Boise State University is
installing an 802.11b wireless network across its Boise campus
this summer. This new wireless network will allow Boise State
students and faculty to connect to the university's network
and access the Internet from almost any building on campus.
The Office of Information
Technology will install 35 new Cisco wireless base stations in
July and August, bringing the total wireless base stations on
campus to 55. This will allow laptop and PDA wireless
connections in all of the major teaching buildings, Student
Union, Student Recreation Center, Albertsons Library and most
other buildings on campus. The 802.11b Cisco wireless bridges
are capable of upgrading to the faster 802.11g in the future.
To protect the university
wireless network from misuse by hackers or damage from
viruses, the university has installed a Perfigo Authentication
System in front of the wireless network. A student or faculty
member wanting to use the wireless network at Boise State will
have their browser redirected to an authentication Web page.
Here, the user will enter his or her BroncoWeb user
identification and password. After verification, the system
will be able to fully utilize the local network and Boise
State's Internet connection. Unlike early authentication
systems, the Perfigo system does not need to pre-register a
computer's Media Access Control (MAC) address.
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Contact
Brian McDevitt
Telephone and Network Services
208 426-3093
Media Contact
Kathleen Craven
News Service
208 426-3275
