Wireless Policy
The Bren production wireless network infrastructure will be officially deployed September 2003. This network will initially cover most public areas Bren Hall (class rooms, meeting rooms, computing labs, quad). The network uses IEEE 802.11a/g.
Supported Hardware
The network should work with most vendor cards that support 802.11a/g.
Supported OS
We are currently supporting operations under Windows XP Professional
for faculty and staff only. While we have successfully tested operation
of wireless cards under OSX, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and Linux, due to staffing
limitations, we will only be able to provide assistance to users on
an as available basis.
Performance
The 802.11a/g standard is an 54Mbit/sec system. However, one is unlikely
get performance in that range. Each AP is connected to a 100Mbit switched
port to our network and all wireless connections are routed through
a Bluesocket wireless authentication box. The number of users connected
via any AP will determine the actual performance from an AP; this number
is highly variable, depending on such factors as how far one is from
an AP and the obstructions in the path. Possible transmission rates
are variable based on these factors.
User Configuration
All systems must use DHCP to obtain connectivity with their wireless
cards. All supported cards will be able to get a DHCP lease. The lease
does not provide you with direct access to network resources it ONLY
enables you to access the authentication page. Once you have been given
an IP address open a web browser and you will automatically routed to
the authentication page.
Access Control
The wireless network is configured such that all users must authenticate
against the campus LDAP directory
to gain access. If you have not obtained an LDAP
username you will need to do so before using the service.
To register go to http://directory.ucsb.edu and click on the "Need a UCSBnetID or Password?" link in the upper right.
We have configured the system such that Bren users get full access and full bandwidth while visitors only get minimal access (e.g. only web and mail) and partial bandwidth
Some faculty and staff may have systems that are part of the ESM domain. For those systems only the authentication will be transparent. e.g. use your Bren login and password and it will be forwarded to the login server.
Connecting
Make a wireless connection to any available access point starting with bren-XX where XX is some number. Open a web browser and you should be directed to the authentication page. If the authentication page does not load point your browser to http://bluesocket.bren.ucsb.edu
Cost
This service is provide free of charge to the Bren community with the
caveat that it not be abused. We have the ability to monitor traffic
usage and disable access on a per user or host basis.