Physics Computing Services

Configuring Wireless on OS X 10.3/10.4 Apple Airport/Airport Extreme Card
for the Physics Wireless Network

Note: these instructions are for Mac OS X Airport/Airport Extreme only, as Panther's 802.1x client will only work with Airport cards.

Overview:

1. Fill out the IP Address Request Form for your wireless card.
   Special items to note on the form in the Comments section:
   
   1. Specify that you are using a wireless card. Be sure you are providing the MAC address of the wireless card and not the ethernet interface. Here is information on how to find your MAC address.
      
   2. Specify a username/password combination for use with wireless. If you are already using the Physics dial-up modems, you will use this username/password.
      
   3. Specify the name of your machine if it has already been on the Physics network. If your machine has never been on the Physics network, we will need to scan your machine for security vulnerabilities behind our firewall in PCS. (HEP users can disregard this step, as you will be connected to the HEP network automatically based on your username and password.)
      
2. Setup TCP/IP for DHCP in the Airport settings.
   
3. Configure the OS X 802.1x client.

Configure TCP/IP for DHCP

1. You will need administrative access to do this step. (The first account created will have administrator rights)

2. From the desktop click on the Apple menu.

3. Choose 'System Preferences...'

4. Click on the 'Network' icon.

5. If you are not logged in as a system administrator, click on the lock at the bottom left hand corner of the window, and login.

6. Click on the "Location: " drop-down menu and select "New Location..."

7. Call the location "UCSB Physics Wireless."

8. Select "Network Port Configurations" from the Network panel's "Show:" drop-down menu. Uncheck the box next to Built-in Ethernet to disable the ethernet card while wireless is enabled. This is important to prevent routing loops that might occur if both interfaces are up at the same time.
   
9. Select "Airport" from the Network panel's "Show: " drop-down menu.
   
10. Under the TCP/IP Tab, Set "Configure IPv4:" to "Using DHCP" and make sure that the "DNS Servers (Optional)" is blank. Everything else should be blank as well. Click "Apply."
    

Client Configuration

1. Click on the Airport icon in the OS X menu bar's top right hand corner, turn Airport on if it isn't already, and select "Open Internet Connect..." at the bottom.

2. Go into the File menu and select "New 802.1X connection" (or use the Shift-Command-X shortcut).

3. Under the 802.1X selection, select "Edit Configurations..." from the Configuration pull-down menu.

4. Fill in the User Name with the one you provided to PCS.

5. Put the password you gave to PCS in the Password field.

6. Type "physics" into the Wireless Network box.

7. Make sure that "TTLS" is the ONLY active authentication type.

8. Select TTLS and click the "Configure..." button.

9. Select "PAP" from the TTLS Inner Authentication pull-down menu.

10. Click OK, the TTLS config window closes.

11. Click OK in the 802.1X configuration window to save the settings and close it.

12. Click "Connect" in the Internet Connect window.

13. A window opens saying that "Authentication failed because the server certificate" etc. Click "Accept all" at the bottom of the window to accept and close the window.

    (This first attempt at authentication may fail, if so, click the "Disconnect" button in the Internet Connect window. This changes back to the "Connect" button; click it to try to reconnect.)
    

 What if I need help? If you have problems with or questions about configuring Airport for wireless, please contact pcs@physics.ucsb.edu.