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On Monday, August 27, Dartmouth's single wireless network will divide into
three separate services to meet the needs of distinct groups of users, and also
better safeguard Dartmouth's information. These three new wireless networks
(SSIDs) are:
- Dartmouth Secure – Provides authenticated and encrypted
wireless network access for members of the Dartmouth community.
- Dartmouth Library Public – Provides wireless access for
members of the surrounding local community using the Library resources.
- Dartmouth Public – Provides wireless access to visitors,
guests, and local community members.
This is in response to a recent
security assessment done by an outside firm indicating that one of our
largest security holes is the ability for anyone to use our network. It is also
the first step in becoming a "private network" under the terms of the
Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).
Peter Kiewit Computing Services recommends that faculty, staff, and students
use Dartmouth Secure for their work, as this network will be
the most secure. Users of the Dartmouth Secure network will
authenticate to this network through a PKI certificate stored on an eToken or
the local hard drive. This network will encrypt data from the computer to the
wireless access point.
The Dartmouth Library Public wireless network will serve Library patrons,
and will provide access to Library resources to anyone physically present in
the campus Libraries. (Members of the Dartmouth community can use Dartmouth
Secure to access Library resources.) Many of Dartmouth's Library resources are
licensed for use only by members of the Dartmouth community and walk-in Library
patrons. Creating a distinct wireless network for the Library allows such
conditions to be met, while balancing access, service, and security.
Dartmouth Public allows Dartmouth to provide a wireless network to members
of the public. Anyone can use this network. It does not require authentication
and does not encrypt any of the traffic on it.
Kiewit Wireless, the current wireless network, will be shut down on February
5, 2008 at 7:30 a.m.
Over the coming months, Computing Services staff will reconfigure computers
on campus during a slow roll-out that will also put in place a system to
encrypt data on the network. Long-term guests of the College can receive access
to Dartmouth Secure through their Dartmouth departmental host. For symposium
and other short-term visitors, Dartmouth Public will have sufficient bandwidth
for visitors on campus who need to use the network.
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