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Wireless Access to the USC Network - Windows XP Service Pack 2


You can gain wireless access to the USC Network from most outdoor common areas, libraries, auditoriums, on campus eateries and the University Village Food Court. See a list of wireless locations.

What You'll Need before Connecting
To gain wireless access to the USC Network, you'll need the following:

  • An Enterasys Wireless PCMCIA card with its current drivers installed in your computer.
  • Access to the USC Network to register for a wireless account
  • Microsoft Windows XP, with Service Pack 2

If Your Computer Does Not Meet These Requirements

To determine which service pack you have installed for Windows, refer to Determining your Windows XP Service Pack.

The Customer Support Center can only assist users in configuring the RoamAbout or Enterasys wireless cards, and this documentation is written from testing specifically made with these cards.

Since Windows XP SP2 manages most wireless network settings, other 802.11b wireless cards may be able to connect to the wireless newtork. However, a consultant in the CSC cannot help troubleshoot users' wireless connections with unsupported cards. Refer to here for a list of settings for use with unsupported wireless cards.

Wireless Card Installation

The CSC does not support installation of hardware, including wireless cards. However, installation typically includes the following steps:

If you are using a wireless card with a specialized adapter for desktops, you should refer to the documentation accompanying your wireless card to complete its physical installation in your computer. PCMCIA wireless cards can be installed on a laptop by inserting the card in an available PCMCIA slot.

The Add New Hardware wizard should detect your wireless card and may install a generic or outdated driver. You should update this driver using the software CD that came with your wireless card, or by downloading a set of recent drivers from the card's manufacturer. Enterasys provides drivers for its wireless cards here.

Configuring the Windows XP SP2 Wireless Client
To configure Windows:

  1. Click Start and select Control Panel. Click Network and Internet Connections and then Network Connections.
    Result: The Wireless Network Connection icon appears.
  2. Right-click on this icon and click Properties.
    Result: The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears (see Figure 1).

    xp_wireless_general.jpg
    Figure 1: Wireless Network Connection Properties Window

  3. Click to highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component and then click Properties.
    Result: The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window appears (see Figure 2a).

    xp_sp2_advancedtcpit.jpg
    Figure 2a: Internet Protocal (TCP/IP) Properties Window

  4. Make sure that Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically are both selected as shown above.

  5. From the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window, click Advanced.
    Result: The Advanced TCP/IP Settings window appears (see Figure 2b).

    xp_sp2_advancedtcpit.jpg
    Figure 2b: Advanced TCP/IP Settings Window

  6. Click the DNS tab.
  7. Select Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes.
  8. Select Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix.
  9. Make sure that Register this connection's addresses in DNS and Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS registration are both unchecked.
  10. Click the WINS tab.
    Result: The WINS screen appears.
  11. Verify that Enable LMHOSTS lookup is checked.
  12. Make sure that Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP is selected.
  13. Click the OK button to close the Advanced TCP/IP Settings window.
  14. Click the OK button to close the TCP/IP Properties window.
  15. Click the Wireless Networks tab at the top of the Wireless Network Connection Properties window.
    Result: The Wireless Networks tab view appears (see Figure 3).

    xp_wireless_networks.jpg
    Figure 3: Wireless Networks Tab View

  16. Make sure Use Windows to configure my network settings is checked.
  17. In the section labeled Preferred Networks, click Add.
    Result: The Wireless Networks Properties window appears (see Figure 4).

    xp_wireless_netprop.jpg
    Figure 4: Wireless Network Properties Window

  18. In the Network Name (SSID) field, type USC Wireless, it is case sensitive.
  19. Verify Network Authentication is Open and Data Encryption is Disabled.
    20. Click OK to close this window.
  20. Click the Advanced button and verify that the Access Point (infrastructure) networks only option is selected. Click Close.
    21. Result: The Advanced menu view appears (see Figure 5).


    Figure 5: Advanced Menu View

  21. Click the Advanced tab.
    Result: The Advanced tab view appears (see Figure 6).

    xp_wireless_advanced.jpg
    Figure 6: Advanced Tab View

  22. Click the Settings... button and verify Windows Firewall is set to On (recommended).
  23. Click OK to close the Windows Firewall menu and click OK to exit the Wireless Network Connection Properties window.

Registering Your MAC Address/Physical Address
Registration of your MAC, or physical address, is not currently required. However, registration is highly recommended so that network notifications can be quickly directed to you. To register, open a web browser application (i.e., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari). Go to the Network Registration Page. Enter your USC username and password and click Submit. A success message will appear to notify you that your MAC address/Physical address has been registered.

WARNING: Your data and personal information are at risk unless you use VPN Software. ITS strongly recommends that you use VPN when using your wireless connection.

Getting Help
To get help with wireless access to the USC Network, contact the Customer Support Center at (213) 740-5555 or consult@usc.edu.



Last updated: Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 13:44PM PDT