Wireless Internet accessible to all CSU affiliates on campus

The Internet is off the hook – at least at CSU.

CSU has been offering wireless Internet for about four years,

according to Scott Baily, associate director of Academic Computing

& Networking Services.

“Wireless network access is very similar to a wired connection

in that both give connectivity to campus resources and the

Internet,” Baily wrote in an e-mail interview. “Wireless is more

convenient, since you only have to be near a wireless access point

to get connected.”

The access works through the CSU’s Virtual Private Network,

which ensures both the security of data sent and that only CSU

faculty, staff and students have access to it.

“(VPN) first requires authentication, assuring that only CSU

affiliates are using the wireless network,” Baily wrote. “It also

encrypts all transmissions between the client computer (typically a

laptop) and the VPN concentrator. Even if the data were

intercepted, it could not be read by anyone else.”

VPN is provided by ACNS and is free to all faculty, staff and

students.

Baily estimates that only about 20 percent of the people on

campus are taking advantage of the wireless Internet access.

Students with a valid eID can access VPN with a laptop equipped

with a wireless interface card and VPN software installed.

VPN access is available in many buildings on campus, including

the Lory Student Center, Morgan Library, most residence halls and

most lecture halls, including those in the Clark Building, Eddy

Hall, Chemistry Building and the Wagar Building.

“(I use VPN) every day,” said Suzanne Maestri-Walters, a senior

graphic design major. “If I eat lunch, I use it in the student

center cafeteria and in the library for studying.”

Some students use VPN in class.

“During geology class (when a scientific equation was given) I

went online to look up the periodic chart so that I could find out

what the symbols meant. I think it is great that the university has

given every student the chance to go wireless,” Maestri-Walters

said.

Senior history major Sadie Maybach agreed that wireless Internet

is convenient.

“In the library, it’s a lot easier (to work on a laptop) when

you can spread out with all your books instead of going to a

(regular) computer,” Maybach said.

 

For a map of campus showing where

wireless Internet access is available, go to

www.colostate.edu/acns/wireless and click on “map of CSU’s central

wireless network.”

VPN Web site is :

www.colostate.edu/acns/vpn

Wireless resource Web site is:

www.colostate.edu/acns/wireless