Wireless Networking

About SMU Wireless

SMU was named one of 25 Most Connected Campuses by Princeton Review in 2006.  Wireless coverage extends to the residence halls, classrooms, campus buildings and even outdoors.  There are two wireless networks available: PerunaNet and SMU1911.

PerunaNet is a secure wireless network that requires an SMU ID and password in order to register. Bandwidth and access to intranet are not restricted on PerunaNet. In most areas, your computer will NOT automatically detect this network until you have configured the wireless network settings. For instructions on configuring your computer to connect to PerunaNet go to smu.edu/help/docs.

SMU1911 and SMUGUEST is an unsecured network and does not require any configuration by the user. The user simply needs to view the available wireless networks and connect to SMU1911. SMU1911 will allow a non SMU user to access the network; however, bandwidth is limited and access is granted to internet traffic only. Users on SMU1911 will not be able to access campus network resources or the intranet.

For a more detailed list of wireless coverage, click here.

For a printable map, click here.

What do I need to connect to the wireless network?
You will need a wireless card installed in your computer that support 802.11 b/g and WIFI standards.  To access the secured network (PerunaNet), you will need to configure your computer in order to connect and authenticate with the wireless network. Configuration instructions are located at www.smu.edu/help/docs.  There is also a configuration utility available for both PCs and MACs which will configure the profiles for you.  The utilities are located at www.smu.edu/help/download 

  Are there any security concerns for wireless networking?
The wireless network offers many benefits to the University, but also raises concerns regarding security.  Although ITS has implemented several features that increase the security of your wireless connection, the connection is still vulnerable to eavesdropping. We strong encourage you not to transmit sensitive information, including credit card numbers and passwords, without ensuring sufficient encryption and security is already in place in your browser or application.

How can I make my connection more secure?

First, verify that you have the latest version of the web browser installed. The latest versions include support for 128 bit encryption which greatly enhances the security of your computer.

Secondly, disable file and print sharing on your computer.

Third, be careful to avoid the use of applications such as telnet and ftp which exchange passwords in clear text.