SMC–Wifi and Trust Certificates
In 2015, IT Services redesigned the wireless network to increase security, improve network management and simplify the end-user experience. The change helped to facilitate the use of BYOD, also known as Bring Your Own Device.
What does this mean to the end-user? First, it means choosing the wireless network that is right for you. We have two SSIDs, which show up as separate wireless networks, one is SMC-Wifi and the other is SMC-Guest. If you have an SMC user ID and password then you are able to log in to SMC-Wifi. Other visitors to the campus only have access to SMC-Guest.
SMC-Wifi is faster, running on more bandwidth, which is helpful for those who stream data, such as movies and video clips. It is also more secure because it runs on an encrypted connection. The network is protected and your session cannot be compromised beyond the Access Point. Once you log into SMC-Wifi and accept or trust the certificate, your device will automatically connect to it every time you bring it to campus, until the SMC certificate is replaced.
SMC-Guest is limited to a 24 hour session. This means that you have to log in once each day that you are on campus. It runs on less bandwidth than SMC-Wifi and it runs on an open network. There is no data encryption so it is not as safe as SMC-Wifi.
Your device will look for the open connection first. This means that if you are an SMC user, but have been logging into SMC-Guest, your device will try that wireless network first. You will have to look at the networks and tell your device to “Forget SMC-Guest” in order to search for SMC-Wifi. Once you have forgotten SMC-Guest, you will go back to the wireless networks and look for SMC-Wifi. If you have never accepted the Trust Certificate on the device, you will be prompted to do so. When that step has been completed and you have logged in with your SMC user ID and password, your device will automatically connect and you will enjoy increased security and faster bandwidth.
We have articles in our Knowledge Base that answer questions and provide step by step instructions for accepting the Trust Certificate depending on the type of device you are using. We are also available to answer any question at the Service Desk located in Galileo Hall, Room 111, or by phone at (925) 631-4266.