| What
is a 'Hotspot'? |
| |
Hotspots are the areas immediately
surrounding the WiFi Access
Points (called APs for short),
which are physically wired
to the network. In SCC's case,
students, staff, faculty and
registered guests can access
the SCC wireless network using
wireless network cards in
their laptops, or PDAs. |
| Where
are the Hotspots on campus? |
| |
Presently we have APs
located in the Myers Auditorium,
Balsam Center lobby, ITV
rooms (third floor Balsam),
Founders Hall computer lab
area, Founders Hall 2nd
floor area, Oaks Hall second
floor, the Summit Building,
and the LRC.
Additionally, both floors
of the Macon campus have
wireless covereage as well
as the Public Safety Center. |
| When
will I get a Hotspot near
where I work or teach class? |
| |
We will be ordering additional
APs to cover other classroom
areas, but we may not get
these until the next budget
year. |
| What
do I need to use the wireless
network on campus? |
| |
You will need a device
(Laptop, PDA, etc) that
has an SSL capable web browser
(for example, Firefox, Internet
Explorer, Opera, etc) and
a WiFi 802.11G or 802.11B
compatible network card.
Many newer devices have
these network cards "built
in" and sometimes they
are not turned on, so it
may not be apparent. If
you are not sure if your
device is compatible, bring
it to the computer center
and we'll verify it for
you.
You will also need a network
login account on the SCC
network. If you have an
SCC student, faculty or
staff email address, you
have a network account. |
| How
do I log in? |
| |
If your wireless network
card is turned on and working
properly, your device should
detect the SCC wireless network
when you get in range of it.
Simply open your Internet
browser and a login page should
appear. Follow the instructions
on the page to login with
your SCC network login. |
| Why
do I need to log in? |
| |
We use your login name
to direct you to the proper
resources on the network.
Please not that you do
not have to login to the
wireless network to get
access to the SCC website
or to get access to the
Blackboard, student or faculty/staff
email servers (although
you will have to log into
those resources just like
you would from the public
Internet). |
| I have
a visitor coming to campus.
Can they use the wireless
network? |
| |
Yes, if you ask Dana at
the College Information Booth
or Patty in the Computer Center,
they will setup a temporary
login account for your guest.
You will need your guest's
name, email address and the
company that they work for.
|
| Can
we provide wireless access
to remote locations? |
| |
We certainly can and plan
on providing wireless access
to the SCC satellite campus
locations. We can not however,
install wireless access points
in locations that use the
networks of other schools
or organizations (For example:
Job Corps, Gear Up, etc, offices
that are located in the public
schools) |
| What
if I have trouble connecting?
|
| |
Due to the large number
of different devices and software
intended for use with WiFi
networks, incompatibilities
and technical conflicts happen
sometimes. Bring your device
to the computer center and
we will help you troubleshoot
your problem. |
| Why
can't I just use my own wireless
hub/router/AP? |
| |
Due to the nature of
the design, WiFi networks
are inherently insecure.
Improperly configured Access
Points (in other words,
those using the default
"out of the box"
configuration) could allow
someone to merely park in
our parking lot and gain
access to the entire network.
The APs that we use are
carefully configured, along
with the use of a special
firewall, to authorize only
those with legitimate college
business and to allow them
only the access they need
to get their work done.
We have had state auditors
on campus scanning for open
access points and requiring
us to identify each one
found and the security measures
implemented to restrict
access. For these reasons,
it is forbidden for anyone
to simply plug a Wireless
Access Point, Wireless Hub,
or Wireless Router into
the network without permission
from the network staff.
If you have a need for such
a device, please let us
know and we will work with
you to do so safely, in
a way that will not compromise
or data and the security
of everyone else using the
network. |
| |
|
Written
by David Kochersberger,
SCC's Network Administrator,
4/3/07
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