If you have any troubleshooting questions click here.

  1.) What is Mustang Wireless?

Mustang Wireless is a program that provides students, faculty and staff WiFi wireless access to the campus network. This is done by using Radio Frequency (RF) technology to transmit data through the air without wired cabling. Mustang Wireless provides all the same features and benefits of the existing campus network, but without the limitations of being tethered to a cable.

20 laptops are available for checkout by students, faculty and staff in the Kennedy Library. Each laptop has software similar to other computer labs on campus. In addition, each laptop has a wireless network card that will allow access to the campus network and the internet.[top]

  2.) Where does Mustang Wireless work?

Mustang Wireless is available on all floors of Kennedy Library, University Union, and in various buildings across the campus. See the Coverage Maps for details on where you can get coverage. [top]

  3.) Can I use my personal laptop for Mustang Wireless?

Yes. Students, staff, and faculty have access to the Mustang Wireless network with personal laptops. No technical support will be available for personal computers at this time. It will be up to the user to correctly configure their computer for use with Mustang Wireless. See question 5 below for equipment required. [top]

  4.) What equipment is required for using my personal laptop?

Laptops must have a wireless network card which uses IEEE 802.11b/g standard technology with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS or DS). To ensure compatibility with the Cal Poly Mustang Wireless system, look for the Wi-Fi* symbol (Wireless Fidelity) on newly purchased equipment. WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) is the organization behind Wi-Fi that certifies products meeting the IEEE 802.11b/g through compatibility testing.

In addition, the user must be in a building that has Mustang Wireless coverage.

For more Information visit Get Connected [top]

  5.) How do I get connected with my personal laptop?

Mustang Wireless is on a log-in system called Cisco Clean Access. For more information go to Get Connected. [top]

  6.) How do I check out a laptop for use?

Students, faculty and staff can check out laptops at the Kennedy Library PolyConnect Computer Lab. In the future, laptops may be available in the UU. Users will be required to leave a photo ID at the place of checkout while using the laptop. [top]

  7.) Where do I go if I have a question?

General questions about Mustang Wireless may be answered at the ITS Service Desk at 756-7000.

If a user is having problems with software or Cal Poly accounts, they should call the ITS Service Desk at 756-7000. [top]

  8.) Is Mustang Wireless secure? Can someone see my email/data?

The Cisco Clean Access log-in is an encrypted session, however, after that initial log-in, Mustang Wireless is not secure because an intruder does not need physical access to your computer or the wired network in order to gain access to your data communications. Accordingly, you must be aware that there are serious risks or limitations if a secure connection is required for what you are doing on the wireless network. When using the system, your data is being sent over radio waves and can be picked up by anyone. However, IEEE 802.11b/g wireless communications cannot be received - much less decoded - by simple scanners, short wave receivers etc. This does not mean that eavesdropping cannot occur. Eavesdropping is possible using specialized equipment. [top]

Wireless authentication is done with a username/password challenge accomplished using Cisco Clean Access (the same product used in the Residence Halls). With this implementation, users will no longer have to register their computers MAC address. Additional functionality to verify users are running anti-virus, anti-spyware and the latest operating system patches will roll out in a phased approach, with dates still to be determined and hence the "Clean Access" part of the project for more information on Cisco Clean Access Click Here. [top]

  10.) What is the Cisco Clean Access Agent?

The Agent is a small program that will run in the Windows and Mac system tray (by the clock), and will be used to login to the network for Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X operating systems only. In order to use the wireless network with a Windows or Mac machine, this Agent must be running. After the initial download and install of the Cisco Clean Access Agent, you will use only that Agent to get network access (again, for Windows and Mac machines only).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Macintosh users are now required to run the Cisco Clean Access Agent, and no longer use a web browser to log in. Please see the "Get Connected" section of this site for more information.

The Agent is not spyware, it doesn't record what you are doing online, or what is on your hard drive. It is simply used to connect valid users to the network. [top]

  11.) Can I turn off the CCA Agent?

If you are a Windows 2000/XP or Mac user you must be running the CCA Agent to use Mustang Wireless at Cal Poly.

If you will not be using Mustang Wireless on Windows you can right click the Agent and click "Exit" to turn if off.

On a Mac single click the tray icon and select quit.

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If the Agent doesn't load when you start up your Windows machine, you must manually start it by double-clicking the icon on your desktop, or via the "Start" --> "Programs" menu. To access Mustang Wireless on a Windows 2000/XP machine, the Agent MUST be running. [top]

The Agent is required only for Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X. Linux machines or other devices do not need the agent to access Mustang Wireless.

For Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X you will be required to download the Agent when first accessing Mustang Wireless. However, if you would like to download the agent in advance Click Here [top]

The wireless network name or "SSID" is MustangWireless. [top]

Yes. Please visit the "Get Connected" link. [top]

Yes, the CCA agent is Windows Vista compatible. Please remember, however, that ITS is unable to provide support for your laptop. It is up to you to install the agent and maintain your computer. [top]

  17.) How do I configure my computer for Mustang wireless?

1) You must have wireless enabled on your computer.
2) Your network connection must be set to automatically
obtain an IP (DHCP).

To change settings (for Windows only):
Start---> Settings---> Network Connections---> Right click on Wireless Network Connection--> Properties--> Highlight Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)---> Choose Properties---> Choose Obtain an IP address automatically.

Check IP to ensure your configuration is correct:
1) Start -->Run--->Cmd--->ipconfig /all
2) If IP begins with 129.65.xx.xx, 207.62.xx.xx, or 198.188.xx.xx then it is Cal Poly (and probably obtained automatically), if not see above.

For more tips on configuring your wireless connection, see Troubleshooting.

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To find outdoor wireless hot spots, check the outdoor coverage map here.

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Cisco officially supports 64 bit Windows Operating Systems.

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Boot camp allows you to run the Windows operating system on your Mac hardware. If you are using boot camp you will connect to Mustang Wireless in the same way a Windows machine would. See Get Connected for Windows.

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Parallels allows you to run the Windows operating system as a virtual machine or application on your Mac. Your Windows operating system running in Parallels will use your already existing Cisco Clean Access session to connect to the internet.

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Windows
On Windows you most likely have administrative privileges. If you do not there is a small piece of software that can be installed to allow non-administrators to download, update, and install the Cisco Clean Access Agent and patches. Click here to download.

Mac
On a Mac it is required that you have administrative privileges to download, update and install the Cisco Clean Access Agent and patches.

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Yes. The Agent for Leopard was implemented at the end of Winter quarter. If you previously had a temporary passthrough for your Leopard machine, it will be removed early in Spring quarter, 2008, and you will use the Agent to log in.

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