Northern Illinois University

Information Technology Services

WPA Configuration on Windows XP SP2

  1. Click the Start Button and select Control Panel
  2. Double click on Network Connections
  3. Right click your 'Wireless Network Connection', and select properties
    Network device list   
  4. Click the Add button to create a new wireless network profile in the Wireless Connection properties window
    Note: If you see NIUwireless or NIUWirelessInstructions under Preferred Networks , click on each one, and press Remove to delete the other networks. NIUwireless will not work properly unless these are removed before continuing.
    Wireless network config window    
  5. Type NIUwireless in the 'Network name (SSID)' field
  6. Select WPA in the 'Network Authentication' drop down menu
  7. Select TKIP in the 'Data Encryption' drop down menu
    Note: If you do not have WPA as an option, it may not be supported by your wireless card. Please contact your computer or wireless card manufacturer for information or updates.
  8. Click on the Authentication tab
    Adding a wireless network
  9. Select Protected EAP (PEAP) from the 'EAP type' drop down menu
  10. Uncheck 'Authenticate as guest when user or computer information is unavailable'
  11. Click the Properties button under Protected EAP (PEAP)
    Authentication tab
  12. Check Validate server certificate , scroll through the list of valid certificate authorities and check all instances of "VeriSign Trust Network ".
  13. For the Authentication Method, select 'Secured password (EAP-MSCHAP v2)'.
  14. Check the 'Enable Fast Reconnect' checkbox and then click on the 'Configure' button.
    PEAP properties
  15. Uncheck the Automatically use my Windows logon name and password (and domain if any) checkbox, and then click OK.
    MSCHAPv2 properties
  16. Click OK on any remaining Wireless connection windows so that you are back to your desktop.
  17. Click on the informational balloon when it appears near the System Tray asking you to supply credentials to the wireless network.
    Credentials bubble
  18. Type in your login ID (eg, z123456) and password in the Enter Credentials window. Leave the Logon Domain field blank and click OK

Once authenticated on WPA, you will be required to authenticate through the Clean Access Agent.
If you do not have Clean Access installed, open a web browser to be redirected to the installation page.