Wireless Security Certificate Renewal

On Monday March 10 there will be an update to the UofT wireless service.

Users with Apple devices (laptops, tablets, phones) will see a prompt asking them to confirm the update.
Those with Android, Blackberry or Windows devices should be updated without any confirmation.

I'm sure there are a lot of Apple users on campus, and some will be confused by the prompt. So expect more questions than usual on Monday.
Users can logon to our public computers and go to this address for help:   http://uoft.me/cert

User quota on wireless is discontinued

As of May 7, 2012 the University of Toronto wireless network no longer uses a "quota" system.

This previously limited users to 1-2GB of upload/download data per week.

Whether one connects via UTORwin, UofT, or Eduroam...there is no longer a quota. This includes both wired and wireless connections to the network.

There has never been a quota on public or staff workstations. So there is no scenario where this restriction applies.

A new network from the Information Commons

As of June 20th, along with eduroam and UTORwin networks, there is now the UofT network.

When students attempt to log on to our wireless network now, they will see all 3 of these options when in range. (whether using a cable, or wireless)

UTORwin and UofT networks are the same except the new UofT network is a one-time login. It is cumbersome to login a few times a day on ones handheld. This one-time login makes that easier.
The downside to that is it is not designed to be logged off, and is therefore not advisable to use on a computer that is shared between different users. (e.g staff laptops)

It is the better network for students to use as it includes a newer "range" (802.11n), as well as making logging in simpler. (UTORwin uses "g" and "b" ranges, UofT uses "g", "b", and "n")

As of summer 2011, there are some issues on the new UofT network with handhelds using older versions of the Android operating system. There's no timeline on resolving this. (this does not include iPods, iPads, or Blackberry's)

There is another issue with all users having to verify their UTORid before their first use of the new UofT network. InfoCommons hopes to have this resolved by September 2011.

A reminder that the Information Commons is no longer publishing paper help documents on wireless. I continue to print some out, but those will not include any information on the new "UofT" network.
More information is available here: http://help.ic.utoronto.ca/category/20/wireless-access-utorcwn.html

Jeff Heeney
July 13, 2011

Connecting Unsupported Devices to UTORwin - web help

The Information Commons Knowledge Base now has a page that provides a bit of help on connecting unsupported devices like phones, iPad, etc.

I've made it a permanent link at the top of this blog, but i'm copying the address here as well:
http://help.ic.utoronto.ca/content/20/181/en/are-mobile-computing-devices-like-pdas-or-the-iphone-supported-by-utorcwn.html

I've also taped a copy of this to the Information Desk where we keep the wireless handouts.

Nov 20, 2010 entry: an excellent pamphlet has been created to help with the different types of handhelds. Please refer users to it first as it is much more helpful than what I taped to the infodesk. The pamphlet is called "Connect to library services using your mobile device".

Wireless Printing - previously installed drivers must be reinstalled

As of September 13, 2010, there has been a change to service in Wireless Printing.

Users with a previous installation of wireless printing must remove the old wireless printer(s) and install the new wireless printer(s) to use the service. Instructions can be found at http://printhere.utoronto.ca.
Printable instructions will be available soon on the website.

Windows users will receive a popup when trying to print that instructs them to visit http://printhere.utoronto.ca to update their printer(s).
Continuing to use the old printer(s) will result in a an error.

The new wireless printing service will allow for Mac and Linux users to print to the same printers as Windows users. With this new service, future upgrades will cause minimal disruption to users.

Chris Finley Sept 13/2010

iPad Can Connect to UTORcwn

I suppose some of you may have missed the hype about the new iPad. It is like a computer but the size of a small thin book or magazine.

I was able to help a user with connect one to our wireless today.

Add this to the ever-growing list of small devices that behave much like a computer...and our Information Commons Help Desk does NOT "officially" support. (staff there are not trained to do this...we do not have help sheets for users to do this...users are "on their own" so-to-speak)

I have never been successful at helping users with PDA's, iPhones, or Blackberry's get connected to our wireless network even though it IS possible. I tell them to find someone they know with the same device and ask how they did it.

So I just want to say that like all those other devices...the new iPad can connect as well. Just don't tell users to go to the Help Desk for help.
In my absence you can point them to the Mac wireless handouts. They just need the SSID, security type, and encryption key...same as every other device. (UTORwin, WEP, UToronto1home)

If any users come to the desk saying their UTORid does not work, they have two options:

1. Ask them to go to this web page and enter their UTORid and password, then go back and try logging into the service they were having trouble with: https://www.utorid.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/utorid/verify.pl

2. Go to the Information Commons Help Desk at Robarts

Stat!Ref Access Issue on UTORcwn

If users complain of not being able to access Stat!Ref resources from our wireless network, let then know we have informed the people at Stat!Ref and they are working on it.

Wireless networks rely on many IP addresses to allow users access.
This year we have added many new IP addresses which had to be forwarded on to our licenced resource providers.
If the provider has not yet added them and a user gets on our wireless with one of those new numbers, the user will be unable to connect to that resource.
We've seen this with 3 providers this year so far. And what a user sees in this scenario is a logon prompt instead of just getting into the e-resource.

Gerstein Network Cable Access Problems

Because of our ongoing wireless problems i've suggested using network cables as an alternative.

But some of the sockets the network cables plug into are not working.

In our new Gerstein Reading Room only the first two tables to the left as you walk in from the north side of the room are working.
In the Morrison Pavilion I think there are a small number of the sockets that aren't working...so ask users to try another socket or table.

Oct 30 - I just got an update today that ITS/CNS are aware of the problem and will fix asap

Gerstein Wireless Issue - intermittent or weak connections

If users complain of low or no wireless connection in our building, and it has worked fine for them in the past, please direct them to one of these locations:

1. the octagon portion of the Morrison Pavilion.
2. the new reference room
3. another building

Using network cables to connect is a good alternative for the problem areas.
So you could also offer to loan them one of our cables. (there's some at both the infodesk and loan services desk)

I've just begun testing this and can only say for certain that some of the wireless areas in our building are not working as well as they should...and some laptops work better in these areas than others.

The main problem areas were the long hallway sections of the Morrison Pavilion study space. (which is a huge portion of that study space)

Wireless - User Connection Problems

User complains that their laptop was connecting fine before, but now it is not.
SOLUTION: Delete the existing wireless profile and create it again.
-this problem occurs frequently, and the solution works most of the time
-often misinterpreted as a network problem
-always send the user to Jeff, Dana, or the Information Commons if they need/want help

Wireless Reception in Lower Reference

The lower reference room gets 'good' to 'very good' reception.

The group study area further south where Consortium used to be and back to where reference is now stored gets 'low' reception and can even lose a connection.

So it is functional in the lower reference room but not great...and almost useless further south from there.

This will have to be retested when the renovations are complete as wireless antennae above those rooms will be activated at that time.

Instructions for Connecting Palm TX Wireless Handheld to U of T Wireless Network

1. Click on the grey wifi control button along the bottom of the screen.This button has an icon that looks like a bar graph and will include anexclamation mark when you are not connected to a network.
2. Choose Scan/Setup.
3. Select UTORwin as your network.
4. Click on the Edit button and in the submenu that pops up choose configure.
5. Under Security, select WEP.
6. Click on the grey box beside key. The key type is 104-bit ASCII and the WEP key is UToronto1home
7. Once you’ve connected, launch the web browser and go to http://login.wireless.utoronto.ca. Enter your UTORid and password. As you needto log in every time you use this network, you might want to set this page as your browser's homepage. This can be done by choosing preferences under the menuitem entitled options.

Handouts are available with this information on it.
They'are on the Information Desk near the other wireless handouts.

WiFi Information

The nearest location for free wireless:
Fox and Fiddle Pub 416-966-4369 http://www.bloorfox.com/
280 Bloor St. West (between Spadina and St. George)

A Toronto wireless directory and map:
http://wirelesstoronto.ca/
http://auth.wirelesstoronto.ca/hotspots_map.php

Log Out From The Wireless Network

It is unecessary to log out from the UTORcwn wireless network.
This is done automatically by the network after 30 minutes of inactivity by the user.

But, if a user does want to manually log out, they just go to this web page on their laptop and it is done as soon as the web page opens: logout.wireless.utoronto.ca

PDA Access to UTORcwn

If a user asks, their PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) can connect to our network, but the Information Commons does not support this function. (will not provide assistance over the phone, at the help desk, in a pamphlet or on their web page)

Users can setup their PDA to connect to the UTORcwn network (wired or wireless) if it has these things:

- Ethernet 802.11b with 128-bit WEP encryption support
- uses TCP/IP with DHCP configuration
- contains an HTTP 1.1 compliant web browser

The user must know this. We cannot look at it and determine this for them.
There are no staff here at Gerstein that know how to setup PDA's.
If the user does not know how to do it themself or whether their PDA meets the above requirements, their best option is to look for another student who has successfully done it.

You can help by giving them one of the laptop wireless handouts as they will need the "UTORwin" SSIS name and the "UToronto1home" encryption key.


This will be a growing issue since many medical students use PDAs (needed for when they do their rounds) and there are several PDA related projects going on in the Faculty of Medicine.

(updated by Jeff, April 7, 2006)
Update: we now have a flyer that gives a basic description of how to do this. It is kept at the column by the wireless handouts on the Information Desk.
Rita Vine may be able to help a user with this personally if needed.
Jeff, February 2008.