Before you Begin
The University of Texas at Dallas employs a network authentication system known as 802.1x to control access to its wireless LAN. Enabling 802.1x authentication in Windows XP for the AirUTD Wireless Network is a straightforward process. Windows XP ships with a built in 802.1x client that is accessible from the Network Properties dialogs. Before beginning this setup, please visit Windows Update and make sure your machine is fully up-to-date with all service packs and patches.
Please be sure to read the UTD Network Connection Policy before continuing.
If you need help with any part of this setup at any time, please contact the UTD Computing Help Desk by either calling them at 972-883-2911 or emailing them at assist@utdallas.edu.
Step by Step Instructions
The first step in setting up your wireless card for 802.1x is to open up your Network Connections window. You can find this by going to the Start menu, selecting the "Connect To" item, then selecting "Show all connections" from the submenu. Once you have selected "Show all connections", you should see a window similar to the following one appear:
(Click for Full Size)
From here, right-click on your Wireless Network Connection and choose "Properties" from the menu to bring up the adapter properties window.
In the General tab of the Properties box, most items can be left at default. From here, click on the "Wireless Networks" tab (shown below) to continue. If, for some reason, you do not have a "Wireless Networks" tab in your Properties box, it is possible that the setup software for your wireless card has disabled the Wireless Zero Config service. To re-enable this service, follow the instructions here.
In this tab, make sure the "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings" option is checked. This allows Windows to choose the wireless network to connect to as well as perform the 802.1x authentication. Next, click on the "Add..." button below the "Preferred networks" to continue setup.
In this window, the SSID should be "UTDALLAS", Network Authentication should be "Open", "Data encryption" should be "WEP", and "The key is provided for me automatically" should be checked. Make sure that UTDALLAS is in all capital letters. Everything else should be set as shown above.
Once you have the Network Name and other options set correctly, click on the "Authentication" tab to continue.
Now that the wireless network connection information has been set, the 802.1x authentication can now be configured. In this tab, you will need to change a couple of options. First of all, make sure the "Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network" option is checked. Next, change the "EAP type" selection to "Protected EAP (PEAP)". Next, uncheck the "Authenticate as computer when computer information is available". When you have selected the appropriate options, your screen should look just like the one above. Click on the "Properties" button to continue setup.
This window allows you to make sure your authentication is as secure as possible. In this window, make sure the "Validate server certificate" is checked, then check the "Connect to these servers" option. In the box below that, enter "8021x.utdallas.edu" as shown above. Next, in the "Trusted Root Certification Authorities, scroll down until you see the "Secure Server Certification Authority", and check the box next to that entry. Finally, make sure that the Authentication Method is set to "Secured password (EAP-MSCHAP v2)" and that "Enable Fast Reconnect" is unchecked. Next, click on the "Configure..." button next to the Authentication Method box to finish configuring your connection.
In this window, simply uncheck the "Automatically use my Windows logon name and password (and domain if any)" option, then click "OK".
Finally, click on "OK" in each of the open windows until you come back to your "Network Connections" window. Windows will then attempt to connect to the network.
When Windows XP attempts to connect for the first time, you should see a balloon pop up in your taskbar area. When this balloon appears, simply click on the balloon, and you will be presented with a login box like the one below:
Enter the guest username that was provided to you in the "User name" field, your guest password in the "Password" field, and leave the "Logon domain" field blank. Click on "OK", and Windows will log you into the new AirUTD network. If you have logged in with the correct username and password and have left your Network Connections window open, you will see the Wireless Network Connection cycle through "Attempting to authenticate", "Acquiring network address", then, finally, "Connected" as seen below:
Once you see "Connected" as seen here, you are authenticated and able to use the AirUTD wireless network.
