Apple iOS14 Release Information

Apple released the iOS14 update, with many new features for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iWatch). There has been a lot of confusion about one of the features as they haven’t advertised it well. A new default feature in iOS14 uses a private address when you join a Wi-Fi network. You would have a different private address for each Wi-Fi network that you would connect to. This is an important safety feature especially on public Wi-Fi networks.

We were under the impression that this private address would change every 24 hours, ultimately causing you to have to re-register on Widener’s network . After a full week of testing and working with technical support, we were able to determine that this feature will function on Widener’s Campus Wi-Fi.

The only change with this feature being ENABLED would be that you now have to register your device on each network. This would mostly affect the student population who travel from the residence halls (“wu-secure-resnet”) to the academic buildings (“wu-secure”).

You have the ability to disable this feature. Follow the directions below:

Turn private address off or on for a network

You can stop or resume using a private address with any network. For better privacy, leave the setting on for all networks that support it.

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the information button next to a network.
  3. Tap Private Address. If your device joined the network without using a private address, a privacy warning explains why.
    1. Uncheck the Private Address.

Apple Watch

  1. Open the Settings app, then tap Wi-Fi.
  2. Tap the name of the network you joined. If you haven’t joined the network yet, swipe left on its name and tap more .
  3. Tap Private Address.
    1. Uncheck the Private Address.

 

WiFi Security Upgrade

Widener University is implementing a new authentication method and encryption for wireless devices. This security enhancement will help validate and ensure authorized access to our Widener University network while keeping your data safe.

The new authentication method will be rolled out on Wednesday June 10th. The NEW WIRELESS NETWORK NAMES (SSID) will appear for use across all 3 campuses. Here is a quick overview on the networks that you will see in certain areas of campus:

The “wu-secure” network is a secure encrypted network providing access to campus resources for all users with valid Widener IDs and passwords. Only encryption-capable devices will work on the wu-secure network. Use this network for all official University business when you are on campus. Windows 10, Mac OS 10.4+, and recent versions of Linux/Unix should all work on this network. Most mobile devices with Wi-Fi will also work. This network will be in all academic, administrative, and non-residential social areas on each campus.

The “wu-secure-resnet” network is a secure encrypted network providing internet access in our resident hall buildings. This network is only for encryption-capable devices. Windows Vista and later, Mac OS 10.4+, and recent versions of Linux/Unix should all work on this network. Most mobile devices with Wi-Fi will also work. This network will be in all Residential Halls on the Chester Main Campus and Delaware Campus.

Not all devices support the encryption software. Because of this, we have created a separate network for these devices called “wu-open-game-stream” wireless network. This will be used for the registration of gaming systems, TVs, and streaming devices (Roku, Firesticks, etc). Some older machines that do not support encryption will also be redirected to this network.

After the update, you will be prompted to enter your Widener LoginID and password to gain access to the university wireless network. When prompted, accept the certificate. Be sure you accept the certificate. If you do not accept the certificate you will not be able to log into the wu-secure or wu-secure-resnet network.

Since these new secure networks are authenticated with your login credentials, you will need to reenter your loginID and password when prompted after changing your password through Password Self Service. If you are not prompted to reenter your login information, you will need to “Forget the Network” and then Reconnect to get the prompt to appear.

For further instructions and FAQs, please utilize https://my.widener.edu and search wireless for further instructions on how access the network for your specific devices for access.

If you experience any issues connecting to the secure network; or just have questions or concerns, please contact the Widener University IT HelpDesk at 610-499-1047 or submit a ticket at http://quickticket.widener.edu.

 

Wired & Wireless – Device Registration

Get connected to Widener’s network. For security reasons, Widener University has implemented a solution to protect your electronic devices from other devices that might not be secure. Every device you connect to the Wireless Network or Residence Hall Wired Network must be registered for compliance purposes.

Steps to register your device
  • Connect to the wireless SSID “wudorm” or “widener”, if you choose to connect via Ethernet cable you will need to put in a port request. (http://portrequest.widener.edu)
  • Open your internet browser and try to go to a website such as yahoo.com.
  • Follow the on screen instructions to register your device.
Device Registration Requirement Information:
  • All Microsoft Windows based Desktops and Laptops (Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10) are required to have up to date operating system patches (Windows Updates) and an up to date Anti-Virus program (free or subscription) not provided from the University. A persistent agent is required to be downloaded and installed in order to stay in compliance on the network. It will prompt you for your Widener Login Username and password, then it will scan for your operating system patches and verify an up to date Anti-Virus.
  • Phones & Apple Products (MacBook, iMac, iPad, iPhone), Non-Windows Tablets, eReaders will only require your Widener Login username and password to register on the network.
  • Most Gaming Devices (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo products), Smart TV’s, and Streaming Devices (Apple TV, Amazon Firestick/TV, Echo, Roku) will be automatically registered on the network. Please connect them via ethernet cable or on the wireless SSID “WUDorm” and they will take up to 15 minutes to move from the registration network to the production network. If you still have issues connecting after patiently waiting, please reboot your device and see if it properly connects. If it still does not connect, please locate your MAC address for your device and open a support ticket by contacting the ITS HelpDesk at 610-499-1047 OR Submit a support ticket at http://QUICKticket.widener.edu

 *PLEASE NOTE: Wireless printing in the residence halls is allowed, but we recommend securing them with a passcode to print (see your printer manufacturers’ instructions to setup). Otherwise; connect your printer via usb cable. CHROMECAST is designed to work in a home environment and given the size and complexity of our network, it will NOT work on Widener’s Network. WE DO NOT ALLOW PERSONAL WIRELESS ROUTERS ON WIDENER’S NETWORK. Not all  SMART PLUGS AND LIGHTS are designed for enterprise network environments; therefore they may not work properly on our network. But we will work with you to get these devices securely on the network if possible.

Reporting Wireless Issues of registered devices:

We are always looking to improve our wireless network and with your help, we can make it better. In order to fix the issue, we need to know about it. Now you can quickly report the issue to us.

By going to My.Widener.edu and searching WiFi, you will find the link to FixMyWiFi.widener.edu where you can submit a ticket reporting the issue directly to the group that manages this environment. We want to make your wireless experience an enjoyable one, not a stressful one.

*For additional assistance, please visit the Student Technology Support Center. The Student Technology Support Center (STSC) is a walk-in support center where students can go for assistance with their computers and hand-held devices. The STSC is now located on the main floor of the Wolfgram Memorial Library on the Chester Campus. You may also visit the ITS HelpDesk located on the 2nd floor of Academic Center North (ACN) Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm excluding holidays.

Report Your WiFi Issues Here!

After you have successfully registered your device on the wireless network, have you ever experienced one of these symptoms: slow speeds for an extended period, weak to no wireless signal, constant disconnects, strong signal but no internet access, or just cannot connect to the wireless network?

Across all three campuses, we have made significant upgrades to the wireless network in all academic and administrative buildings as well as the residence halls over the last few years. Even after all these upgrades, we are sure that some of you may still have issues that are not reported to ITS. We are always looking to improve our wireless network and with your help, we can make it better. In order to fix the issue, we need to know about it. Now you can quickly report the issue to us.

By going to My.Widener.edu and searching WiFi, you will find the link to

FixMyWiFi.widener.edu

where you can submit a ticket reporting the issue directly to the group that manages this environment. We want to make your wireless experience an enjoyable one, not a stressful one.

Migration of File and Network Print Services FAQ

Over the next year, ITS will discontinue the personal F/H/I-drive as well as the departmental J/L-drives for some clients. In addition, Novell GroupWise Messenger, MyFiles.widener.edu, and our current network printer software will be replaced. This FAQ should help to answer some of your questions.

Q: Do I need to contact ITS to move our department drives J/L?

A: Prior to the migration of drives (J/L), an ITS staff member will contact each department to schedule an initial meeting. During the meeting, they will review the current file structure of the drives to troubleshoot any issues that might arise prior to moving data to OneDrive. They will also explain the sequence of events that will happen during the migration.

Q: Why does the F(H/I/J)-drive have to go away?

A: The F-drive and our current print sharing services are based on a very old network directory called Novell. At this point, Novell is almost extinct. We have its replacement—Microsoft Active Directory—in place, which already supports our email system, OneDrive, and many other services. It no longer makes sense to pay the cost of running redundant services.

Q: What is Active Directory?

A: Active Directory (AD) is software developed by Microsoft that provides centralized network, file and print services, as well as identity management.

Q: Will it affect the way I do things today?

A: Yes. You will see a change in the way you access and share university data. You may also notice slight differences in the screens you see when you print.

Migration:

Q: Who will be migrated to Active Directory?

A: Everyone is already in Active Directory, but some of their services still live on the older file and print sharing platforms. ITS will coordinate initial meetings with select departments, on a schedule, in their move to AD. During this meeting, a migration plan for each department will be developed. Part of this plan involves joining your PC, if you use one, to the domain.

Q: How will this migration affect me as a Mac user?

A: The migration will not affect Mac users.

Q: What do I have to do for this prior to the migration?

A: Clients will need to clean up and move files and folders from their F-drive (Chester), H-Drive (Harrisburg), and I-Drive (Delaware) to their Widener OneDrive.

Q: What is the time frame for this Project?

A: We will start meeting with departments in October 2018, and we expect to have the migration complete by the Summer of 2019.

Q: How long will the migration take?

A: The process will take between 25 to 45 minutes.

Q: Do I have to be available during the migration?

A: Yes.

Access:

Q: I log in from home using VPN, will that change?

A: No, you will not see any differences when logging into the VPN.

Q: Will my login ID and password change?

A: No, your login ID and password will remain the same.

GroupWise:

Q: I use Novell GroupWise Messenger to connect with my colleagues during the day, will I still be able to use GroupWise?

A: No, this transition will retire GroupWise (Novell Messenger). Within the Office 365 suite is a chat application called Microsoft Teams, this will replace the GroupWise system.

Files:

Q: What happens to my OneDrive synced files after my computer is migrated to Active Directory?

A: The next time you log into OneDrive and the system authenticates you, your files will resync to your profile.

Q. Is there a size limit on a single file in OneDrive?

A: Yes, Microsoft is currently limiting single file size to 10 gigabytes.

Q: Will I be able to set up folder sharing?

A: Yes, we have instructions on how you can do this or you can put in a quick ticket to have our HelpDesk assist you. As we meet with each department, ITS will gather this information and help set these shares up with you during the migration.

Q: How can I access my Widener OneDrive files?

A: You will be able to access the data on devices that can access the internet or that have the OneDrive App available.

Q: Will I still be able to use myfiles.widener.edu?

A: No, your myfiles.widener.edu will no longer be available after Jan 1, 2019. It will be replaced with OneDrive.

Q: Will my department’s J-Drive (Chester), L-Drive (Harrisburg), L-Drive (Delaware) still be accessible?

A: No, the department data will be moved and will reside in OneDrive. ITS will work with each department to move the data.

Q: Will my department OneDrive data be backed up?

A: We will work with each department to communicate what data is backed up to the cloud during the migration phase, but we currently plan to back up data moved from each department’s J-Drive (Chester), L-Drive (Harrisburg), L-Drive (Delaware).

Q: What will happen to my data on the F-drive (Chester), H-Drive (Harrisburg), and I-Drive (Delaware)?

A: The data located on the drives in question will need to be moved to your Widener OneDrive on Office 365, which offers up 1 terabyte of storage and can be accessed from anywhere.

Q: How do I move the contents of my F-drive (Chester), H-Drive (Harrisburg), and I-Drive (Delaware) to my Widener provided OneDrive?

A: Upload your files to OneDrive or you can put in a quick ticket for the HelpDesk to assist you.

Printing:

Q: Will I still have access to my printers after the migration?

A: Your printers should automatically be installed on the first login after migration. This will be something that the ITS member will check before they leave your desk.

Residence Hall Wireless Upgrade Completed

Over the last two summers, ITS has completely overhauled wireless networking in residence halls, installing over 700 wireless access points for students.

If you are moving into the Chester Campus Residence Halls, we have some exciting news about the wireless network. The university has made major investment this summer to improve the wireless network on campus.

What’s changed

Historically, wireless access points were installed in the hallways in every residence hall. This provided adequate coverage, except in situations where thick walls and doors blocked the signal. Also, rooms farther away from access points had weaker signals resulting in poor performance.

As of today, each room or suite has a dedicated access point that connects at much higher speeds than our old ones. You will find a white box, mounted on the wall, about 6 feet high, with a network cable in a plastic conduit.

Unfortunately, in most rooms, this only leaves one network port to share. Please do not unplug the access point network cable! We are confident that all of your devices that have wireless capabilities will work great on the new wireless network. If you still need a wired network port, complete the Wired Dorm Port Request and  it will be activated by ITS.

Internet bandwidth

We also increased our Internet bandwidth by more than double the amount we had last year. This increase supports all university network traffic, so we can handle more traffic in the residence halls, classrooms, the library—wherever you go on campus. With the growth in streaming video and our new Canvas learning management system residing in the cloud, the extra bandwidth will ensure that we won’t run into any problems when our Internet traffic peaks.

Please contact the ITS Help Desk if your wireless experience is anything less than superb.

Wireless to go: Widener joins Eduroam

Effective immediately, Widener University belongs to eduroam. This is big news if you’re visiting other universities or hosting  visitors from other schools. Eduroam (short for ‘education roaming’) is the secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community.

This article will tell you what you need to know to get started.

Joining eduroam provides four main benefits:
  1. It allows Widener to welcome eduroam enabled visitors in a strongly authenticated way (the strong authentication also provides a way to authorize users to different resources).
  2. It allows our own users to travel to eduroam enabled locations around the world. Over 570 educational institutions and research/cultural organizations (such as the Smithsonian) are already US members. Hundreds more universities participate across six continents.
  3. It saves time for us and for our visitors since eduroam authentication is automatic and access is immediate.
  4. It improves security since eduroam encrypts traffic between users’ devices and the Wi-Fi infrastructure.
Widener already has guest wireless. Why would we provide eduroam?

Eduroam is not a replacement for our guest network. It is a complement to make our guest network and our community compatible with other eduroam participants. By offering the service to visitors from other institutions, our community is offered the same privileges on campus networks of other institutions.

Who can use the eduroam network?

Anyone with an account from a participating institution. This facilitates productivity for visiting faculty, staff, and students while away from home, without any additional configuration to their computers or mobile devices.

When will we join? When can we use it?

We are already in the network, so Widener faculty/staff/students can access eduroam on other campuses right now.

What other institutions in our region are in eduroam already?

Most of the other well-known schools in the region are already members: Villanova, Penn, UDel, Temple, Drexel, TCNJ, NJIT, Princeton, Phildelphia/Jefferson, Arcadia, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Haverford, Lafayette, PSU, DCCC, MCCC. The full U.S. list is at https://www.eduroam.us/institutions_list.

If I’m at one of the eduroam schools, how do I connect?

Just look for the eduroam name (called an SSID) on the list of Wi-Fi networks your device can join. If you select eduroam, you will be asked to log into a Widener server to prove your identity. Enter your Widener email address (e.g. rsmith@widener.edu) and password as you do on campus. Thereafter, you’ll be trusted to use the wireless network at that institution. Whenever you subsequently visit any eduroam location, you’ll automatically get onto the wireless network there, so long as your Widener credentials are valid.

Guest Wireless Made Easy

ITS redesigned our guest wireless service to make getting on faster and more convenient for everybody.

We know you’re connected. But what about your family and friends when they visit you on campus? What about your official guests who are attending meetings or an event? If they want to jump on the wireless and check their email or Facebook, do they have to call the HelpDesk?

Until now, they did. But, as of October 23, we’re changing our guest wireless network to make it more convenient for everybody. We are launching self-service wireless access that uses email or text messages to provide guests with login information that is good for 24 hours.

Simply tell your guest to connect to the “WUGuest” network. When they open a browser window, they’ll be prompted to complete the Guest Self Registration form. They will need to tell us three things:

  1. current, working email address
  2. cell phone number
  3. cell phone carrier (e.g. Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, etc.)

We’ll respond with login information immediately. It’s all automated and available 24/7.

If you or your guests have any issues or want a login for longer than 24 hours, contact the ITS HelpDesk at (610) 499-1047.

Device Registration – WIRELESS AND WIRED

Get connected to Widener’s wireless network.

For security reasons, Widener University has implemented a solution to protect your electronic devices from other devices that might not be secure. Every device you connect must be registered for compliance purposes.

Steps to register your device

  • Connect to the wireless SSID “WUdorm” or “Widener”, if you choose to connect via Ethernet cable you will need to put in a port request.
  • Open your internet browser and try to go to a website such as google.com.
  • Follow the on screen instructions to register your device.

Device Registration Requirement Information:

 Device Registration Requirement Information:

  • Windows PC
    • All Microsoft Windows based Desktops and Laptops (Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10) are required to have up to date operating system patches (Windows Updates) and an up to date Anti-Virus program (free or subscription) not provided from the University. A persistent agent is required to be downloaded and installed in order to stay in compliance on the network. It will prompt you for your Widener Login ID and password, then it will scan for your operating system patches and verify an up to date anti-Virus.
  • Phones & Apple Products (MacBook, iMac, iPad, iPhone), Non-Windows Tablets, eReaders
    • (MacBook, iMac, iPad, iPhone) non-windows tablets, eReaders will only require your Campus Cruiser username and password to register on the network.
  • Gaming Devices
    • (PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo products) will be automatically registered on the network. Please connect them via ethernet cable or on the wireless SSID “WUDorm” and they will take up to 15 minutes to move from the registration network to the production network. If you still have issues connecting after patiently waiting, please locate your MAC address for your device and contact your campus HelpDesk.
  • Smart TV’s and other streaming devices
    • (Apple TV, Amazon Firestick/TV, Echo, Roku, Slingbox, etc.) do not automatically register on the network at this time. Please locate the MAC address of your device and contact your campus HelpDesk to open a work order to have it manually registered OR submit a work order at http://QUICKticket.widener.edu

 *PLEASE NOTE: CHROMECAST is designed to work in a home environment and given the size and complexity of our network, it will NOT work on Widener’s Network. Wireless printing in the dorms is not supported; therefore, please connect your printer via usb cable. WE DO NOT ALLOW PERSONAL WIRELESS ROUTERS ON WIDENER’S NETWORK.

*For additional assistance, please visit the Student Technology Support Center located in the Wolfgram Library on the Main Level.  The Student Technology Support Center (STSC) is a walk-in support center where students can go for assistance with their computers and hand-held devices.  Their hours are Monday through Thursday 3pm to 10pm and Friday 3pm to 6:30pm. You may also visit the ITS HelpDesk located on the 2nd floor of Academic Center North (ACN) Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm excluding holidays.

Dorm wireless upgrades

Knowing how important wireless is to our students, we’re proud to share news of major upgrades in Metropolitan Hall–the largest suite-style dormitory at Widener–and Boettner Hall. Our networking team outfitted both dormitories with all-new wireless equipment this summer. In addition, we made upgrades in Moll and the first-year student quads: Cann, Hanna, Howell, Grasselli, Kapelski, Thayer, and Turrell. In our tests, the improvements we made in the second group of residences more than doubled connection speeds.

Our efforts are certainly not over, and much work is still ahead of us. We are pleased to be able to make these improvements, and hope our students enjoy better connectivity in their residence halls in 2017-18.

Did you know…

….for the approximately 2,000 students in residence halls, we support connections from, on average, 8,000 devices?

A major piece of wireless network architecture is not only having coverage (no “dead zones”), but also having having enough capacity when people congregate in specific locations. These patterns vary day-to-day, minute-to-minute.

Be sure to let us know if you experience connection issues in a specific location, especially when you notice that the problem is a recurring one. We can work to fill in gaps over time.