Information Technology Services

Connect to the Wireless Network with a Lenovo and Windows XP

The instructions below explain how to configure your Lenovo laptop with Windows XP (and IBM Access Connections) in a building that has not been refreshed. For a complete list of buildings that have been refreshed, read the Wireless Refresh Schedule.

NOTE: If your machine is not a Lenovo, but it is running Windows XP, please refer to: Connect to the wireless network with Windows XP.

1. Click the Access Connections icon located near the clock on the Windows system tray.
   
   
   
   
2. After clicking the icon, you will see a menu listing all the networks Access Connections has been configured for. It looks similar to this:
   
   
   
   
3. All the wireless networks are named for the building in which they are located. Locate the name of the building you are in, and click it. Your laptop will automatically connect you to the network. While it is connecting, you will see a window that looks similar to this:
   
   
   
   
4. To login to the network, open a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer, and you will see the following login page:
   
   
   
   
5. On the login page, enter your Novell username and password and then click Submit. Your browser will be redirected to your normal home page. You may now begin using the wireless network.
   
   

Ending Your Wireless Session

When you log into the wireless network, the BlueSocket login page will attempt to open a pop-up window with a link that allows you to end your session. The window looks like this:

However, most modern browsers block pop-ups like this by default. If you'd like the pop-up to appear, you will need to add http://bluesocket.uncg.edu to the list of sites permitted to open pop-ups. Refer to your browser's documentation for details.

Alternatively, you may power off your wireless adapter or turn off your computer. The BlueSocket gateway will end your session after a period of inactivity. If you try to move to a new building before this period ends, you will get an error message when you try to log in from the new location. The error message will include a link that will let you end the session in the old building.

Connecting to Your Home Internet Connection (or Other Off-Campus Networks)

In addition to using ThinkVantage Access Connections to connect to on-campus networks, you can use it to connect to your home Internet connection or other off-campus networks. This lets you use your laptop off campus without impairing your ability to connect once you get back on campus or forcing you to manually reconfigure your laptop as you connect to different networks.

To use Access Connections off campus, you will need to create a new profile. Because there are so many types of networks you might use off campus, we cannot provide detailed instructions for them all. However, Access Connections can create a profile based on your laptop's current setup. This means that once you have your laptop set up to work on the off-campus network, Access Connections can save those settings for the next time you use that network.

1. Connect your laptop to the off-campus network. Use the instructions provided by your ISP, network administrator, etc.
   
   
2. Click the Access Connections icon located near the clock on the Windows system tray.
   
   
   
   
3. After clicking the icon, a menu will open. It looks similar to this:
   
   
   
   
4. Choose Launch ThinkVantage Access Connections from the menu. A window will open that looks similar to this:
   
   
   
   
5. Click on the Locations pull-down menu and select Create New Profile.
   
   
   
   
6. You will need to provide Access Connections with some information before it can create the profile:
   
   
   • Enter a name in the Name of location profile text box. This name can be whatever you choose, but you should pick something descriptive, like My Home Internet Connection.
     
   • For Type of Network Connection, choose Wireless LAN (802.11) from the drop-down menu. This is for a connection to a wireless network such as a wireless router on your home network.
     
   • Under Choose network adapter, you will see that the wireless card is chosen. Click Next to proceed.
     

Setting Up Your Wireless Network

1. (SSID) In the text box for number 1 you will need to enter the name of your wireless network. This needs to be exact. One way to find out is to select the Find Network button below the text box. If your wireless network has SSID set to broadcast, the name of your network will show up here. Another method would be to use a machine connected to your wireless router to gain access to the router's settings.
   
   
   
   
2. Leave Connection type set to Infrastructure.
   
   
3. Leave Wireless Mode set to auto.
   
   
4. Under Wireless Security Type, you will need to know what security settings are on your wireless network. Once you select the security from the drop-down menu, you will need to click the properties button below it to configure your wireless security settings. If you do not have any security on your wireless network, you can leave it at none (Encryption is disabled).
   
   
5. The fifth selection, Advanced Configuration, can be left with the default selections. This menu has options for power saving features for your wireless card.
   
   
6. Here is an example of what you should see if your network has no encryption:
   
   
7. Click on Next.
   
   
8. There are several options to choose from in this window. The only one to be concerned with is Override TCP/IP and DNS defaults.
   
   
9. Select the Settings button to the left of Override TCP/IP and DNS defaults, and make sure the radio button is selected for Obtain an IP address automatically.
   
   
   
   
10. Close the TCP/IP Settings window and select Finish.
    
    
11. When you select Finish, a window will pop up, asking if you want to apply this profile now. Select Yes. If your profile was set up correctly, you should now be able to access the network and browse the Internet, if available.