Change to WPA Encryption on the cavalier Wireless Network

[Nov 23, 2009 14:09] Web access to Microsoft Live@edu accounts now works.

On May 29, 2007, the encryption method currently used to connect to the UVa cavalier wireless network changed from Dynamic WEP (802.1X WEP) to WPA Enterprise (802.1X WPA-TKIP). Encrypting wireless communications encodes the data so that only the authorized recipient can decipher it. This change was necessary to enhance the security of wireless communications at the University.

If you use wireless, you must perform a few simple checks on your computer using WPA. Please follow the instructions below as needed to make your transition to the new encryption standard as easy as possible.

Table of Contents

Checking Your Wireless Device for WPA Support

Macintosh

All ITC-supported Macs with AirPort and the latest Mac OS X updates have the proper WPA support (i.e., 10.4.9).

Windows XP

  1. Open the Properties dialog for your wireless card:
    1. From the Windows Start menu (in Classic View), choose Control Panel.
    2. Open Network Connections.
    3. Right-click the icon for your wireless connection and select Properties.
  2. Select the Wireless Networks tab.
  3. Under Preferred networks, click Add… to open the Wireless network properties window.
  4. Check to see if the following options are available:
    • From the Network Authentication dropdown, make sure that WPA is selected.
    • From the Data encryption dropdown, make sure that TKIP is selected.
  5. If both are available: If both are not available:
  6. Click Cancel to close out of all dialog windows.

Windows Vista

  1. Open the Network and Sharing Center by going to your Windows Start menu, selecting Control Panel (Classic View), and then Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Select Manage Wireless Networks in the left menu.
  3. Click Add and then choose Manually create a network profile.
  4. Check to see if the following options are available:
    • From the Security type dropdown, make sure that WPA-Enterprise is selected.
    • From the Encryption type dropdown, make sure that TKIP is selected.
  5. If both are available: If both are not available:
  6. Click Cancel to close out of all dialog windows.

Windows 2000

Connections to the cavalier wireless network are no longer supported under Windows 2000. To connect to the cavalier wireless network, you will need to upgrade your operating system.

Alternatively, you may reconfigure your Windows 2000 computer to access the unencrypted, less-secure wahoo wireless network.

What to Do If Your Device Doesn't Have the Proper WPA Support

If you use Windows XP or Vista, and your wireless card does not support WPA Enterprise (aka 802.1X WPA-TKIP), you will not be able to connect to the cavalier network using WPA without taking some action.

Your options include installing an updated driver for your wireless card that provides support for WPA Enterprise or, if you cannot get a driver update with the proper WPA support, you can purchase a new wireless adapter with the proper support.

Alternatively, you could reconfigure your Windows Vista computer or Windows XP computer to access the unencrypted, less-secure wahoo wireless network.

Connecting Using WPA

For devices that support WPA wireless properly, your device may not automatically connect the first time you attempt to connect using WPA. If that happens, just follow these instructions to begin enjoying more secure wireless:

Macintosh

Most Macs will automatically connect to cavalier. If yours does not, you may have to select cavalier manually from the AirPort menu the first time you attempt to connect using WPA.

Windows XP

  1. A pop-up bubble will appear from the status bar. Click anywhere in the bubble (except the X).
  2. Click cavalier in the Network Connection box that appears, then click Connect.

Windows Vista

  1. Open the Network and Sharing Center by going to your Windows Start menu, selecting Control Panel (Classic View), and then Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Select Connect to a network in the left menu.
  3. Right-click cavalier in the window that appears and select Properties.
  4. Select the Security tab.
  5. Change the Security type from 802.1X to WPA-Enterprise and the Encryption type from WEP to TKIP.
  6. Click OK to save and close.

© 2009 by the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.

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