University of
ConnecticutOverview
Please read below for information describing upcoming changes to the Uconn wireless networks.
What do we have now
Presently UITS supports two campus-wide wireless networks:
UCONN-SECURE (This is the preferred network for all NetID users)
The UCONN-SECURE network is an 802.11i/WPA2-Enterprise authenticated and encrypted network for NetID users. This network provides all students, faculty and staff, with over-the-air encryption of all data as well as provides equal access to resources as wired networks.UCONN-PUBLIC
The UCONN-PUBLIC wireless network is an open/unsecured network for all community members with a UConn NetID or GuestID. Access to University resources is limited on this network as it is intended for guest and/or casual use. Additional access may be granted through use of the SSL VPN if you have a non UCONN-SECURE compliant card. This network has limited connectivity options when compared to UCONN-SECURE or the wired network.
What will change
The UCONN-PUBLIC network will be decommissioned and replaced with a network dedicated for guests of the University, called UCONN-GUEST.
The changes will be made in the following phases:
Phase 1
Users will be transitioned from the UCONN-PUBLIC wireless network to UCONN-SECURE. An email will be sent, daily, directly to any user with a NetID,that logs into UCONN-PUBLIC prior to February 13th, 2012. On February 13th UCONN-PUBLIC will be modified such that users with NetID's will not be able to access the network.Phase 2
UCONN-PUBLIC will be retired and replaced with a UCONN –GUEST network. A new guest user account provisioning and authentication system, using SafeConnect, will replace the existing guest registration system. We currently don’t have a specific date for these changes yet, it will occur during Spring semester and we will update this site as soon as the date is available.
Benefits of the Change
The creation of network dedicated to University guests, provides the following benefits:
- The current Guest Registration system will be replaced by the SafeConnect Guest Registration portal. This will provide users the ability to provision their own accounts when they arrive on campus. Users will no longer need to visit an area with an accounts kiosk or have accounts provisioned by a faculty or staff member prior to arriving.
- The guest network will enable users to have full access to the Internet, unlike our existing UCONN-PUBLIC network which is very restrictive. A user will have an experience similar to what you would find at any commercial location offering free public wireless access (eg. Starbucks). We will also be able to remove the current network speed limitations that exist on the UCONN-PUBLIC network.
- The changes offer significant security improvements.
- UCONN-SECURE is an encrypted network, which ensures that your network traffic is safe and cannot be eavesdropped on.
- Guests will no longer have access to University resources, except for those resources that have been designed to be publically accessible (eg. www.uconn.edu).
- The existing hardware required to maintain UCONN-PUBLIC and the authentication systems can be taken out of service, resulting in reduced support requirements and significant support and maintenance cost savings.
Potential Impacts of the Change
There is the possibility that some users still use devices that cannot connect to the UCONN-SECURE network and we will be able to provide connectivity to users that have unique needs that cannot be met using the UCONN-SECURE network. Generally these would be computers with an operating system older than 5 years, or a device that is designed for a unique purpose (eg. ticket scanner).
If you feel that you have a device that may not be able to connect to UCONN-SECURE contact the UITS Help Center at http://helpme.uconn.edu for assistance.
Please try connecting to UCONN-SECURE prior to contacting the Help Center; instructions are available at http://wireless.uconn.edu/wireless_get_connected.htm.
Last Updated: 12/19/2011