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Lecture hall

Network access for portable computers

Portable computers can only be connected through the Helsinki University Public network (HUPnet). A HUPnet connection can be made using a RJ-45 Ethernet-socket marked with the text HUPnet or the yellow HUPnet logo or with a 802.11b WLAN-card (airport card). HUPnet sockets are available in the library and in the Physicum entrance hall. Sockets not marked with the HUPnet logo must not be used! The WLAN covers the meeting room and most of the buildings on the Kumpula campus.

To use HUPnet a PC with a RJ-45 cable or a WLAN card is needed, so please bring either one with you if you plan to use your own laptop. The PC must be installed with a SSL capable WWW-browser (Opera, Firefox, Mozilla, IE or Netscape). WLAN users must of course have the appropriate Linux, Macintosh or Windows drivers installed. The network settings for the PC must use DHCP for the network configuration.

You can authenticate yourself to HUPnet with the username and password given in your registration envelope. Access to HUPnet is valid for two hours, re-authenticating gives you more time. This can be done by kust reloading the window where the network access was granted.

All outward connections from HUPnet use NAT, so no connections to the HUPnet connected computers can be made from outside the Helsinki University firewall, but usage of remote X-applications works. Only the IP-protocol is available on HUPnet, no IPX or AppleTalk-usage is possible.

No WLAN encryption key is used, so only encrypted connections like ssh and ssl should be used with WLAN HUPnet connections. The network name "Univ Helsinki HUPnet" is usually detected also by your WLAN card driver.

To access HUPnet first check that your PC uses DHCP (in other words that it gets dynamically its ip-address from the nework). If not remove all fixed ip-address settings from your network setting and choose DHCP.

Remove any possible WWW/Internet proxy settings from your browser. Also set your WWW-browser to start with a blank page, this will speed up the login procedure considerably.

Connect to a HUPnet socket with a cable or check that your WLAN card has access to the wireless network.

Start your favorite SSL-enabled WWW-browser and try to access any WWW-page. Now you should have the HUPnet start page open. If you have not yet installed the University of Helsinki CA Certificate in your browser please do so by clicking the appropriate link on the start page. Then click on the other link to authenticate yourself. This opens a new page where you should enter the username and password that you have been told to use.

If your login succeeded you have access to the network for two hours, re-authenticating by reloading the window gives you more time. If JavaScript is enabled in your browser you get a warning 5 min and 1 min before the network connection expires.

To logout please click on the button labeled Logout from HUPnet.