Position Statement for Connecting
Ethernet Wireless Devices to the Campus Network

May 2, 2001

Background:

Wireless Ethernet enables a computer to attach to the campus network using high frequency radio waves instead of through a physical connection to a cable. Wireless access requires a wireless Network Interface Card and drivers to be installed in a client PC or Macintosh computer. The computer connects by the use of radio waves to an access point that is connected by wire to the campus network.

The range of each access point is highly dependent on the obstacles between the access point and the client card. However, typical ranges measure in hundreds of feet.

The 802.11b wireless Ethernet standard provides eleven radio frequencies. Each access point operates in one of the eleven frequencies. The frequencies overlap. Access points that are in proximity of each other must maintain a 5-channel separation to avoid interference. Therefore, when access points are used adjacent to each other, only three frequencies are available.

In spite of standards such as 802.11b, wireless Ethernet access points from multiple vendors are not yet completely interoperable. Roaming, Wired Equivalent Privacy, and management are not yet standardized.

Policies:

Existing University of Wisconsin Oshkosh computer policies apply to wireless Ethernet. In addition, the following policies govern wireless connections to the campus network.

IT Management

Radio frequencies on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus are a shared resource. The Information Technology Division is responsible for all connections of wireless Ethernet access points to the campus network. IT personnel will install and configure access points once they have been approved for use. See the "IT Position Statement" in the IT Position Statement for Connecting Devices to the Campus Network: (http://www.uwosh.edu/it/devices.html)

Appropriate Use

Wired connections to the campus network are preferred. Wired connections are more robust and reliable than wireless. Greater bandwidth is possible with wired connections and, thus, greater access to network resources. Tighter security is possible on wired connections than on wireless connections.

Given this preference for wired connections, justification must be made before a wireless connection will be considered. Some examples of justification for wireless connections could be:

• The building is not wired.
• A temporary connection is requested and installing wiring and datajacks is impractical.
  • Conferences
  • Remodeling
• The classroom is not wired with the number of datajacks required for a class.
• The classroom lab or administrative office environment is enhanced by laptops that can be moved from station to station.

Public Areas

Policies for wireless Ethernet connections for public areas will be considered in future additions to this policy.

Security

Currently there are multiple problems with implementing encryption on wireless devices. For now, access points will be configured without encryption. Wireless traffic travels over public airwaves. As such, messages could be intercepted and read.

Authentication

Access points must be configured to restrict access to a specified group of clients. Open access to any wireless client is not permitted.

DHCP

Access points must not be configured as DHCP servers. As with wired computers, workstations should be configured to obtain their IP addresses and related information from the official campus DHCP servers.

Cards

Wireless cards must meet the 802.11b standards and be appropriate for the computer. IT will provide a list of recommended cards for different computer models. IT will not support cards that are not on the recommended list.

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