? If you have a guest visiting campus, whether it be prospective students, friends, or alumni, he can take advantage of the wireless network provided by ITSS (this does not include the residences-- please refer to this map). Each visitor must have his access sponsored by a Stanford community member. The Stanford sponsor must visit http://wirelessguest.stanford.edu/ to establish a SUNet ID sponsored guest account which the visitor can use to access the wireless network. For more information, visit the ITSS page on Wireless Network Access for Visitors. Other QuestionsQ. Who can I contact for more information? A. For more information, contact your RCC or email wireless@rescomp.stanford.edu. You can also visit ITSS's Wireless Network site and specifically their own list of Frequently Asked Questions (especially useful when troubleshooting your connection on the larger campus wireless network). |
Setting up your own WAP:What to buy and how to configure it Useful links:
Wireless Locations at Stanford Partners:Academic Computing Donors:Questions? Comments? |