Getting Started
Linux and Wireless
Accessing CECS Resources

As part of a joint project between OIT and theCAT, access points have been placed at strategic points on the PSU campus, creating a the wireless network known as PSU General Access

I. Getting Started

PSU wireless is divided into 2 networks one for faculty and staff and one for the general campus if you are faculty or staff you are encouraged to use PSU Faculty and Staff for your job. The instructions below will work for both wireless networks. 

So you want to use PSU General Access? You'll need to obtain a wireless network card. Most new laptops will come with wireless cards built in. If you are using such a laptop, chances are it will work with PSU General Access. If you are purchasing a PCMCIA wireless adapter, you'll want to make sure it supports 802.11b or 802.11g (or both, in many cases).

For most operating systems, you'll simply need to walk into an area with wireless coverage, and everything will work. If this is not the case, you'll need to explicitly tell your computer to connect to the right network. That is:PSU General Access.pdx.edu.
In windows, you should just be able to click on PSU General Access under "view available wireless connections." In linux/BSD you'll probably need to use iwconfig/ifconfig. Check the manpage for how to specify the ESSID (it varies).

Wireless registration is no longer required. Open a web browser and you will be prompted for a login and password.

1. Your Odin login and password

2. Your CECS Unix login and password

3. Your CECS Windows login and password

Once you have logged in, you will need to leave the little window around; however, you can minimize it if you want to.

Note: if you browser blocks popups: you will either need to turn popup blocking off, or tell your browser to ignore popups from account.pdx.edu .

Alternatively, you can simply connect to the VPN instead of logging in via the website.  Once you connect to the VPN, you can also access file servers and printers shared via windows servers. See http://www.cat.pdx.edu/windows/mcecs-vpn.html for more information.

Now, if you are faculty/staff and you've got a guest here at Portland State who'd like to use PSU General Access, drop an email to support@cat.pdx.edu. We'll get you well taken care of.

Linux and Wireless

Introduction

This document is intended for people needing or interested in knowing how to configure a Linux-2.4.x kernel for wireless support, and how to get a kernel to work with the external PCMCIA Card Services package maintained by David Hinds at http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/pcmcia-cs in unison with the wireless-tools package by Jeane Toureilles at http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Linux/Tools.html . This document assumes familiarity with installation procedures for user compiled code ( i.e. INSTALL/README, configure, and make ).

Getting Started

Hopefully this doesn't need to be said, but all installation must be done as root. If you do not have access to the root account for your box, contact the administrator for your machine for assistance.

You will need access to the linux kernel sources. In addition you will need to have access to the pcmcia-cs ( if you do not want to use the kernel drivers for your pcmcia devices ) and wireless-tools sources.

Begin by configuring your kernel ( if you have built a kernel in this directory before, I encourage you to do a 'make mrproper' prior to beginning. Just save your old .config file to a different name, if you want to preserve your old setup, then load the config once you've gotten into the configuration process. )

I. What to do if you don't want to use the kernel drivers

Under 'General Setup->PCMCIA/Cardbus support' turn OFF all options. This is required to get the pcmcia-cs sources to build the necessary modules. Then under 'Networking->Wireless Lan (not radio)' turn ON only the option 'Wireless Lan (non-hamradio)'. This provides the configuration information needed by the wireless-tools package. Thats it as far as kernel configuration requirements for wireless card use.

II. What to do if you DO want to use the kernel drivers

If this is your condition you are limited to the wireless drivers provided in the kernel. There is nothing special to do to get the card working under this configuration choice other than selecting the proper drivers in the kernel. You're done.

--adamaig

Accessing CECS Resources

In order to access CECS resources you will need to use our vpn, see http://www.cat.pdx.edu/windows/mcecs-vpn.html for details.