how to connect your macintosh laptop to the neiu...

How to Connect Your Macintosh Laptopto the NEIU Network - (Mac OS 10.5.x)

Please note that this document has been written to assist Northeastern Illinois University students con-nect their personal Macintosh laptops to the NEIU network.

A complete listing of Student Computing Services tutorials can be obtained at: http://www.neiu.edu/~scs.

Student Computing Services Web: http://www.neiu.edu/~scs

E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: (773) 442-4390

http://www.neiu.edu/~scs


mailto:[email protected]




Table of Contents

................................................................................................Network Locations 2

.....................................................................................Section 1: Wired Network 3....................................................Connecting Your Macintosh to a Network Jack 4

................................................................................Network System Preference 4

.................................................................................Section 2: Wireless Network 5..........................................................................Wireless Status in the Menu Bar 6

Section 2A: (Secured_WPA2 .............................................) Wireless Network 7.................................................................. Connecting to Secured_WPA2 9

.................................................... Section 2B: (UnSecure) Wireless Network 10

...............................................................................Frequently Asked Questions 11....................................................................................Conclusion of Document 13

.......................................................................................Information Resources 13

Macintosh Networking Document 1 of 13 Jun 22, 2009

Network Locations

There are several locations on campus for students to access online resources. Besides the four main computer labs, students may also bring their laptop computers on campus and access either a wired net-work jack or the wireless network.

By connecting an ethernet cable to your laptop computer, you may access network jacks in the following locations:

• Student Union (all floors)• Student Lounge• Village Square• Student Computing Center (B-103)• Macintosh Computer Lab (B-104)

Wireless network access is available in the following locations:

• Cafeteria• Student Union (all floors)• Student Lounge• Village Square• Auditorium• The B-Building open area• Student Computing Center (B-103)

Please use the campus map below to help you locate the available student computer resources:


Section 1: Wired Network

Description: This document outlines what an Ethernet network is as well as the procedure for accessing the Internet via an NEIU network jack. If you would like instructions on connecting your Macintosh to NEIUʼs wireless network, please refer to Section 2: Wireless Network starting on page 5.

Prerequisites: Connectivity will require a laptop computer with Macintosh OS 10.5.x1 and a built-in Ethernet port. The user will need to have Administrative privileges on the computer. A “patch” (straight through) Ethernet ca-ble (Category 5 or 6) is also required.

Goal(s) of the Document: Users will be able to configure their Macintosh laptops to access the Internet via an NEIU Laptop Access Point.

Content: • Basic Network Terminology • Configuration Settings

Disclaimer: This document is intended to be used by those already familiar with the current Macintosh Operating Sys-tem. This information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, includ-ing, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Any and all security precautions are the responsibility of the user. NEIU assumes no re-sponsibility or liability for damage, loss of data, intrusion, fitness of connectivity, or other anomalies and occurrences inherent to the nature of network connectivity.


1 Although older Macintosh Operating Systems may work, the latest Macintosh Operating System is rec-ommended to ensure compatibility.

Connecting Your Macintosh to a Network Jack

Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet Port on your computer. Do not connect the Ethernet cable to the computerʼs modem port. The Ethernet port is noted by the symbol to the right.

Plug the other end of the cable into an available network jack on campus. Turn on your computer. After your computer has completed the start-up process, you should be able to connect to the Internet.

If your Macintosh does not automatically discover the NEIU network, you will need to follow the steps outlined in this section in order to be able to access the network. Please note that these instructions as-sume you are using the current version of the Macintosh Operating System with a built-in network adapter.

Network System Preference

System Preferences may be accessed by clicking on the Apple Menu located in the upper left corner of the computer screen. After you launch System Preferences, click on the Network system preference.

Note: If the options in the Network pane are grayed-out, you will require administrator-level privileges on your computer to change the settings. You may lock or unlock a System Preference by clicking on the Padlock icon near the bottom of the screen. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password.

If you use your laptop on other networks, you may want to create a new Location. A Location is a group of Network settings which are specific to a particular network. By creating a new Location, you can eas-ily switch between NEIU and your other network locations without having to reconfigure the Network pane. Locations are optional.

You may now close the Network Preferences window. Your computer is now ready to access the Inter-net. Please note that passwords are not currently required for connecting to Laptop Access Points. This is subject to change without notice.


If your Network pane does not resemble the image, click on Ethernet.

Then,

• Under Configure: select Using DHCP• Click on the Apply button.

Section 2: Wireless Network

Description: This document outlines what Wi-Fi is as well as the procedure for accessing the Internet via an NEIU Wireless Access Point (WAP) utilizing the 802.11b/g (aka Airport) and a laptop computer. If you would like instructions on connecting your Macintosh to NEIUʼs ethernet network, please refer to Section 1: Wired Network starting on page 3.

Prerequisites: Connectivity will require a laptop computer with Macintosh OS 10.5.x1 and a built-in wireless network ca-pabilities. The user will need to have Administrative privileges on the computer.

Content: • Description of Wi-Fi• Basic Network Terminology • Configuration Settings

Disclaimer: This document is intended to be used by those already familiar with the current Macintosh Operating Sys-tem. This information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, includ-ing, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Any and all security precautions are the responsibility of the user. NEIU assumes no re-sponsibility or liability for damage, loss of data, intrusion, fitness of connectivity, or other anomalies and occurrences inherent to the nature of wireless network connectivity.


1 Although older Macintosh Operating Systems may work, the latest Macintosh Operating System is rec-ommended to ensure compatibility.

Wireless Status in the Menu Bar

Please follow these steps to place the AirPort wireless icon in the menu bar. This icon will allow the user to monitor the status and strength of your wireless network connection as well as choose a specific wireless network to connect to.

System Preferences may be accessed by clicking on the Apple Menu located in the upper left corner of the computer screen. After you launch System Preferences, click on the Network system prefer-ence.

Note: If the options in the Network pane are grayed-out, you will require administrator-level privileges on your computer to change the settings. You may lock or unlock a System Preference by clicking on the Padlock icon near the bottom of the screen. You will be prompted to enter your administrator password.

Important Information!

Student Computing Services recommends that students connect to NEIUʼs Internet using a secure encryption method. To do so, please follow the directions in Section 2A: (Secured_WPA2) Wireless Network.

If you prefer not to use your NEIU username and password to authenticate your connection or if your laptop is not compatible with the Advanced Encryption System (AES), follow the directions in Section 2C: (UnSecure) Wireless Network. The UnSecure network does not use any security and the infor-mation sent using this network may be easily compromised.


Select AirPort on the left side of the Network Pane.

Near the bottom of the window, check the box Show Airport status in the menu bar.

Click on the Apply button located at the bottom of the window. The AirPort icon now appears in your menu bar.

Section 2A: (Secured_WPA2) Wireless Network

As an NEIU student, you have the option of using your NEIU username and password to log into the Se-cured_WPA2 wireless network. Transmissions to and from your laptop via this network will be encrypted using the Advanced Encryption System (AES). It is strongly recommended that you use this network rather than the UnSecure network. To access the secure network, a few configuration steps need to be followed.

First, make certain that AirPort is turned on. This can be done via the AirPort icon on the menu bar. Next, access System Preferences by clicking on the Apple Menu located in the upper left corner of the computer screen. After you launch System Preferences, click on the Network system preference. The Network Preferences can also be accessed via the Airport Menu.

A new window will appear. Click on the 802.1X tab. Please enter the following configuration settings:

Near the bottom-left corner of the screen, click on the “+” symbol and select “Add User Profile”

Name the user profile: Secured_WPA2Username: (your NEIUport username)Password: (your NEIUport password)Wireless Network: Secured_WPA2


Select AirPort on the left side of the Net-work Pane.

Next, click on the Advanced button near the bottom of the window.

In the Authentication section, place a check mark next to TTLS. All other proto-cols should be turned off. Click on TTLS so it is highlighted and then click on the Con-figure button at the bottom of the window.

In the TTLS configuration window, enter the follow-ing settings:

TTLS Inner Authentication: PAPOuter Identity: anonymous

Click OK to acknowledge these settings.

Click OK again in the 802.1X Configuration window to accept the new 802.1X settings. Click Apply in the Network Preferences to accept the wireless configuration settings.


Connecting to Secured_WPA2

To connect to Secured_WPA2, refresh your wireless settings by turning Airport off and then on again. You may do this in the Network Preference pane or via the Airport Menu in the menu bar.

After Airport has been turned on, wait a few seconds and then choose the Secured_WPA2 network. It may take a few seconds before your computer detects the wireless networks.

A new window will appear asking you to confirm the download and acceptance of a server cer-tificate. This certificate is generated by the NEIU server and allows your laptop to send and re-ceive encrypted information on the secured network. Click Continue accept the certificate.

The 802.1X Authentication windows may appear.If it does, please enter your:

NEIUport User NameNEIUport Password

and click OK.

Congratulations, you are now connected to the Secured_WPA2 network at NEIU. To connect to Se-cured_WPA2 in the future, simply click on the AirPort wireless icon in the menu bar, turn AirPort on, and select the Secured_WPA2 network. Please note that you may be asked to download a new certificate and to enter your username and password when connecting to Secured_WPA2 in the future.

You may need to turn Airport off and on again to refresh the settings. It may take several seconds for the connection to establish itself.

If you were unsuccessful in connecting to the Secured_WPA2 network, your wireless network card may be incompatible with the wireless networkʼs security settings. Please follow the directions in Section 2B: (UnSecure) Wireless Network to access the wireless network or review the information in the Fre-quently Asked Questions section..


Section 2B: (UnSecure) Wireless Network

The information in this section will demonstrate how to connect to the UnSecure network. Your Macin-tosh computer may automatically detect the NEIU Wi-Fi network if Wi-Fi was previously used on the lap-top computer and AirPort is turned on.

Click on the AirPort icon (in the menu bar) to turn it on and select an available network. Select UnSecure if you do not want to enter your NEIUport username and password. Please note that the UnSecure network does not use any security and the information sent using this network may be easily compromised.

If you prefer to connect to NEIUʼs network using a secure encryption method, please follow the direc-tions in either Section 2A: (Secured_WPA2) Wireless Network.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Local Are Network (LAN)?A LAN is a system that links electronic office equipment together, such as computers and word proces-sors, and forms a network within an office or building. By connecting to NEIUʼs LAN, computers can ac-cess other networks via the Internet (Wide Area Network).

What is a Wide Area Network (WAN)?A WAN is a communications network that uses such devices as telephone lines, satellite dishes, or radio waves to span a larger geographic area than can be covered by a LAN. The Internet is an example of a WAN.

My Laptop has a working Ethernet Port. How do I get online via a NEIUʼs Laptop Access Points?There are some simple configuration settings discussed later in this document that need to be applied in order to ensure proper operation of network access. Northeastern Illinois Universityʼs network requires little to no configuration by a user in order to access the Internet via a Laptop Access Point. Northeastern Illinois University does not guarantee interoperability between its Laptop Access Points and all forms of network hardware. Please check your manufactureʼs specifications to ensure interoperability with private or public networks and ensure that you have the most current software and drivers before continuing.

I am using an older version of the Macintosh Operating System. Will I still be able to connect to NEIUʼs network?Student Computing Services has not tested older operating systems with the laptop and wireless access points and does not have documentation on how to connect older operating systems to NEIUʼs network. In theory, it is possible. Note: Some older Macintosh laptops may not have an Ethernet port or wireless capability.

When I click on the Apple Menu, I do not see the option to launch System Preferences. What is wrong?You are not logged into your account as an administrator. You must have administrator-level access to effect certain changes in the System Preferences.

I am unsuccessful in trying to connect to NEIUʼs Ethernet network but my settings are correct. What might be wrong?Make sure you have a “patch” (aka “straight through”) Ethernet cable. This cable should be a Category 5 or 6 type. If you have a “crossover” cable, your computer may not be able to connect to the network. Crossover cables are mainly used to directly connect two computers together. If your Ethernet cable shows signs of damage, this can also adversely affect your network connection.What is an Ethernet Cable?An Ethernet cable resembles a phone cable but has a larger con-nector at each end. You will need a “patch” Ethernet cable that is either category 5 or category 6. A “crossover” Ethernet cable is in-tended for direct computer to computer connections and will not work correctly when used with NEIU”s LAN. The packaging that came with your cable should describe what type of cable it is.

What is Wi-Fi?Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) allows users to connect to the Internet without network cables. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to a cell phone. Wi-Fi enabled computers send and received data anywhere within the range of a base station.


How do I use Wi-Fi?Wi-Fi accessibility requires an industry-standard 802.11b/g wireless adapter that is typically pre-installed into your laptop. Third-party add-on cards are also available from various computer outlets and electron-ics stores. Northeastern Illinois University does not provide Wi-Fi hardware or technical support for lap-tops. NEIU only offers students access to the Internet via NEIU Wireless Access Points (WAP).

My laptop is Wi-Fi enabled. How do I get online?There are some simple configuration settings, discussed later in this section, that need to be applied in order to ensure proper operation of Wi-Fi access. Northeastern Illinois University does not guarantee in-teroperability between its WAPs and all forms of Wi-Fi hardware. Please check your manufacturerʼs specifications to ensure interoperability with private or public WAPs and to ensure that you have the most current software and drivers before continuing.

I would like to connect to the Secured_WPA2 network but I do not have my NEIU username or password.Use any of the student lab computers to access http://neiuport.neiu.edu to look up your NEIU username and to reset your password.

What is a firewall and how do I use it?A firewall is a means of preventing unwanted network communication on your computer. There are vari-ous 3rd-party commercial software solutions available. Apple also incorporates a built-in firewall in their current Macintosh operating system. For more information on how to configure your firewall settings, please refer to the Help menu in Mac OS X. Note: There is no built-in firewall software in Mac OS 9 or earlier computers.

My Network pane does not show me all of my network ports. What is wrong?It is possible that some or all of your network ports have been deactivated. To activate them, go to the Network Pane and click on the “+” button near the bottom left corner of the window.

I am unable to make certain changes to my System Preferences. Why?You must have administrator-level access to your computer to unlock access to certain System Prefer-ences.

I cannot make changes to the Network pane. How do I unlock a locked Network pane?Click on the padlock icon in the lower left corner of the pane. A window will appear and prompt you to en-ter your administrator username and password. When you are finished entering your network settings and would like to lock your Network pane, simply click on the padlock icon again.

What is Airport?AirPort is a trademark of Apple Computers and it is their implementation of the 802.11b/g wireless tech-nology.

What is the difference between Appleʼs AirPort Technology and 802.11b/g?There is no significant difference between AirPort and 802.11b/g. Apple Computers has copyrighted the “AirPort” trademark and AirPort is their implementation of the 802.11b wireless technology for Macintosh computers. AirPort-enabled laptops and 802.11b/g wireless devices are compatible.

I have AirPort Extreme on my laptop. Can I still connect to NEIUʼs wireless network?Yes, you can. AirPort Extreme is Appleʼs implementation of the 802.11g wireless networking protocol. This protocol is faster and more secure than standard AirPort (802.11b) and both are compatible with each other.

What is a WAP?Wireless Access Point.


http://neiuport.neiu.edu

http://neiuport.neiu.edu

What is 802.11n? How is it different from 802.11g or 802.11b?Wi-Fi (802.11) is composed of several standards operating in different radio frequencies: 802.11n is the new upcoming standard for wireless networks. Operating in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, 802.11n networks offer up to 540 Mbps bandwidth. 802.11b is a standard for wireless LANs operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps. Another standard, 802.11g, is for WLANs operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency but with a bandwidth of 54 Mbps. Note: 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices are compatible.

What is 802.11b?International standard for wireless networking that operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency range (2.4 to 2.4835 GHz) and provides a throughput of up to 54 Mbps. This is a very commonly used frequency. Mi-crowave ovens, cordless phones, medical and scientific equipment, as well as Bluetooth devices, all work within the 2.4 GHz frequency band.

What is Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2)?Basic wireless security provided by Wi-Fi. WPA2 was developed in response to known security vulner-abilities in the previous wireless security protocol, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

I set all the settings as instructed by this manual but I still cannot connect to the Secured_WPA2 network. What is wrong?You may need to turn Airport off and on again to refresh the settings. It may take several seconds for the connection to establish itself.

Conclusion of Document

Student Computing Services hopes that this document has been helpful in connecting your personal lap-top computer to the NEIU network. Please direct any comments you have concerning our services or this document to Student Computing Services at B-107, extension 4390, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Note: Student Computing Services is unable to provide support beyond the scope of this technical document for personal computers.

Information Resources

Information regarding student workshops, documentation, e-mail accounts, and lab locations is available at our web site http://www.neiu.edu/~scs.

Apple maintains a support site for their wireless technology at: http://www.apple.com/support/airport/.






http://www.apple.com/support/airport/

http://www.apple.com/support/airport/

how to connect your macintosh laptop to the neiu...

Documents