Connecting My Laptop

Wireless networking increases the convenience and flexibility of computer-based communication, learning, and research. The wireless network enables you to connect your laptop to the campus network and the Internet from a variety of locations campus wide without having to plug in a data cable. The wireless network supplements the existing wired network and gives you more flexibility in choosing a connection location. Rather than having to sit within close proximity to a data outlet, you may connect to the wireless network from specified locations.

Wireless networking access points are installed in various locations throughout the university.   This web-site provides information to members of the UMW community who wish to connect to the University’s wireless network.

How Do I Get Started?

Look for the UMW Wireless sign throughout campus.

All users of the UMW Wireless network must have a Wireless Network Card installed.

What you need is determined by the type of access that you desire:

• Full access to network resources is available to UMW students, faculty or staff with University network IDs who choose to authenticate to the non-residential wireless network and undergo a simple security review of their systems. To obtain full access to the wireless network, you must have:
  1. A valid UMW NetID and password – to obtain your UMW NetID and password, see the UMW Log In and Password Information site.
  2. The latest operating system updates,
  3. The latest anti-virus updates, and
  4. Cisco’s Clean Access agent – you will be prompted to install this client upon accessing the wireless network (NOTE: Clean Access is not required for the wireless network in the Residence halls).  See the Secure Wireless instructions for your computer.
• Limited access — or “Guest Access” — includes web browsing only and has a time limit of two hours. Guest users may remain on-line longer than two hours, but they will have to log in again by clicking the Guest Access button that appears in the browser window when the session has timed out. To be “admitted” to the wireless network as a guest, scroll down the authentication screen and click the Guest Access button.  See the Guest Access connection instructions.

Once you have connected to the UMW wireless network, open your web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari). If you are connecting via the Secure Wireless connection, when you launch your browser, you will see an authentication screen for UMW wireless users.

Access in the Residence Halls

Instructions in this section pertain to using the wireless network outside of residence halls. For use of residence hall wireless networks, visit this site.