User guide

Adding or Modifying Network Properties  59
Chapter 6: Managing Network Access
Network Settings
The following sections describe each of the Network configuration categories. Once
you have defined a network, it is unlikely that you will need to change it unless your
network administrator indicates that a change is necessary.
Specifying a Network Name (Network SSID)
The network name or SSID (service set identifier) is the actual name of the wireless
network to which you want to connect. The format of network names that are
currently configured appears in the Network Properties dialog. A network name can
be up to 32 alphanumeric characters and is case-sensitive. You must enter the
name correctly to connect.
If the network is locally accessible, you might be able to determine the name using
the Scan button in the Network Properties dialog. However, not all access points
broadcast a network SSID. Contact your administrator to be sure of the correct
network name and format.
Connecting to Any Available Network
OAC provides a special network configuration called [any] that you can use to
connect to any available network, regardless of the network name. The [any]
network is useful when you are moving between conferences, hotels, or other
locations that provide network access. When you select the [any] network from the
Connection dialog, you can connect to such networks without having to configure
them individually.
To do this, select Connect to any available network.
Scanning for Available Networks
Instead of entering the name of a configured network in the Network name field,
you can click Scan to select from a list of all currently visible networks; that is, all
the networks that OAC can detect. If you are in the vicinity of the network that you
are configuring, clicking Scan is easier than typing and guarantees that the network
name is set correctly. Simply select the network from the scan list.
Adding a Network Description
Network names are arbitrary text chosen by an administrator, so two unrelated
networks could have the same name. Use the Description field to add text to
distinguish between networks that have similar names.
You can use the network description field to distinguish connections to the same
network using different profiles. For example, you might want to use different
credentials at different times.
The Description field is optional.
NOTE: Although you can use WEP keys and profiles with [any], the more common
(default) practice is to use [any] without 802.11 or 802.1X authentication.