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• Essential Stanford Software
• Connecting to SUNet
• using Wireless Ethernet with Windows Vista

Connecting Windows Vista to Stanford's Wireless Network

Before you begin

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

• a valid SUNet ID or wireless guest account*
• your Windows Vista 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.

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 Connect to Stanford's wireless 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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Connect to Stanford's wireless network

1. Make sure that your wireless radio is turned on. Some laptops have a switch on the front or side that lets you enable and disable the wireless connection and other laptops use a keyboard shortcut to do this.
   
   
2. Click Start and then click Connect To.
   
   
3. Select Stanford from the list of wireless connections and then click Connect.
   
   
   
   
4. If this is the first time you are connecting to the Stanford wireless network, a dialog box will be displayed saying that Stanford is an unsecured network. Click Connect Anyway.
   
   
   
   
5. A dialog box will be displayed when your connection to the Stanford wireless network is successful. If this is your first time connecting to Stanford, select Save this network. (You won't see this option on subsequent connections.) Then, click Close.
   
   

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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 MAC address. Here's how to find it:

1. Click the Windows Start button.
   
   
2. In the Search box, type cmd and then press ENTER.
   
   

   

3. At the C:\ prompt, type ipconfig /all and press ENTER.
   
   
   
   
4. The next screen displays information about the adapter for your wireless network connection. Your twelve-digit, hardware MAC address is in the Physical Address field. Write down the Physical Address.
   
   
   You will probably see physical addresses for more than one adapter. Make sure that you note the physical address of your wireless network connection. You may have to scroll to find the wireless adapter.
   In the following example, the hardware MAC address is
   00-13-00-E1-11-11.
   
   
   
   
   

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

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

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