How to Set Up Mac Wireless

You'll need to:
Make sure that your Airport wireless card is enabled.
Connect to the campus wireless network (SSID "valpo").
Open a web browser to login to SafeConnect.

You can download a printable version of these instructions here.

Open System Preferences and select "Network."

Choose your Airport interface and click "Configure..."

If the lower-left lock is locked, click it and enter your administrator password. Then click "Options..." to configure your network options.

If you leave the "By default, join" option set at automatic, it should find the wireless network named "valpo." A slightly-more-secure option is to only allow your computer to join "Preferred Networks."

Enter the Network Name "valpo" in the preferred networks setup. This name is also known as the SSID. Click "OK."

The setup with "Preferred networks" should look like this. Click the "Apply Now" button. You can close this window.

If you click on the Airport icon on the menu bar, it should indicate the status of your Airport card.

Next, open a web browser. Any web page you try to access will be redirected to a SafeConnect login. You'll see this login.

Log in with your ValpoNet username and password. After reviewing the Acceptable Use Policy and FAQ's, choose the option to install the Macintosh policy key and accept the terms and conditions for network access.

Select the option to save the installer and double click on the installer package in your downloads folder.

When the installer main page displays, choose Continue.

Select the Macintosh HD and click Continue.

Click Install.

You will be prompted for your computer password.

After entering your password, you will be greeted with a successful install screen. You can confirm SafeConnect was installed on your machine by looking for its icon in your Applications folder.

Lastly, restart your computer. Once your computer has re-booted, open an internet browser and the SafeConnect log in screen will be displayed. Log into the SafeConnect system using your ValpoNet username and password.

You are now connected to the network and can access web resources.

Before you can do other useful things with the network at home (like connecting to the Novell network), you'll need the VPN client.
For instructions on using VPN, go to our VPN webpages with more information.