Hello,
We have a central IT managed WiFi network across the campus. They use WPA2 Enterprise and have a secured network and a guest network. For the secured network a UofM ID is required to login. The guest network is open but limited. Over the spring/summer, when we have short-stay guests or conference guests stay in our residence buildings, the guest network wasn’t sufficient, so we have 1000’s of ID’s based on the building, and room etc that we loan out. We have new ones for each month so there’s less chance of abuse. Central IT has improved the quality of the guest network over the years. It wasn’t very usable initially. They want us to switch over to the guest network so that we all don’t have to manage all of these accounts.
Do any of you have short-stay and/or conference guests stay in your residence buildings? How do you handle it granting them Internet access?
-- Regards, Montana Quiring Systems and IT Admin Student Residences University of Manitoba 400 Arthur V. Mauro Winnipeg, MB, R3T 6B3 204.474.8694
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Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba.
Hi Montana,
Our wired and wireless networking are managed by our campus' central IT group too. Our wireless network requires WPA2 Enterprise authentication as well, and we do not have a guest network typically available - outside of eduroam, but that's not exactly conference/short-stay guest friendly. Each summer we use a bulk creation tool to generate a few thousand guest logins that are handed out at the desk during check-ins.
The one piece that we do a little differently is that we have an option to request a temporary activation (duration of 7 days or less) of an SSID that can be accessed by a simple password, much more like an at-home experience. So, when our conference team is hosting events that have hundreds to thousands of guests, we can set up the event with a single password that goes out along with confirmation & reminder emails to guests, and can also be provided again at check-in.
The details are listed here as a service offering: https://uts.mcmaster.ca/services/infrastructure/wireless-at-mcmaster/mac-eve...
Sincerely, Steven Barei Manager, Information Systems IT Department Housing & Conference Services McMaster University 1280 Main St. West. Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 location: Brandon 107https://www.mcmaster.ca/welcome/campusmap.cfm phone: (905) 525-9140 x 20866tel:+19055259140p20866 email: bareis@mcmaster.camailto:bareis@mcmaster.ca
McMaster University | Brighter World
From: Montana Quiring Montana.Quiring@umanitoba.ca Sent: May 8, 2025 3:04 PM To: can-uni-res-it@lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: [curi] WiFi accounts for short-stay/conference guests
Caution: External email.
Hello,
We have a central IT managed WiFi network across the campus. They use WPA2 Enterprise and have a secured network and a guest network. For the secured network a UofM ID is required to login. The guest network is open but limited. Over the spring/summer, when we have short-stay guests or conference guests stay in our residence buildings, the guest network wasn't sufficient, so we have 1000's of ID's based on the building, and room etc that we loan out. We have new ones for each month so there's less chance of abuse. Central IT has improved the quality of the guest network over the years. It wasn't very usable initially. They want us to switch over to the guest network so that we all don't have to manage all of these accounts.
Do any of you have short-stay and/or conference guests stay in your residence buildings? How do you handle it granting them Internet access?
-- Regards, Montana Quiring Systems and IT Admin Student Residences University of Manitoba 400 Arthur V. Mauro Winnipeg, MB, R3T 6B3 204.474.8694
[Image]
Hey Steven,
That’s pretty cool! Thanks for the link. I like that idea. Do you know what backend technology they use to provide that service?
Our central IT recently setup a UDN ESSID for residence students. It’s something I’ve been asking for, for many years. 😊 They can register their own devices (including devices that don’t normally support WPA2 Enterprise) and create their own private network. Then they can do things like cast to a smart TV, print to a WiFi printer, etc
Here’s more info: https://ithelp.umanitoba.ca/a/1781884-residence-self-serve-udn-wi-fi-device-...
-- Regards, Montana Quiring Systems and IT Admin Student Residences University of Manitoba 400 Arthur V. Mauro Winnipeg, MB, R3T 6B3 204.474.8694
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From: Barei, Steven bareis@mcmaster.ca Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 3:40 PM To: Canadian University Residence IT Professionals can-uni-res-it@lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: [curi] Re: WiFi accounts for short-stay/conference guests Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba.
Hi Montana,
Our wired and wireless networking are managed by our campus’ central IT group too. Our wireless network requires WPA2 Enterprise authentication as well, and we do not have a guest network typically available – outside of eduroam, but that’s not exactly conference/short-stay guest friendly. Each summer we use a bulk creation tool to generate a few thousand guest logins that are handed out at the desk during check-ins.
The one piece that we do a little differently is that we have an option to request a temporary activation (duration of 7 days or less) of an SSID that can be accessed by a simple password, much more like an at-home experience. So, when our conference team is hosting events that have hundreds to thousands of guests, we can set up the event with a single password that goes out along with confirmation & reminder emails to guests, and can also be provided again at check-in.
The details are listed here as a service offering: https://uts.mcmaster.ca/services/infrastructure/wireless-at-mcmaster/mac-eve...
Sincerely, Steven Barei Manager, Information Systems IT Department Housing & Conference Services McMaster University 1280 Main St. West. Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 location: Brandon 107https://www.mcmaster.ca/welcome/campusmap.cfm phone: (905) 525-9140 x 20866tel:+19055259140p20866 email: bareis@mcmaster.camailto:bareis@mcmaster.ca
McMaster University | Brighter World
From: Montana Quiring Montana.Quiring@umanitoba.ca Sent: May 8, 2025 3:04 PM To: can-uni-res-it@lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: [curi] WiFi accounts for short-stay/conference guests
Caution: External email.
Hello,
We have a central IT managed WiFi network across the campus. They use WPA2 Enterprise and have a secured network and a guest network. For the secured network a UofM ID is required to login. The guest network is open but limited. Over the spring/summer, when we have short-stay guests or conference guests stay in our residence buildings, the guest network wasn’t sufficient, so we have 1000’s of ID’s based on the building, and room etc that we loan out. We have new ones for each month so there’s less chance of abuse. Central IT has improved the quality of the guest network over the years. It wasn’t very usable initially. They want us to switch over to the guest network so that we all don’t have to manage all of these accounts.
Do any of you have short-stay and/or conference guests stay in your residence buildings? How do you handle it granting them Internet access?
-- Regards, Montana Quiring Systems and IT Admin Student Residences University of Manitoba 400 Arthur V. Mauro Winnipeg, MB, R3T 6B3 204.474.8694
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participants (2)
-
Barei, Steven -
Montana Quiring