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In issue no. 98 of the Computer News, we announced that a GUI-based authentication (login) procedure has been developed to simplify the login process to ACEnet and the wireless local area network (WLAN). This new procedure involves configuring your PC to set up an icon which you click to login the ACEnet/WLAN with your network account name and password.
As advised by the Information Infrastructure Advisory Group of the Senate Computer Committee and the Committee on Halls, a unified access procedure for all network access venues is preferred and this will also further enhance the network security of the HallNet. The unified GUI-based authentication procedure, which has been used for accessing the HKU network through dial-up via the HKUPPP gateway and through the Internet via the HKUVPN gateway, will be enforced for accessing the ACEnet/WLAN and the HallNet as the only accessing procedure.
2. Schedule of enforcing the unified authentication procedure
With effect from 1st January 2003, the unified authentication procedure will be enforced for accessing the ACEnet and wireless LAN.
The unified authentication procedure for accessing the HallNet will be enforced in phases starting from mid-January 2003, and is expected to be completed by the end of February. We will keep the Hall Managers informed of the details, such as the necessary preparation and the implementation schedule. When the procedure is enforced, HallNet users will be required to login using their network account before they can access the HallNet.
3. How to use the unified authentication procedure
Users can already use the unified authentication procedure to access the ACEnet/WLAN and HallNet. If they have not configure their PCs to use the unified procedure, they can follow the configuration steps described in http://www.itservices.hku.hk/services/acenet/ and start accessing the ACEnet/WLAN and HallNet using the unified procedure.
ThinkPad notebook computers purchased through the University's Notebook Computer Programme in 2002 have already been configured at the time of purchase and their users can simply click on the "login ACEnet" icon on the desktop of their computers to login the ACEnet/WLAN and HallNet.
Users are reminded that they must register their network cards in the Intranet Systems for Students/Staff before accessing the ACEnet/WLAN or HallNet.
For enquiry about the new GUI-based login procedure, please contact
the undersigned.