MSE Tech : network

Connecting to Dragonfly 3

Andrew Marx — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:22:00 GMT

Dragonfly 3 is Drexel's secure wireless network that everyone should be using!

IRT has some great write-ups for various operating systems, and if you have trouble getting any of them to work, come see me.

In case these links change, visit http://www.drexel.edu/irt/support/wireless/dragonfly3/

Does my computer need to be on the MSE domain?

Andrew Marx — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:14:00 GMT

Any time someone gets a new computer, people always ask: does it need to be on the domain? What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting it on the domain? If you're unfamiliar with the concept of a domain, I would direct you towards Wikipedia's entry on Active Directory.

Advantages of being on the MSE domain

Caching of your user name and password for accessing network resources
Automatic mapping of your personal file folder and group folder

If your computer isn't on the domain...

You can access your file share at \\mse-files\files\{username}

e.g. \\mse-files\files\jdoe

You can access your group folder at \\mse-files\groups\{group name}

e.g. \\mse-files\groups\pmg

I only add department-owned desktops to the domain--since laptops are mobile, they won't always be on Drexel's network, which can cause problems if you're out of sight of the domain controller for too long.

If you have questions regarding this policy, or if you'd like your desktop added to the domain, feel free to contact me.

Getting on to Dragonfly (old wireless)

Andrew Marx — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:43:00 GMT

Looking to connect to Dragonfly3, Drexel's faster, more secure wireless network?

Drexel's secondary wireless networks, dragonfly and dragonfly2, use your wireless adapter's MAC address to limit access. Only devices registered through the following steps can access these wireless networks.

Login to http://one.drexel.edu
Click the tab labeled 'Drexel' across the top navigation bar
In the box labeled Technology Services, click on DragonFly Registration
Follow the directions to find your MAC (or physical) address.
Under 'Personal Devices', enter the MAC address (with no punctuation) into the Identification box (eg: ab12cd34ef56). The values in the other boxes are not important.
You will find the wireless key below, once you save the MAC address. When you are prompted to enter a network key upon connecting to Dragonfly, use this.

QUIRKS: Sometimes, you may be doing everything right, but your laptop still won't connect. Try this: take it to a different part of campus, and connect. According to Andrew Brennan from IRT, the older access points have a feature that shuts out a computer if it tries to connect unsuccessfully too many times. It takes at least 10 minutes for your MAC address to filter down to each access point, and if you try to connect before then, your computer will be locked out for 30-60 minutes.

CASE SENSITIVE: If you are manually attempting to create a connection profile, remember that the wireless network SSID is dragonfly, all lower-case. If you capitalize any of the letters, you will not be able to connect.

IMPORTANT: Because Drexel uses a shared key on these two networks (you use the same wireless key as everyone else on campus), your communications are not secure. You can use Drexel's VPN Client, available for PC and Mac on our software download page, which provides high-level encryption for use on or off campus. If you are on wireless and are not using VPN, DO NOT SUBMIT PRIVATE INFORMATION, including passwords, credit card numbers, SSN, driver's license #, etc, unless the site is also using a high level of encryption. Even if they are, multiple layers of protection are far superior in keeping your private information private than any one single layer.