• IT Services
• Essential Stanford Software
• Connecting to SUNet
• using Wireless Ethernet with Windows XP

Connecting Windows XP Professional to SUNet Using Wireless Ethernet

Note: See the Wireless Network website for information about wireless locations on campus.

Before You Begin

To access Stanford's wireless network, you will need the following:

• a valid SUNet ID or wireless guest account
  If you have a wireless guest account, follow the instructions on the Access for Stanford Visitors web page.
  
  
• Windows XP
  
  
• an 802.11b or 802.11g compatible wireless adapter

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Register Your Wireless Card

You must register the hardware MAC address of your wireless adapter in Stanford's network database (NetDB) before your computer can connect to the Stanford network.

To determine your wireless adapter's hardware address:

1. Click the Start button on the taskbar and then select Run. Type cmd and then click OK.
   
   

   

2. At the C:\ prompt, type ipconfig /all and press the ENTER key on your keyboard.
   
   

   

3. The next screen displays information about your Ethernet adapter wireless network connection. Your twelve-digit, hardware MAC address is in the Physical Address field.
   
   

   

4. Write down the displayed Physical Address.
   • Faculty and staff should provide this information to their Local Network Administrator (LNA).
   • On-campus students need to register their adapter on-line at the Rescomp Web site.
   • Off-campus students should include this information in a HelpSU request to register their wireless adapter.

   Note: You may have more than one Ethernet adapter. Make sure that you note the physical address of your wireless network connection.

   Your computer will not be able to access the Stanford's wireless network until your wireless adapter information had been entered in NetDB.

5. At the C:\ prompt, type exit to close the window.

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Connecting to the Stanford Network

Once you have registered your wireless adapter, follow these steps to access the Stanford network.

Note: Every manufacturer has their own way of managing network connections. This example shows how to connect to Stanford's wireless network using the Windows XP Service Pack 2 utility. Your computer may have a different utility.

1. Go to an area of campus where wireless networking is available. See the University provided wireless locations .
   
   
2. Make sure that your wireless connection is enabled.
   
   
   • Click Start > Control Panel > Network Connections.
     (If you are using the Classic Start menu, click Start > Settings > Network Connections.)
     
     
   • Right click the wireless network connection.
     
     
   • The first command in the menu is either Enable or Disable. Click the Enable command if it is displayed. If the first command in the menu is Disable, the network connection is already enabled.
     
     Note: Some laptops have a switch that lets you enable and disable the wireless network connection.
     
     
     
     
3. Make sure that your wireless connection is set for DHCP.
   
   
   • With the Wireless Network Connection menu displayed, as shown in the previous screen shot, click Properties.
     
     
   • Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click the Properties button.
     
     
     
     
   • If set, make a note of the IP address, Subnet mask, and Default gateway settings (you may need to restore these settings when you return to your former location). Then, select Obtain an IP address automatically.
     
     
     
     
   • Click OK to return to the Wireless Network Connection Properties window.
     
     
4. Verify that the Stanford wireless network is available on your computer.
   
   
   • Click the Wireless Networks tab. If Stanford is listed in the Preferred networks section of the window, the network is available to you. If Stanford is not listed, you will need to add it manually.
     
     
     
     
   • To add the Stanford wireless network to your list of available networks, click the Add button.
     
     
   • With the Association tab selected, for Network name (SSID), enter Stanford. (This is case sensitive.)
     
     
     
     
   • Click OK to return to the Wireless Network Connection Properties window.
     
     
5. If you do not already have personal firewall software running on your computer, make sure that the Windows Firewall is enabled.
   
   
   • Click the Advanced tab. In the Windows Firewall section of the window, click the Settings button.
     
     
     
     
   • Make sure that the Windows Firewall is set to On (recommended).
     
     
     
     
   • Click OK to close the Windows Firewall window and click OK to close the Wireless Network Connection Properties window.
     
     
6. Right click the wireless icon in the taskbar and select View Available Wireless Networks.
   
   
   
7. Make sure that the Stanford wireless network is highlighted and then click the Connect button
   If you see a Disconnect button instead of a Connect button, your computer is already connected to the wireless network.
   
   
   
   

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Getting Additional Help

You can contact the Stanford IT Help Desk via HelpSU for consulting help.

For additional help, contact your Residential Computer Coordinator (RCC), your department's Local Network Administrator (LNA), or Expert Partner.

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