Network connections

Wireless Netw= orking @ SLAC

(a quick guide to avoid problems)=

Wireless networking (802.11b) is supported in many locations at SLAC for staff, visitors, collaborators, and conference attendees. You will be on the SLAC “visitor” network which is outside the SLAC network firewall.

Warning: Hosts on the visitor network that are seen as 'scanning hosts', including those that might be running SKYPE as a supernode (or some other P2P software) will be put in the 'penalty box'. A scanning host is a host seen ope= ning many tcp sessions in a very short time.&nb= sp; Being in the penalty box reduces that machines network connection outside the visitor network to a shared 56kbps connection with other machines that are i= n the penalty box, thus drastically reducing their network speed and throughput.

See more information on the visitor network penal= ty box and how to determine if you are in the penalty box at:

ht= tp://www2.slac.stanford.edu/comp/net/wireless/visitor_net.htm

Laptop owners are strongly encouraged to check their laptop and wireless configuration to ensure they adhere to recommended settings. Laptops that are not configured correctly can, and have, shutdown wireless networki= ng in the auditorium and other locations at SLAC.

Recommended sett= ings and information:

· Wireless adapter card:&n= bsp; 802.11b or 802.11g

· Network configuration: DHCP

· SSID: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Set to ‘visitor’ or to= allow any value

· Network Type: &nbs= p; Set to ‘infrastructure’= ;

· Open access: = &nb= sp; No WEP, no data encryption, no authentication

Some problem areas:

Bridging must be turned off or disabled
hint: for WXP see Network Connections, right click on the wireless adapter. Check for bridging. Turn it off or disable it.
Do not set the Network Type to ‘Ad hoc’=
hint: for WXP see Network Connections, right click on wireless adapter>Properties> Wireless Networks tab>Advanced. Select ‘Access point (infrastructure) networks only’.
Mac laptops - Tu= rn off AirPort setting
hint: System Preferences>Network> Show:AirPort. Ensure th= at ‘Allow this comp= uter to create networks’ is = not checked.
Personal access points are not allowed on the SLAC network

Wireless by nature make= s it very hard, time consuming, and sometimes impossible to locate a problem laptop. Until the problem laptop is found and fixed, or it leaves the affected area, network connectivity may be lost to everyone.

For help:

If you need help configuring your laptop check with your SLAC Desktop Admin, conference coordinator, or fellow conference attendees.
If you have a pr= oblem with wireless networking check with your neighbor, your SLAC Desktop Admin, or call the SCS Help Desk at x4357. When possible email: ne= t-admin@slac.stanford.edu.