Network Validation Process FAQ
Q: Why do I have to go through this Network Access Procedure?
A: The university is making every effort to make your network experience productive and secure. This will assist us in protecting the network resources and reduce excessive downtime and cleanup costs due to virus outbreaks and vulnerabilities.
In the past, students, through no fault of their own, in most cases, were not able to access the internet/network due to computer virus infections and Operating System vulnerabilities for as long as several weeks. From investigations into the cause of these problems, it has been determined that the best way to prevent down time from happening as frequently is to insure that virus software and Operating System critical update/patches are current and maintained.
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Q: Am I required to install any software on my computer?
A: All Microsoft Windows computers are required to install the Clean Access Agent before they can connect to the university network. You will also be required to use an AntiVirus application and install Microsoft critical Operating System patches and updates. If you don't currently own AntiVirus software, the university provides Symantec AntiVirus Corporate free of charge.
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Q: What is the Clean Access Agent?
A: Clean Access Agent is the client application that can check certain security settings on any Microsoft Windows PC to make sure that the system is up-to-date with required security patches and report this status to the Clean Access Server. No information about the user or the content of user files is sent to the server. Each user must use Clean Access Agent for his/her Microsoft Windows PC in order to authenticate and use the university network.
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Q: How often will I have to login?
A: Each time your PC reboots or comes out of sleep mode you'll have to login to regain network access. Additionally every Monday your machine will have to re-validate requiring a login.
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Q: What is the difference between "authenticating" and "validating"?
A: Authenticating is the process of verifying your access to the network by confirming your username and password and associating it with your computer. Validating is the process of confirming that certain security measures are in place on your computer. When you login using the Clean Access Agent, you first authenticate your username, then the agent validates your system state.
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Q: How will I know when my login session expires?
A: The software will proactively notify you that your network connection will timeout shortly. Also, you will know that your login has expired when your browser redirects you to the login page. If you choose “logout” from Clean Access Agent or your browser, you expire your login session. Other indications that your network connection has been terminated are:
- Email may fail to send or receive.
- Instant messaging fails or suddenly stops working.
- File downloads may suddenly stop
- Browser may be redirected to login page.
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Q: Each time I try to use my computer to access the internet, my browser tells me that I need to login. Why do I have to login frequently?
A: Many computers are configured to "sleep" when not in use, if your computer is set this way, you will be logged off the network and must authenticate to regain access each time your computer "sleeps" more than 10 minutes. If you would like to disable this feature, please follow the instructions found in this guide: Disabling "sleep" mode.
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Q: How do I tell if I am already logged in?
A: The best way is to try to go to an internet site. In most cases, if you are ABLE to access a site such as www.google.com, you are online and logged in.
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Q: How do I tell if I am Quarantined/Unauthenticated?
A: The best way is to try to go to an internet site. In most cases, if you are UNABLE to access an external site, such as www.google.com, you are UNauthenticated or might be Quarantined (the Clean Access Agent should indicate this status).
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Q: I use a personal firewall; will this cause a problem?
A: Usually no. In most cases, a personal firewall will work fine. Depending upon the firewall product you will receive several pop-up windows requesting “ok to proceed”. Some of the personal firewalls are:
- Windows XP
- BlackIce
- Zone Alarm
- Sygate
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Q: What IP address should I expect?
A: Georgia Southern owns the IP range of 141.165.0.0/16. Each residence hall is in a /22 subnet, so your IP and Gateway might vary. If you receive an address that begins with anything other than 141.165.xxx.xxx then your machine is not communicating with the network.
A typical address might look like this:
| IP Address: |
141.165.120.36 |
| Subnet Mask: |
255.255.252.0 |
| Default Gateway: |
141.165.120.1 |
| DNS: |
141.165.1.10
141.165.1.9 |
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Q: My connection seems slow, how fast should my connection be?
A: You can expect T1 speeds (1.5Mbps) leaving your residence hall. To test this, please visit the Bandwidth Tester to view your connection speed. If you get readings significantly lower than 1.5Mbps, it is likely that you have a speed/duplex mismatch on the switch. Please contact the helpdesk at 912.681.5429 to resolve this issue.
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