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> Information Technology Center
Wireless Network
MSU goes wireless
8/19/04 Contact Tom Morrison 994-5069
Exponent, staff bulletin General/campus other/general/campus
This article is available at:
The first phase of the Bozeman campus wireless network is now operational and available from several
locations on campus for MSU faculty, staff, students and official guests
of the university.
The campus wireless network can now be used in several areas of the Renne Library, the atrium area of
the Engineering and Physical Sciences building and throughout most of the first floor of the Strand Union
Building. As the academic year proceeds, the network will extend to lobbies in Wilson, Roberts and Reid Halls.
As funding permits, wireless networking will become available throughout the campus.
The campus wireless network uses the 802.11 “Wi-Fi” standard, which is supported by most laptop computers and
personal digital assistants such as Palm devices and Pocket PCs, fitted with the appropriate network interface hardware.
After registering computers or personal digital assistants with the ITC Help Desk (Renne Library basement, room 75),
wireless network users will be able to connect to all the familiar resources of the campus data network.
"While wireless networking offers great convenience and flexibility in the choice of computing locations, it comes
with a few drawbacks," said Tom Morrison, ITC associate director. "First, wireless networking is not as fast as
wired connections to the campus network. While it is well suited to e-mail and Web browsing, it may be unsuitable
for downloads of large files such as audio or video. Second, by default, wireless networking as implemented at MSU
is not completely secure. ITC offers wireless users a virtual private network, which provides a measure of privacy
and security, but it is not as secure as are the majority of wired network connections on campus."
Morrison said that network speeds in fully secure wireless environments are significantly slower, and the inconvenience
of maintaining secure wireless connections while “roaming” around campus is considerable. In special cases, the ITC Help
Desk can assist those whose wireless networking applications require full security.
Questions regarding brands and models of wireless networking gear, and questions about bringing wireless
networking to a work area should be directed to the ITC Help Desk at 994-1777. Information is available
at the ITC Wireless Networking Web page, http://www.montana.edu/wwwsy/wireless.
-ja/tm-
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