How to set up a wireless connection - Ubuntu / Linux

Overview

This article provides the steps for connecting to wireless on the Acadia campus.

Pre-installation notes:

  1. These instructions do not apply to those running Linux in a virtual environment (Virtualbox, VMWare, Parallels, etc). Systems running a virtual environment already have internet access through the Host OS.
  2. Not all wireless cards are fully supported in Linux. Many popular cards, such as the Intel Wireless cards used in most Dell PCs, as well as many others, are fully supported. The Broadcom wireless device used in the Apple MacBooks are partially supported, meaning that they will work with unsecured networks, or some networks with basic WEP encryption, but not with fully secured networks. This means, unfortunately, that those with unsupported wireless cards may not be able to access the secured university wireless network in Linux, despite being able to in Mac OS or Windows. 
  3. System requirements:
    1. Computer with Ubuntu 14.10 or newer installed (for this guide. Other Linux versions may vary, however settings are similar)
    2. Linux-supported wireless card*
    3. Acadia University network credentials
  4. On some Linux distributions (Linux Mint 18, for example) you may not be able to connect from the regular menu. You will need to go to the "Connect to a Hidden Network" or similar option and configure the connection manually.  Additionally, some distributions do not allow you to click the "Connect" button unless you check the "No CA certificate is required" box.

Setup Instructions

When in a wireless area, such as the Vaughan Memorial Library, the Student Union Building, or many building common areas, click the network status icon in the upper right of the screen. The option should be presented to connect to the eduroam wireless.

  • Wireless security: WPA & WPA2 Enterprise 
  • Authentication: Protected EAP (PEAP) 
  • Anonymous identity: (leave blank) 
  • PEAP version: Automatic 
  • Inner Authentication: MSCHAPv2 
  • Username: your Acadia email address 
    • Faculty/staff = firstname.lastname@acadiau.ca
    • Students = Use your student email address.
    • Graduate Students = FirstnameLast@acadiau.ca (please note there is no dot separating first and last name)
  • Password: your Acadia password

1. Find Network Manager, edit settings in "security" tab as above 
2. Click on CA certificate. Navigate to /usr/share/ca-certificates/mozilla and select the file "AddTrust_External_Root.crt". Click Open. Alternatively, if this file is missing from your Firefox installation, you can always download AddTrust's public key file from their website (https://support.comodo.com/index.php?/Default/Knowledgebase/Article/View/917/91/).
3. Returning to the Authentication required window, click Connect. If all goes well, you should be connected to the network.

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Details

Article ID: 31
Created
Fri 7/10/15 11:14 AM
Modified
Wed 10/5/22 3:55 PM
Supported Platform:
Linux based