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Wireless Access to the USC Network - Windows XP Service Pack 3


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.

For access locations, see UPC and HSC wireless locations and Orange County Campus locations. Wireless access is expanding continuously, check the Upcoming Wireless Locations page for the latest information.

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

  • A wireless 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 3

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.

Configuring the Windows XP SP3 Wireless Client
To configure Windows:

  1. Click Start and select Control Panel. Click Network Connections.
  2. Right-click the Wireless Network Connection icon and click Properties.

    xp_wireless_general.jpg

  3. Click to highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component and then click Properties.

  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.

    6. xp_sp2_advancedtcpit.jpg

  6. Click the DNS tab.

    7. xp_sp2_advancedtcpit.jpg

  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.
  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.

    xp_wireless_networks.jpg

  16. Make sure Use Windows to configure my network settings is checked.
  17. In the section labeled Preferred Networks, click Add.

    xp_wireless_netprop.jpg

  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. Click the Advanced tab.

    22. xp_wireless_advanced.jpg

  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 close 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.

If you are unable to access the Network Registration Page, you can still register your computer for wireless by going to the Dynamic Host Registration page on a computer currently connected to the network. You will need your computer's wireless MAC address to to do this.

Determining Your MAC Address/Physical Address

Follow the steps below to determine your MAC address/physical address:

  1. From the Start menu, select Run.
  2. In the Run window, type command. Click OK.
    Result: A Command Prompt window will appear.
  3. Type ipconfig /all. Hit Enter.
    Your MAC address/physical address is listed as the physical address. Some computers may have more than one Ethernet card/adapter, usually a wireless as well as a wired Ethernet card. If this is the case, use the MAC address/physical address listed under the Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection. For example:
    Physical address: 00-B0-E8-F7-AC-32
  4. Write this number down. You will need it to register.

Note: 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: Tuesday, September 08, 2009, 10:22AM PDT