University Computer Help Desk

How to use the public Ethernet ports on campus

Public Ethernet ports are available in several locations around campus, including Milner Library and the Bone Student Center. These ports are for mobile users who want to use a wired connection instead of wireless.

Before You Begin

Public Ethernet ports are available in Milner Library and the Bone Student Center. These ports offer an alternative to wireless for mobile users at Illinois State University.

To use these network jacks, you must the following:

  • Valid ULID and password
  • Ethernet CAT5 or CAT6 cable
  • Web browser, such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari

Public Port Locations

Public Ethernet ports are available in the following locations:

  • Bone Student Center, McAllister's, 1st Floor
  • Bone Student Center, Atrium, 2nd Floor
  • College of Business Atrium Student Lounge
  • College of Business 1st Floor (Room 131, 132, 133, 135, 145, 147, 148, 149, 150)
  • College of Business 3rd Floor (Room 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370)
  • Feeney Dining Center
  • Julian Hall 2nd Floor Lounge
  • Milner Library 2nd Floor
  • Milner Library 4th Floor
  • Milner Library 5th Floor
  • Milner Library 6th Floor

Logging On to Public Ports

To use a public port, do the following:

  1. Connect your computer to one of the public ports using an Ethernet cable.
    • Note: If you have previously installed the Cisco NAC agent, it will automatically open and prompt you to log in. If that happens, enter your ULID and password. After you are logged in, you will have full network connectivity, and you won't need to finish the remainder of these instructions.
  2. Open a web browser, such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari.
  3. You will automatically* be taken to a log-in web page.
    • *Depending on your web browser, you may be prompted to install something before you see the log-in web page. Refer to the browser information below for details.
  4. Log in with your ULID and password.
  5. After logging in, you will be redirected to the University Computer Help Desk website.

You now have an active Internet connection. You can browse the Web, check email, and access other campus network resources. However, peer-to-peer (P2P) network traffic is blocked on public ports.

Internet Explorer

The first time you log in using Internet Explorer, a yellow banner appears at the top of the page and you are prompted to install an ActiveX add-on named Cisco Clean Access Web Login Facilitator from Cisco Systems.

Firefox with Java

The first time you log in using Firefox, you may be prompted to install a Java plugin. If you don't have Java installed, you can still use the public Ethernet ports (see below).

Firefox without Java

If you do not have Java installed, you will see a page that says, Cisco Clean Access Java Applet web client could NOT be launched. Do not click the link to download and install the Java Plug-in as it will not work. Instead, do the following:

  1. Click the button labeled Download Cisco NAC Agent.
  2. After the installer file downloads, run it to install Cisco NAC Agent.
  3. A Security Alert window may appear, which says, Revocation information for the security certificate is not available. Do you want to proceed? Click Yes.
  4. Cisco NAC Agent will automatically open and prompt you to log in.
  5. You may get the same Security Alert as before. Again, click Yes.
  6. After logging in, you will have full network access.

Safari with Java

The first time you log in using Safari, you may be prompted to install a Java plugin.