Hi all, Sorry for the late response. My only talking point here involves Airbears2. I have no problem doing away with Airbears, but I think that the instructions for setting up Airbears2 need to be revisited. Connecting to Airbears only requires your calnet id. But, the instructions (and web page) for setting up Airbears2 is a bit wordy, long in the tooth, too much information and somewhat complicated for neophytes. I would like to see the instructions simplified (a simple step 1, step 2, step 3, etc.). If someone needs more info, then a link to this info can be included on the setup page. In other words, keep it simple and it will work for everyone, every time.
Thanks, Roy On 1/16/2015 2:04 PM, Isaac Orr wrote: > Hi folks, > > When we deployed AirBears2 many people asked what our plans were for > the future of the AirBears wifi service. Both of these networks > actually share a lot of common infrastructure, particularly access > points. There are a few major differences between the AirBears and > AirBears2 services both in terms of infrastructure and behavior > though. Before I explain what we are proposing, here's a brief > summary of the differences: > > > AirBears: > * All data is sent at the wireless layer unencrypted, in the clear. > If you are using HTTPS or other secured protocols obviously that data > is encrypted at that level, but the basic operation of the wireless > network itself does not provide any data privacy. > > * Uses a web based authentication system requiring entry of your > CalNet passphrase. > > * Authentication is short-lived and must be manually repeated often. > > * Uses BSD based servers and custom developed software to provide > network address translation and the web based authentication mentioned > above. > > * Provides users with a dedicated public IPv4 address and dedicated > public IPv6 address. > > > AirBears2/eduroam: > > * Encrypts all data at the wireless layer. Even if you are not using > secured protocols within applications, all data over the air has some > privacy. > > * Uses standards based (802.11i) authentication, with a generated key > that is different from your CalNet Passphrase. > > * Authentication is automated and devices can store credentials indefinitely. > > * Uses carrier grade network address translation equipment with > superior performance and throughput compared with the AirBears captive > portals. > > * Provides users with dedicated IPv6 addresses but shares IPv4 Public > addresses for all off-campus connectivity. > > Because AirBears does not provide good data privacy, the ITLG feels > that it would be a good idea to abate this older network. In > addition, the captive portal infrastructure that provides NAT and > authentication for AirBears is aging, and we no longer support the > software which it uses. If AirBears remains, we would need to spend > some amount of time replacing this infrastructure in the near future. > We don't believe that there are good justifications for doing this > work. > > We are considering abating the AirBears network as of the end of the > Spring Semester (i.e. by the end of May 2015). AirBears2, eduroam and > CalVisitor will remain in service in their current forms. > > We would like to solicit feedback from the campus IT community > regarding this course of action. In particular, we would like to know > of any cases where AirBears is being used because AirBears2 does not > work. While its unlikely we will retain AirBears, we would like to > work with anyone who may have problems to resolve those in some way > before we abate the service. > > iso > > -- Roy A. Baril Director of Technology Graduate School of Journalism University of California 121 North Gate Hall Berkeley, CA 94720 510-643-9215 -- Work 510-643-9136 -- Fax 925-352-9543 -- Cell ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following was automatically added to this message by the list server: To learn more about Micronet, including how to subscribe to or unsubscribe from its mailing list and how to find out about upcoming meetings, please visit the Micronet Web site: http://micronet.berkeley.edu Messages you send to this mailing list are public and world-viewable, and the list's archives can be browsed and searched on the Internet. This means these messages can be viewed by (among others) your bosses, prospective employers, and people who have known you in the past.
