User Guide for HKU Wireless Local Area Network


Introduction

The HKU Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN for short) was first launched as a pilot service in October 1999.  The wireless network was then extended to the Run Run Shaw podium, the Haking Wong podium and the K. K. Leung Building concourse (G/F).  After the successful implementation in the Wang Gung Wu Theatre for supporting the M.Sc. classes in E-Commerce and Internet Computing, the Computer Centre has now extended the WLAN coverage to a number of centrally time-tabled classrooms on the main campus, and they are listed as follows:
 
Building Classroom Numbers
Chow Yei Ching A, B, C
Chong Yuet Ming P1 - P4
James Lee J103
K. K. Leung LG109
Knowles K223, K419, K726
Library Extension LE1 - LE6, LE8
Main M167, M201, M217, M237
Meng Wah T1 - T7
Run Me Shaw Rayson Huang Theatre
T. T. Tsui TS303, TS403, TS404

The WLAN allows users to connect to the HKU network via radio signals without the use of cables and network sockets.  To access the WLAN, a computer must be installed with a wireless network interface card (wireless NIC) and the required software driver. These wireless NICs communicate by means of radio signals with nearby signal transmitters (called access points) which are wired to the campus network backbone.

The WLAN product that has been adopted for this phase of WLAN implementation is the ORINOCO products with 128-bit WEP (Wire Equivalent Privacy)  made by Lucent Technologies (also known as WaveLAN).  It is IEEE 802.11b standard compliant and is inter-operable with all other IEEE 802.11b WLAN products that are based upon the Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) radio technology.  The connection speed between an access point and a wireless NIC can reach up to 11Mbps.  Each access point provides a 50m-radius coverage for a semi-open area.

At present, the classroom WLAN is designed to facilitate the access to the Campus Network and Internet in the classrooms.  It can be seen as a wireless extension of the ACEnet (Access Everywhere Network).  To access the classroom wireless network, one needs to perform the following 3 steps:

1. Install a wireless network interface card (wireless NIC) and driver software in one's PC.  Like other network cards used for connection to ACEnet, the WLAN NICs must be pre-registered with the Computer Centre so as to prevent unauthorised use of the campus network. Please refer to the following section under the caption "Procedure for Setting up a Notebook PC for connection to the WLAN" for the details of the procedure. This procedure needs to be done only once for each PC.

2. Start up the PC.  An IP address will be automatically assigned and a connection to ACEnet will be established.

3. Log in ACEnet using an ACEnet (i.e. HKUPPP) account/password to gain access to the network.
 

Procedure for Setting up a Notebook PC for connection to the WLAN

Checking Minimum Configuration

Your notebook PC must have a minimum configuration as follows:


Acquiring the wireless NICs and software drivers

Some wireless NICs (WaveLAN PC cards) and CD-ROMs which contain the NIC drivers have been allocated to departments.  Wireless NICs allocated by the Computer Centre have been pre-registered for use with ACEnet.  Your department can also buy additional IEEE 802.11b compliant NICs with 128-bit WEP through the Computer Centre or directly from the vendors. In cases that you are buying a NIC directly from a vendor, please ensure its compatibility and remember to register its MAC address for use with ACEnet through the following webpages:

For students

            HKU Intranet for Students ( URL - http://www.hku.hk/intranet/student)
              => Intranet Systems for Students icon
              => Computer Centre icon
              => Registration of network card for ACEnet (Access Everywhere Network) and Hall Network

For staff

            HKU Intranet (for Staff) http://www.hku.hk/intranet
              => Intranet Systems for Staff icon
              => Computer Centre icon
              => Registration of network card for ACEnet (Access Everywhere Network) and Hall Network

Installation of Wireless NICs and Software Drivers

The following procedure applies to the WaveLAN PC card by Lucent Technologies.  If you have other models of compatible wireless NIC, you should refer to their installation procedure.  Our WLAN access points inter-operate with all IEEE 802.11b compliant wireless NICs with 128-bit WEP or those without WEP.

  1. Insert the WaveLAN PC card into your notebook computer.
  2. Power up your notebook computer.
  3. Insert the WaveLAN Wireless LAN software CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
  4. The Windows operating system automatically detects the new hardware.
  5. In the "Add New Hardware Wizard" window, click the "Next" button.
  6. Select the "Display a list of all the drivers in a specific location, so you can select the driver you want" option and click the "Next" button.
  7. Select "Network adapters" as the type of device from the selection list and click the "Next" button.
  8. In the "Select Device" window, click the "Have Disk" button.
  9. Click the "Browse" button to locate the wvlan41.inf file under the software\adapter\pc_card\drivers\windows directory on the WaveLAN Wireless LAN Software CD-ROM and click "OK" twice to continue.
  10. In the "Select Device" window, select "WaveLan IEEE PC card (5 volt)" and click the "OK" button.
  11. You will be prompted for the location of the wv41inst.dll file. Click the "Browse" button to select the software\adapter\pc_card\drivers\windows directory.
  12. In the "Add New Hardware Wizard" window, click the "Next" button to install the selected driver.
  13. In the "WaveLAN/IEEE PC Card (5 volt) Properties" window, enter CC WLAN as the WaveLAN Network Name.
  14. Enter either your name or your department name as the Station Name and click the "OK" button.
  15. Insert the Windows 95 or 98 CD-ROM when you are asked to do so.
  16. After the installation is complete, you are required to reboot your notebook computer to let the settings take effect.


Gaining Access to ACEnet

As all wireless access points in the HKU campus go through ACEnet, you must login ACEnet each time before your PC can gain access to the resources from the Campus Network. For details on how to set up your notebook computer for ACEnet login, please refer to our web page at www.hku.hk/cc/services/acenet .
 

Vitus Lam
Tel: 2859-2484
E-mail: lsw@cc.hku.hk


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