CITES : Network : Getting connected

The Basics and Essentials section guides you through choosing a network connection type (for example, dialup, wireless, or high-speed wired networking).

After you've chosen your network connection, the Getting Connected section provides information on how to use each of CITES' network services for campus network and/or Internet access.

Locations

Network access maps

This section of the CITES website provides a variety of ways to locate network access among campus buildings. You can click on a campus map, look for all areas with a particular type of network access, or look up particular buildings to see which types of access they offer.

Network access types

UIUCnet Wireless

UIUCnet Wireless network access is available to University of Illinois community members and campus guest account holders from many locations on campus. After signing in, you can use UIUCnet Wireless to connect to resources on the campus network or the Internet as a whole.

In a few locations on campus, UI Public Wireless is available in addition to UIUCnet Wireless. Intended for members of the public who do not have NetIDs or guest accounts, UI Public Wireless is available in selected locations frequented by short-term visitors, including Willard Airport and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Walkup

Walkup network jacks provide campus laptop users with the ability to connect to UIUCnet at high speeds through Ethernet cables rather than wireless network cards. As with UIUCnet Wireless, you will need to authenticate via either QuickConnect or the VPN in order to use the Walkup network.

Dialup

While dialup technology is slow by modern standards, telephone lines remain one of the most universally available options for travelers. CITES offers both free and subscription-based dialup networking options, as well as personal UIUC 800 numbers to reduce long-distance fees for networking.

Authentication and security

Bluestem

Bluestem is a Web browser-based method of authentication which works from any SSL-enabled browser from any location in the world.

Unlike QuickConnect and the VPN, however, Bluestem is used to control access to individual web applications such as Nessie rather than to control access to the UIUCnet network itself.

UIUCnet QuickConnect

QuickConnect is a simple, Web browser-based method of establishing your right to connect to UIUCnet as a member of the University of Illinois community connecting from an on-campus location that uses either UIUCnet Wireless or Walkup. However, QuickConnect has security-based restrictions and is not available to off-campus users.

VPN

The VPN provides secure UIUCnet access to not only UIUCnet Wireless and Walkup users but also to users of any wireless or wired network anywhere in the world. Because it provides more native security than QuickConnect, VPN users are granted access to a wider range of network resources.

Personal firewalls

An additional point to consider in your networking arrangement is the use of personal firewalls to protect your computer from network-borne ills that antivirus and anti-spyware software alone cannot prevent. Modern operating systems provide both convenient built-in and flexible third-party firewall options.