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Wireless Devices in Nebula

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This is a brief primer on wireless services within the Nebula environment. (If you've been here before, or you only want the "good stuff", skip to the Smartphone Devices and Support Availability page.) Wireless devices are gaining in popularity and function. There are now phones that claim to let you get and send email, surf the web, and send pictures to your friends. And wireless hubs claim to give you network service without cables. Some devices work using wireless networking technologies (various flavors of 802.11, for you technies). Others use the telco's cellular phone service networks.

Wireless service using 802.11 technology

Many laptops now come with wireless network interface cards (NICs), and it seems every Radio Shack and Office Max has a broad selection of wireless hubs (aka "wireless access points" or WAPs). Wireless network connectivity can be very handy, and it can also be very insecure. If you're wondering how the University is dealing with the advent of wireless technology, this page from the UW Technology site states that UW Technology is "responsible for the overall installation and operation of the University's network. This includes both wireless networking service installations and wired network connections."

This means that, as easy as it is to unwrap Office Depot's latest wireless hub and plug it in, you are bypassing UW policy and procedure when you do so without involving UW Technology. Your device may be insecure, and allow your password and data to be captured by "snoopers", or it may allow connection by unauthorized users. It may also interfere with existing, properly configured WAPs by using the same radio frequency. UW Technology goes so far as to say that installing your own WAP "is strongly discouraged. Inappropriate configurations may cause interference with neighboring departments," and it reserves the right to disconnect or disable service to any such device.

All of which means that it's a really good idea to contact UW Technology about your wireless needs prior to making any purchases. UW Technology has been working to implement wireless networking compus-wide, and working within their guidelines means that your wireless devices will transition seamlessly between department-configured and UW Technolgoy-configured WAPs, without need for reconfiguration.

Even more critically, it also means that your Nebula Gold service will continue to function, giving you updates and security patches. We've found that improperly configured WAPs can result in a compromised system. They may look like they're working (your email works, you see your drives), but the Nebula install window might not open (meaning you're not getting updates and patches), or your Favorites might not show up (because your drive mappings aren't reliable). Our engineers don't guarantee Nebula Gold and Bronze performance unless the networking pieces are configured in accordance with UW Technology's standards. And, we don't work with clients to configure these as there are too many variables.

You can also install and use "virtual private networking" (VPN) prior to logging on. This will improve things for you, but it's not a guarantee that everything will work perfectly (for example, you won't get all the security policies, nor will the automatic remote processes catch your system consistently). Your Nebula support person can help you configure this.

More information on can be found on the UW Technology wireless computing page. Be sure to also regularly check the Nebula Laptop site for information on keeping your laptop updated. Because of their tendency to be disconnected from the network, laptops require more effort on your end to keep it secure.

"Wireless" service using cellular phone network

Many telco vendors, such as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, offer internet connectivity through their cellular network. This allows cell phone users to have "real time" or "live" services such as email via a specially configured laptop card ("air card").