IIT Wireless Services

Wireless Internet is available throughout the IIT Main Campus; see the wireless coverage map. The Office of Technology Services manages and maintains the network to provide the best possible service to all users. This page provides links to view live status of wireless service on campus and information on how to use the system effectively.

There are four OTS-managed network connections (SSIDs) on Main Campus:

SSID IIT-Secure supports 802.11a/g/n: Secure wireless network that protects users by encrypting all data sent between their wireless devices and the wireless access point.
SSID IIT-WiFi supports 802.11a/g/n
SSID iit supports 802.11a/g
SSID IIT-Console supports gaming systems in IIT Housing.

Use of non-OTS networks is discouraged.

Connecting to IIT-Secure wireless network
Users must authenticate with their IIT e-mail address and myIIT password in order to utilize the IIT-Secure wireless network. Wireless devices must also be capable of connecting to a Wireless N, secure network; most newer computers, tablets, and smartphones are equipped with this capability. An online tool to automatically configure individual devices can be accessed at: http://www.iit.edu/ots/xpc

For How-tos about configuring your computer to connect to IIT-Secure and Wireless N, sign into myIIT and go to the following link: http://my.iit.edu/iit/ots/how_to/wireless_n_info_sheet.shtml

Average Daily Internet Traffic on Main Campus

Click here for LIVE traffic maps in Campus Housing.

About Wireless Technology

Despite its convenience and rapidly growing popularity, wireless service is very unlikely to provide the same performance, consistency, or reliability as wired Ethernet service in the forseeable future. OTS's view is that wireless service complements wired service; it is not a substitute. It is best to view wireless as a convenience network, not the university's primary network service.

Wireless should not be used to:

Connect servers to the network. These devices should be connected by Ethernet.
Connect devices running applications in which significant latency (how much time it takes for a packet of data to get from one designated point to another.) or jitter (variation in the time between packets arriving, caused by network congestion, timing drift, or route changes).
Connect devices running applications with high data rates.

Wireless Client Configuration

Network Name (SSID): IIT-WiFi, IIT-Secure, IIT-Console and iit.

IIT has SSIDs for student use. For computers, connect to "IIT-WiFi" or "IIT-Secure" (if available). For gaming systems connect to "IIT-Console".
The SSID "iit" is being phased out as the 802.11n network is installed throughout campus.
Any network connections other than those list above are not managed by OTS and may not be safe to use.

DHCP Registration

When connecting for the first time you will be directed to the DHCP website when you start your web browser. Follow the direction and you will be on the network.
Some devices, such as game consoles, may not have a web browser. You may call support desk to have these devices registered.

Roaming

IIT’s wireless network supports roaming between access points on each SSID for mobile devices. You do not need to reconnect or reconfigure your device when mobile.
If you are switching between SSIDs, e.g., iit to IIT-WiFi, you will need to disconnect from one SSID and reconnect to the next SSID.

Wireless Client Hardware Requirements

On Main Campus there are four primary network names (SSID):

SSID “iit” supports 802.11a/g
SSID “IIT-WiFi” supports 802.11a/g/n
SSID "IIT-Secure" supports 802.11a/g/n
SSID "IIT-Console" supports gaming systems in IIT Housing.

802.11b provides data rates up to 11Mbps on the 2.4 GHz frequency range. 802.11b is older technology that IIT no longer supports. Allowing 802.11b will negatively impact performance for all users.

802.11g is a technology that provides data rates up to 54Mbps on the 2.4 GHz frequency range. IIT's minimum support is 802.11g.

802.11a provides data rates up to 54Mbps in the 5 GHz frequency range. This frequency is used less than the 2.4 GHz range.

802.11n provides data rates up to 600Mbps in both the 2.4 GHz frequency range (802.11b/g) and 5 GHz frequency

Starting on the east side of Main Campus OTS has been upgrading the wireless service to 802.11n.range (802.11a). However, 130 Mbps is the typical performance that we see. For best performance client devices should support 802.11a/g/n, so they can operate in the full range that IIT’s equipment can provide.

Negative Impact Devices

Many wireless and other transmitting devices interfere with IIT wireless network radios. Below are some common devices that have this impact. OTS asks that users be aware of the impact of these devices and use alternative devices if available.

Microwave ovens
Cordless phones
Wireless video cameras
Wireless game controllers
Zigbee devices
WiMAX
Wireless speakers
Bluetooth devices

IIT Bandwidth Shaping

Network Performance
Your network experience is an outcome of many factors, including but not limited to the following:

Personal equipment connection capabilities and drivers (i.e., the tool being used to connect to the wired/wireless environment).
The number of simultaneous sessions (open windows) that are uploading or downloading data.
When using wireless, the overall utilization of the wireless infrastructure by people around you. Wireless is a shared service, if there are 50 people around you who are consuming a lot of bandwidth at the same time, the speed and quality of the service you are experiencing will be impacted.
Many additional factors, such as Bandwidth Shaping:

Bandwidth Shaping
A shaping policy is a tool that any technology service provider might use to optimize the network’s performance to the community it serves. One example of a shaping policy is “traffic prioritization” where an Internet phone conversation via Vonage or Google Voice will get higher priority than downloading an email, because the voice application has lower tolerance for “problematic connections”.

To enable network optimization, IIT caps and prioritizes traffic according to:

Location within the campus; academic area or residential area.
The time of day; at night IIT provides higher capabilities to the residential area:

Day is 7:01 AM to 9:00 PM

Night is 9:01 PM to 7:00 AM

Type of traffic; for example, a voice conversation has higher priority than email; viewing an IIT Online course has higher priority than downloading music.

The highlights of IIT’s Main Campus shaping policy are:

Day usage per user:

Video streaming, 720 pixels
General downloads, 8 Mbps
iTunes Store, 4 Mbps

Night usage per user:

Video streaming, 720 pixels
General downloads, 10 Mbps
iTunes Store, 4 Mbps

General priorities by traffic type (in order of priority):

IIT Online (distance learning)
Voice over IP (i.e., Skype, Vonage., Google Voice)
IIT’s Server traffic (Blackboard, myIIT, etc.)
Gaming (using IIT’s network)
iTunes Store
General downloads and Internet surfing
Peer to peer – lowest priority

There are many specific protocols or applications that might have priority that will overwrite the above general rules.

While the highlights of the shaping policy are provided, the values mentioned should be considered best case scenario (upper limits). As mentioned, actual experience is influenced by many additional factors.

Disclaimer: IIT reserves the right to change our shaping policy as we determine to be necessary and without any prior notice

Last modified: 06/10/2013 11:28:39