• 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*
• your Windows XP computer
• an 802.11b or 802.11g compatible wireless adapter

*If you do not have a SUNet ID, please follow the instructions on the Access for Stanford Visitors web page.

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Register your wireless system (or device)

for Faculty and Staff, and Students living off-campus

You should see the Stanford Network Self-Registration page when you first attempt to connect your computer to the Stanford Network. The instructions below walk you through the self-registration process; if for any reason they don't work for you, contact your Local Network Administrator (LNA) or submit a HelpSU Request. See Getting additional help at the end of this page for details.

Registration instructions

1. From within a Stanford wireless-enabled location, connect to the Stanford wireless network (for assistance, see Connecting to the Stanford Network), open a web browser and point it to any page. Instead of your target URL, the Stanford Network Self-Registration page is displayed.



2. Click the Network Registration button.
3. The login screen is displayed.
   After you log in with your SUNet ID and password, the “choose location” screen is displayed.
   
   
   
   
4. In the Department/Location section, from the dropdown list select the department/location that most closely corresponds to where you will typically use the computer you're registering (required). In the Room Number field, enter your room or office number (required). If you don't know the exact room or office number, enter a very brief description of where you will be using the computer.
   Note:If you need help filling in this information, you can press the I'm not sure button to see a list of LNAs (Local Network Administrators). Most departments have an LNA, who can give you the correct information to enter.
   Press the Continue button.
   The “description” page is displayed.
   
   
   
   
5. The system will auto-fill your SUNet ID, LNA (or other administrator), and your computer's unique identifier. Click the radio buttons to answer the last two questions.
   Note: Read the paragraph at the bottom of the screen concerning Restricted data. If your computer will be used to access Restricted data, click the Data classification link at the bottom of the screen to learn more.
Click Continue.
The “Download the Stanford Network Registration Tool” screen is displayed.


6. Click the Download the Stanford Network Registration Tool button.
   The installer is downloaded. Open the installer package to install the software.
   If any of the checks fail, click the button to the right in order to take the appropriate action to correct the problem.
   Note: If you need to install any patches that require your computer to reboot, you will need to reboot and rerun the Stanford Network Registration Tool to verify that your system now passes that test. For machines that need a number of patches, it is not uncommon to have to do this a few times. (On average, installations will take about a half hour; however, if your computer requires a large number of operating system updates, the process could take up to several hours.)
   Once the software is installed and the program has run its checks on your machine, a diagnostic page is displayed.
   
   
   
   
7. Click Continue.
   The “almost done” page is displayed.
   
   
   
   
8. Click Continue.
   The “finished” popup is displayed.
   
   
   
   
9. Click OK.
10. After approximately 20 minutes, restart your computer so it will receive its newly assigned network address.

If you are unable to self-register, or if you have questions about the process, contact your Local Network Administrator (LNA) or RCC, or submit a HelpSU Request. See Getting additional help at the end of this page for details.

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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 its 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. Or, contact your department's Local Network Administrator (LNA).

Students: Contact your Residential Computer Coordinator (RCC).

You will need to provide your LNA or RCC with your wireless adapter's hardware address. Here's how to find it:

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.

   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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