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Wireless network

USING WIRELESS AT ST CROSS

Two different, University-wide wireless networks are available in the St Cross main building and the Annexe Common Room: OWL (Oxford Wireless LAN) and eduroam (a worldwide educational wireless network). There is also wireless provision, in the form of private networks with access to the Internet, at other College houses: 27 Rippington Drive, 146 Copse Lane, Stonemason House. Login details for those places will be provided to residents with their other accommodation details.

 

1. CONNECTING TO eduroam

 

Full details on the eduroam network and how to connect to it are avaialble from the OUCS website: http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/wireless/services/eduroam/. Please note that eduroam gives you Internet access OUTSIDE the University network. If you need a connection INSIDE the University network (to be able to access University-only webpages and services) you need to follow the instructions below and connect to the OWL network.

 

2. CONNECTING TO OWL (and OWL-VPN)

 

A) BEFORE you can connect to the OWL wireless network YOU WILL NEED:

i. A UNIVERSITY REMOTE ACCESS ACCOUNT AND PASSWORD

To obtain such an account, please visit the following website: https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/index/.

  1. Accept the security certificate if you get a warning about this.
  2. Enter the personal details requested (your University SSO or Nexus username and password).
  3. Select ‘Register for a Remote Access account'. Read and accept the conditions of use.
  4. Set your own password, according to the complexity rules explained on the site. The username is the same as your University SSO, but the password must be different. Your account will be usually activated within 1-3 hours.

ii. A CISCO VPN CLIENT

You can obtain this software from the same website: https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/index/. Since the download of a large file is required for this (the current installation kit for Windows is about 50MB), you will need to either have your own computer connected to a high speed network or use a storage device such as a USB key (flash memory stick).

  1. Log on in the same way as above.
  2. Select ‘Register for and download site-licensed software'.
  3. Under the ‘Cisco VPN client' option, choose the appropriate link according to the operating system on your computer. Accept the rules and download the necessary files (and copy the files on to your computer if using another storage device).
  4. Install the software onto your computer and restart if instructed. Exact details will depend on the actual operating system and instructions can be found on the OUCS website:
    http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/vpn/index.xml?ID=Clients

The VPN client is usually installed for all new and returning students who take part in the IT registration sessions in College every Michalemas Term.

B) When you are ready to connect:

i) CONNECT TO THE WIRELESS NETWORK

  1. Start your computer in an area where the wireless network is available - the Saugman Common Room, the Library, the St Cross Room, the Caroline Miles Room, the Ian Skipper Room, the bar and the Annexe Common Room.
  2. Connection to the actual wireless network is again different, depending on the operating system on your computer. Full details can be found on the OUCS website: http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/vpn/index.xml?ID=Clients
  3. Essentially you will need to connect to the OWL network. On some systems, you may get a warning that the network is not encrypted. Please click to confirm that you DO want to connect to it regardless.

PLEASE NOTE: you are now connected to the wireless network. However, Internet or email services (connections) will NOT work until you follow the further steps below and also start the VPN software.

Please DO NOT at this stage just start an Internet browser. That would redirect you to the OWL-VISITOR login page. OWL-VISITOR is a network for vistors to the University, NOT suitable to members of the College. Your University username and Remote access password will NOT work on that network.

ii) CONNECT THE VPN CLIENT

  1. Start the Cisco VPN client. On Windows systems you normally find this in Start - [All Programs] - Cisco Systems VPN Client - VPN client. For Macs, the client should be available in Finder - Applications - Cisco VPN.
  2. First time you connect there is no preset connection. Please type vpn.ox.ac.uk as the server and click ‘Connect'. The VPN client will perform an initial connection and open a window prompting you for a username and password.
  3. Enter your username (Your University SSO, same as for Nexus email and the College computers) and the Remote Access password which you have set up during registration - see steps A2 (4)-(5) above. The VPN client will take a few moments to verify your password and secure the connection. If all goes well, the VPN client window should disappear and (on Windows machines) a CLOSED small yellow lock should show in the bottom right corner of your screen (in the task bar area). You should NOW be able to open your web browser and have access to the Internet and your emails!

C) Troubleshooting

Please note that the VPN connection can sometimes be unreliable for short periods of time due to difficulties in the communication between the VPN client and the servers at OUCS. If you experience any difficulties in connecting to the Internet, please follow these steps first:

i) IF YOU CANNOT CONNECT TO THE WIRELESS NETWORK:

  1. Try to move to a position with a better wireless signal in the same room.
  2. Make sure your operating system is not blocking the connection to the wireless access point.

ii) IF YOU START THE VPN CLIENT AND THE vpn.ox.ac.uk CONNECTION, BUT THE SCREEN ASKING YOU FOR A PASSWORD DOESN'T APPEAR:

  1. Check again that the wireless connection is active.
  2. Close the VPN client, restart it and try to connect again. Repeat this a few times and if practicable, restart your computer once before trying to connect again.

iii) IF YOU ENTER YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD, BUT THE VPN CLIENT EITHER COMES BACK WITH THE SAME WINDOW ASKING AGAIN FOR THE LOGIN DETAILS OR DOES NOT CONNECT YOU:

  1. Make sure that you are entering the correct details. The username is the same as the one you use for Nexus email and the College computers, but the password MUST NOT be the same. You need to enter the password specifically for Remote Access.
  2. Close the VPN client, restart it and try to connect a few more times. If the error persists and if practicable, restart your computer once before making another attempt to connect.
  3. You could also change your Remote Access password at any time by logging on to the registration site: https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/index/ and selecting 'Change a Remote Access password'.

iv) IF THE VPN CLIENT IS SECURELY CONNECTED, BUT YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THE WEB OR YOUR EMAIL:

  1. Disconnect and close the VPN client, then connect again as described above. You can only be sure that there is a more serious issue if attempts to connect correctly to the Internet fail more than 4 or 5 consecutive times and for more than 5 minutes. Most problems can however be resolved by a few attempts to restart the existing connection.

D) Rules governing wireless use

Please note that although the local infrastructure and access points are the property of St Cross College, the eduroam and OWL networks are run centrally by the OUCS. Therefore both University and College rules for IT use (available online on the College website) apply. Full details of the University regulations are published at: http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/196-052.shtml The University regulations concerning the specific use of wireless networks are available at: http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/wireless/rules/

Revision 6, 19 August 2011

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