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Connecting to NUS Network

From Linux & Open Source @ NUS

There are many ways to connect to the NUS network, depending on which network you are using, and the type of connection you want to do. This guide is meant to be guide for connection inside NUS.

Contents

Background

The main network inside NUS is split into 2 parts, one is managed by the School of Computing, and the other is by Computer Centre. Generally speaking, the School of Computing manages their own network (infrastructure, access and services) in S14, S15, S16, and SOC1, and the rest of NUS is under Computer Centre.

As such, the method you use to connect to the internet while in NUS depends greatly on your location, and whether you are using a wired or a wireless connection.

Hence, this guide will be split into 2 sections, wired and wireless, and further split into the Computer Centre network and SoC network, if necessary.


Wired Connection

Connecting via Computer Centre Network Access Points

Method 1: Use NUS Ezxcess, the web-based login system (Recommended)

Note: Due to some bug in the authentication mechanism, some network points in NUS does not require you to login at all. Hooray for penetration testers!

Other network points will require you to login via a login page. This is part of the NUS EZY Access network. You will just need to enter your NUSNET userid and password to login.

However, if you want to secure your network connection to the NUS servers, you should install Cisco VPN or VPNC, which is the open source clone of Cisco VPN. Some services might not be accessible, such as ftp or ssh file transfers. Basic web surfing should be fine though.

The recommended way is to log in using the website, then start vpn to secure your connection.


Method 2: Join the NUS domain

One of the methods (which is what the NUS CO-OP Notebook Centre advises students) is to join the NUS domain. This solution is for Windows users only. Linux users have no luck. Not sure about Mac users though. The Computer Centre maintains an install guide. There are many pros and cons of this method, of course. Ask a geeky friend if you want to know more.


Method 3: SPNP (Secure Plug-N-Play) Network

Note: This method is now obsolete, in favour of Method 1

Basically, you just login through the Cisco VPN or VPNC.


Connecting via School of Computing Network Access Points

The School of Computing network is not as easy to connect to, compared to the Computer Centre network. You must use openvpn, branded by SoC as SOCVPN. Install guides can be found in SoCVPN (Linux), SoC NOC: SoCVPN Install Guide (Windows), or SoC NOC: SoCVPN More Instructions Guide (Mac).

Basically, download OpenVPN, install it, add the configuration file and the security certificate. Login using your NUSNET userid and password, and you are done.

Note: There used to be a login page before the SOCVPN system was implemented. However, recent testing (mid-January 2007) seems to determine that the page is up, but logins are disabled.


Wireless Connection

There are two wireless networks in NUS, the open access network (SSID: NUSOPEN), and the encrypted network (SSID: NUS).

Method 1: Connecting via NUS PEAP network (SSID:NUS) (Recommended)

Note: Up to June 2006, the network was secured using Cisco LEAP, which has been shown to be an extremely weak encryption. Reconfiguration of your system to use PEAP is now mandatory.

This method is recommended as the same method can be used to connect to both Computer Centre and School of Computing networks. The NUS SSID is not on broadcast mode though, so unless you know what you are doing, you might not be able connect to this network at all. This misguided attempt to protect this network has forced many users to the insecure NUSOPEN network.

Computer Centre maintains an installation guide for Windows (PDF) users, Macintosh (PDF) users. They also have auto-configuration programs and wireless drivers at their Network Starter Kit.

Alternatively, School of Computing maintains their own guides (Windows XP, Mac, Fedora Core) at SoC NOC Wireless in SOC.

This wiki also has a more general configuration guide for Linux users.


Method 2: Connecting via NUS open network (SSID:NUSOPEN)

This method is now widely used, as it seems to be very easy to configure. One must note that everything is transmitted without encryption, meaning someone can eavesdrop (and track) you without much effort. If this privacy violation scares you silly, use the first method, or secure your connect by starting VPN.

If you need to configure/install your wireless adapter, follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of your adaptor. If you are not sure what to do, just use method 1.

Connect to the network by searching for the network, then selecting the network with the SSID of NUSOPEN.

Using Computer Centre Wireless Access Points

Once you are connected to one of these points, you will need to log in via the internet. Just open your browser, and instead of your usual home page, you will see a login page. Enter your NUSNET userid and password, and you are in.

As mentioned above, secure your wireless connection using VPN by starting Cisco VPN, or use VPNC.

Using School of Computing Wireless Access Points

SoC network forces you to secure your connection by making you login using SoCVPN/OpenVPN. Hence after you are connected to the network, start SoCVPN/OpenVPN. More information can be found in SoCVPN (Linux), SoC NOC: SoCVPN Install Guide (Windows), or SoC NOC: SoCVPN More Instructions Guide (Mac).

Basically, download OpenVPN, install it, add the configuration file and the security certificate. Login using your NUSNET userid and password, and you are done.

References

Retrieved from "http://opensource.nus.edu.sg/wiki/index.php/Connecting_to_NUS_Network"