Wireless Access
About the Campus Wireless Network
Users with laptops can connect to the University of Toronto campus wireless network (UTORcwn). There are two UTORcwns available to the U of T community: UTORwin and UofT. These are the only two service set identifications at U of T.
For coverage maps and to check current wireless status, visit UTORcwn.
It is likely that your wireless device might detect various networks with similar names to the UTORcwn. Any network that can accept connections without prompting you for a password is not part of the UTORcwn and is not supported by the library.
For more information about U of T's wireless networks, please visit Information Commons Help Desk: Wireless Access.
Logging In
You are required to log in with your UTORid before you can use the wireless. Normally the wireless system will redirect you to the login page, but you can also access it by going to http://login.wireless.utoronto.ca.
See also:
Connecting to the Internet using Mobile devices (e.g. iPad, Blackberry, and etc.).
Logging Out
To log out, go to http://logout.wireless.utoronto.ca and click on Sign Out to terminate the wireless session.
Rules Regarding Wireless Usage
Usage of UTORcwn is subject to all existing policies for the appropriate use of information technology.
Wireless Quota
There is a limit to how much data you can access online each week when you are signed in to the UTORcwn.
| Weekly Quota (Downloading & Uploading) |
|
| Undergraduates | 2GB (2048MB) |
| Graduate Students | 2GB (2048MB) |
| Rotman School of Management Students | 5GB (5120MB) |
| Faculty & Staff members | no limit |
In specific cases and for academic purposes only, students can request an exception to the limit. Requests should be directed to the Information Commons Help Desk located on the first floor of John P. Robarts Library.
Unused amout of data from one week cannot be carried over to the next one
Once you exceed the quota, you will not be able to access any of the wireless networks until Monday at 6:00 a.m., when the quota is automatically reset.
Tracking Your Usage
You can log in at http://connect.utoronto.ca and check your wireless alloted quota.
Supported Wi-Fi Standards
- 802.11b
- 802.11g
- 802.11a
- 802.11n
Before Accessing U of T’s Wireless networks
Before you attempt to connect to the wireless network, please make sure that you follow these steps. This is applicable to all users:
- Check your eligibility: only U of T students, staff and faculty are able to use the UTORcwn.
- Verify your UTORid. You will need it along with a valid password to access the network.
Connecting to UTORwin
In order to access the UTORcwn, you will need to set up a new wireless network profile. This has to be done only once per term.
Windows 7:
- Ensure that the wireless device on your laptop is turned on and enabled.
- Click on the wireless icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the desktop.
- Go to Open Network and Sharing Center » Manage Wireless Networks.
- Click Add » Manually Create a Network Profile.
- Enter the settings as outlined in the image below and click Next.
Your computer should now detect and connect to UTORwin. - If you are an undergraduate student, please consult the instructions on running the Endpoint Security Policy Test on your laptop. You are required to pass it before you can access the Internet.
Older versions of Windows and Mac OS X:
If you require instructions on connecting to the network using older versions of these operating systems, please consult
Help Desk Knowledge Base: Wireless Access.
Mac OS X:
- In the Apple Menu, select System Preferences.
- Click on Network.
- Set Location to Automatic.
- Select AirPort from the left-hand column.
- In the right-hand column, click Turn Airport On.
- Under Network Name, open the drop-down menu to select Join Other Network
and a new window will appear. - Enter the required credentials:
Network Name: UTORwin (case-sensitive)
Security: WEP Password
Password: UToronto1home (case-sensitive)
Place a check mark beside the option Remember this network to avoid having to
re-enter settings in the future. - Click Join.
- Open your browser. You will be redirected to the page where you will need to enter your UTORid and password. Enter the necessary information and click on Login now.
- You are now authenticated to the network and can access the Internet.
Connecting to UofT
Windows 7:
- Ensure that the wireless device on your laptop is turned on and enabled.
- Click on the wireless icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the desktop.
- Under Wireless Network Connection, click UofT and then click Connect.
- A dialogue window will appear. Enter your UTORid and password and click OK.
- If you a warning message appears on the desktop, click Connect.
Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6:
- Click the wireless network icon in top right corner to make sure that AirPort is turned on. If not, select Turn Airport On.
- Click on the drop-down menu in the top right corner of the desktop and select UofT.
- An authentication window, prompting you for your UTORid and password will appear. Enter the necessary information and under 802.1X, select Automatic. Place a
check mark beside Remember this network and click OK.
Endpoint Security Policy Test
Undergraduate students whose laptops use Microsoft Windows as the operating system must run and pass the Endpoint Security Policy Test on their computers before they will be able to connect to the UTORcwn.
This test is used to protect the users as well as the wireless network from viruses, hacking and other security issues.
This does not apply to graduate students, staff or faculty or undergraduate students whose laptops use an operating system other than Windows, such as Mac OS X or Linux.
To ensure that you pass the ESP test, please follow these steps:
- After connecting to the UTORcwn as outlined above, open your browser. You will be redirected to http://www.connect.utoronto.ca/. If not, type the address into the address bar.
- Sign-in with your UTORid and password. Both are case sensitive.
- Disable the firewall. Go to My Computer » Control Panel » Windows Firewall and select Off under the General tab.
- Make sure that your anti-virus software is updated with the latest virus definitions: this can usually be done by opening your anti-virus software and checking the date when it was last updated. If the virus definitions are out of date, please run the update wizard.
- If you do not have anti-virus software on your computer, you can download Microsoft Security Essentials, which is available free of charge to any Windows user.
- Ensure that your operating system is up to date. To check this, go to Start » Windows Update.
- If necessary, download and install the necessary updates. Please remain patient as this process may take some time and you may need to restart your laptop several times before the operating system is fully updated.
- Open your browser and sign-in again.
- You will then be directed to the Endpoint Security Test page. Download and run the ESP application. This is usually done by clicking on the Run button on the download window.
- When the application has finished scanning your operating system, your browser will redirect you to the page which will inform you whether or not the test was passed. If it was, no further action is required on your part and you may access the Internet. If it failed, redo the steps 3 through 6 and run the downloaded ESP application again.
Signal Strength
Like all wireless systems, radio strength for the CWN is not uniform across campus and in buildings. The reception is better in some areas than others due and may vary, depending on the distance from access points and the numbers of users connected the network, among other factors.
Access points, devices that provide wireless radio signal, are located throughout the library. Please consult the floor plans which show where they are on each floor of the library.
If your connection is unusually slow or unreliable, please reset your connection or move to a different area of the library.
Technical Support
We understand that the process of setting up the wireless network profile can be quite challenging. If you require technical support at any point of the process, please visit us at the IT Support Desk in the South Information Commons on the main floor.