Connect to the CometNet wireless network

Need help? Contact the Help Desk at 972-883-2911 or assist@utdallas.edu

CometNet is the free campus wireless network available to all active UT Dallas students, faculty, and staff.

Feel free to stop by any of the campus Computer Labs for in-person assistance setting up your wireless connection.

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CometNet wireless General Configuration details

Below are the general settings for connecting to CometNet wireless. If you need more detailed instructions, click on your operating system in the list above.

  • Network Name or SSID: CometNet
  • 802.11 Operating Mode: Infrastructure or Network (not ad hoc)
  • Security Mode: Enterprise (not Personal)
  • Network Authentication: WPA2
  • Data Encryption: AES or AES-CCMP
  • Roaming Identity or Outer Identity: NetID
  • Authentication Type or Outer Authentication: Protected EAP (PEAP)
  • Authentication Protocol or Inner Authentication: MS-CHAPv2
  • Credentials: NetID and Password
  • Validate Server Certificate or Verify Server Name: Choose YES
  • Certificate Issuer or Trusted Root CA: AddTrust External Root CA
  • Server Name or Certificate Name: 8021x.utdallas.edu
  • Server Name Must Match: Choose YES

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Access the CometNet wireless network with Windows 7

Windows 7 should automatically configure itself for CometNet wireless. However, on occasion manual configuration is required.

 

Automatic Configuration Walkthrough

  1. Click on the Wireless Utility icon in your task bar. Select CometNet from the available wireless networks and click on Connect.
  2. Log on with your NetID and Password.

Manual Configuration Walkthrough

  1. Click on Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Manage wireless networks and then click on Add.
  2. Click on Manually Create a Network Profile and use the settings below:
    • Network Name: CometNet
    • Security type: WPA2-Enterprise
    • Encryption type: AES
    • Check Start this connection automatically and click Next

  3. The next window should display Successfully added CometNet. Click on Change connection settings.
  4. Under the Connection tab make sure Connect automatically when this network is in range is checked.
  5. Under the Security tab, fill in the following information:
    • Security type: WPA2-Enterprise
    • Encryption type: AES
    • Choose a network Authentication method: Microsoft: Protected EAP (PEAP)
    • Make sure to check “Remember my credentials for this connection each time I'm logged on”

    Now click on Settings


  6. In Protected EAP Properties
    • Check “Validate server certificate”
    • Check “Connect to theses servers” and type in 8021x.utdallas.edu.
    • Under “Trusted Root Certification Authorities” Check AddTrust External CA Root
    • Select Authentication Method: Secured password (EAP-MSCHAP v2)

  7. Under Select Authentication Method click on Configure, then un-check Automatically use my Windows login name and password (and domain if any).
  8. Now click OK on all open windows, then log in with your NetID and password when prompted.

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Access the CometNet wireless network with Windows Vista

  1. Click on the Network Icon in the System Tray, then click on Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Click on Manage Wireless Networks > Add > Manually Create Network Profile. Then fill in the settings with the information below:
    • Network Name: CometNet
    • Security Type: WPA2-Enterprise
    • Encryption Type: AeS
    • Check the box for Connect even if this network is not broadcasting
    • Click Next

  3. Click on Change Connection Settings.

    On the Connection tab:

    • Check the box for Connect automatically when network is in range.
    • Check the box for Connect even if the network is not broadcasting.
  4. Click on the Security tab, then click on Settings:
    • Click Validate Server Certificate.
    • Click Connect to these servers.
    • Fill in the input box with 8021x.utdallas.edu.
    • Under Trusted Root Certification Authorities select AddTrust External CA Root.
    • Select Enable fast reconnect.
    • Click Configure. Then uncheck Automatically use my Windows logon name and password.

  5. Click OK until you get back to the Connect to a Network window.
    • Click on CometNet, then Connect.

  6. Click on Enter/Select Additional Information.
  7. Enter your NetID and Password and click OK.
  8. Wait for the connection to be established.

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Access the CometNet wireless network with Windows XP

  1. Click on Start, then Control Panel.
  2. Click on Network and Internet Connections.
  3. Click on Network Connections
  4. Right-Click on the Wireless Network Connection, then go to Properties.
  5. In the Wireless Network Connection Properties window, click on the Wireless Networks tab, the click Add….
  6. In the Wireless Network Properties window, under the Association tab, fill out the information below:
    • Network name: CometNet
    • Network Authentication: WPA2
    • Data encryption: AES
    Note: If WPA2 is not an authentication option, you must install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (released Apr 2008)
  7. Under the Authenticaion tab, select Protected EAP (PEAP) from the EAP type drop-down menu. Then click on Properties.
  8. In the Protected EAP Properties panel, fill in the information below:
    • Check the box for Validate Server Certificate
    • Under Connect to these servers: enter 8021x.utdallas.edu
    • Under Trusted Root Certification Authorities check the box for AddTrust External CA Root
    • Under Select Authentication Method: choose Secured Password (EAP-MSCHAP v2) from the drop-down menu and check the box for Enable Fast Reconnect
    • Click on Configure then uncheck the box next to Automatically use my Windows logon…
    Click OK in all the open windows until you return to the Network Connections page.
  9. A dialog box should appear in the bottom right corner, asking for credentials to logon to CometNet. Click on it.
  10. Enter your NetID and Password, leave Logon Domain empty.
  11. Click OK to connect to CometNet Wireless.

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Access the CometNet wireless network on Mac OSX

  1. Click on the Wi-Fi icon in the upper right corner or click on the Apple Logo in the upper left and go to System Preferences > Network > Wi-Fi.
  2. Pick CometNet from the list of available wireless networks:
    • Enter your NetID and Password
    • 802.1X: Automatic
    • TLS Certificate: None

  3. When the Verify Certificate panel appears, check the box for Always Trust and click Continue.

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Access the CometNet wireless network with Ubuntu

  1. Select CometNet from the list of available wireless networks
  2. In the Wireless Network Authentication Required panel, fill in the following information:
    • Wireless security: WPA & WPA2 Enterprise
    • Authentication: Protected EAP (PEAP)
    • Anonymous Identity: NetID
    • CA certificate: None
    • PEAP version: Automatic
    • Inner Authentication: MSCHAPv2
    • Username: NetID
    • Password: password
    Click Connect
  3. There will be a pop-up notification, click Ignore
  4. Enter your "keyring" password and click OK. You should be connected now.

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