Spring Break
The Daily OrangeITS | SU unleashes new wireless network; students face troubles logging into system
By Tessa Kurman
Posted: 8/31/07, 12:40 AM EST Section: News
Wireless Internet users at Syracuse University last year might remember the hassle of logging into AirOrange at every location change.
Now, students only have to type in their user name and password once for the entire year with a new network system called AirOrangeX.
"This is part of overall effort to constantly improve things for students and the university community and to make technology more reliable, accessible and easier to use," said Paul Gandel, vice president of Information Technology at SU.
AirOrangeX improves reliability, speed, security and convenience - students don't need to log in every time they connect to the network, Gandel said
When students use the AirOrange network, they log on through the Web site, said Lee Badman, the wireless network engineer.
Online security is on a page-by-page basis and cannot be guaranteed. With the new AirOrangeX network, every page is secure, regardless of whether the individual Web site is secure, Badman said.
With AirOrangeX, student Net IDs and passwords are stored in the window's registry, and no one can intercept that information, Badman said.
"All you're doing is building a profile," Badman said. "You're not downloading anything, just configuring the computer to run on AirOrangeX."
AirOrange and AirOrangeX have the same hardware and same points of access, Badman said.
But students are experiencing new troubles despite significant upgrades.
The transition between networks was not smooth for SU student Adam Wilson. The sophomore aerospace engineering major said when he moved in, he did not receive any information about AirOrangeX. He connected to AirOrange, which told him he needed to download something to protect his computer.
Once connected to AirOrangeHelp - the network to assist students switching between networks - he was not directed to the correct page to give him further instructions. He had to find it himself.
Wilson tried configuring the software twice, but it only worked the third time he tried.
Now, students only have to type in their user name and password once for the entire year with a new network system called AirOrangeX.
"This is part of overall effort to constantly improve things for students and the university community and to make technology more reliable, accessible and easier to use," said Paul Gandel, vice president of Information Technology at SU.
AirOrangeX improves reliability, speed, security and convenience - students don't need to log in every time they connect to the network, Gandel said
When students use the AirOrange network, they log on through the Web site, said Lee Badman, the wireless network engineer.
Online security is on a page-by-page basis and cannot be guaranteed. With the new AirOrangeX network, every page is secure, regardless of whether the individual Web site is secure, Badman said.
With AirOrangeX, student Net IDs and passwords are stored in the window's registry, and no one can intercept that information, Badman said.
"All you're doing is building a profile," Badman said. "You're not downloading anything, just configuring the computer to run on AirOrangeX."
AirOrange and AirOrangeX have the same hardware and same points of access, Badman said.
But students are experiencing new troubles despite significant upgrades.
The transition between networks was not smooth for SU student Adam Wilson. The sophomore aerospace engineering major said when he moved in, he did not receive any information about AirOrangeX. He connected to AirOrange, which told him he needed to download something to protect his computer.
Once connected to AirOrangeHelp - the network to assist students switching between networks - he was not directed to the correct page to give him further instructions. He had to find it himself.
Wilson tried configuring the software twice, but it only worked the third time he tried.
Be the first to comment on this story