2008 WiFi Connectivity Grant Setup Rev. 10.01.08b

8/14/2019 2008 WiFi Connectivity Grant Setup Rev. 10.01.08b

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2008 WiFi Connectivity Grant Setup

rev. 10/01/08

Congratulations! You've been approved for the Gates WiFi Connectivity grant. Soon you will bereceiving your equipment. One box contains a Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router.

The other contains either a Samsung Q1 Ultra (Q1) and a LITEON DX-20A3H USB DVD-R/W Drive

or a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop (Dell). Although you may be tempted to start unpacking

everything and plugging things in, please take a moment to read through this complete

document first as it contains important information that you should know before offering WiFi

to your patrons.

Please be sure to check WebJunction for the most current version of this document when you

receive your equipment as some details may change by then.

(images not to scale)

Here's what the Commission has done to your computer

Both have been setup for you including the first-run, softwareupdates, and software installations.

A basic anti-virus program (ClamWin) has been installed on thecomputer. You are free to replace this with another anti-virus program

as you see fit. However, if you choose to install another anti-virus

program you MUST uninstallClamWin first. (See section on AV

settings near the end of this document.)

Microsoft Office Small Business 2007, Firefox 3 and Windows Live PhotoGallery have also been installed.

The Softex OmniPass software, which controls the functionality of theQ1's fingerprint authentication control, has been disabled because this

machine needs to be made available to the public.


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Two accounts have been created: one for staff (youll need to callMichael or Jeannette once to confirm youve received the equipment

to get the password) and one for the public (which is not password

protected). Both have administrative privileges.

Windows SteadyState has been installed. This program is similar toCenturion Guard which came on previous Gates computers. Any

changes made while SteadyStates Disk Protection is turned on will

not be kept. Access to Steady State has been blocked from the public

login. (Refer to the section on Windows Steady State for further details.)

The library is responsible for installing future software/security updates. Michael Sauers at the Commission is generally available to assist with technical support

issues regarding the Q1 and the Dell laptop for 60 days. However, we strongly

encourage you to take advantage of any local tech support resources you may have

before contacting him.

WiFi Router Hardware Setup - Step 1: Initial placement

IMPORTANT: There is no need to install the software that comes on the CD in the box. Please

ignore the CD and Linksys' instructions. Also, just peel the warning sticker off the back of the

router and discard.

1. Unpack the router and extend the antennas.2. Connect the power cable to the back of the router and a wall outlet.3. Using the blue Ethernet cable that comes with the router, connect one end to the

laptop/Q1 and the other end to port #1 on the back of the router.

4. Boot the laptop/Q1 and log in. (You can log in as stafforpublic for this.)Setting Up the WiFi Router Software

On the laptop/Q1 open a browser (Firefox or Internet Explorer).

1. In the address bar type http://192.168.1.1/ and press enter.


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2. The first time you log into the router the username and password are both admin.

If your browser offers to remember this password for you say NO or you may be giving

access to your router to any member of the public that uses this computer.

3. You will now be on the Basic Setup screen. Change the Time Zone setting and click theSave Settings button. (Each time you click Save Settings you will probably see a screen

informing you that the settings are being saved. This is ok and when the router is


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finished you'll be returned to the settings screen you were on.)

4. Next, click the Wireless link at the top of the page. Once there choose the WirelessNetwork Name (SSID) for your router. This is the name that users will see when they

look for signals. Feel free to use something more specific than Library as I have done inthe example. Once you have picked a name, click Save Settings.


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5. Now click the Administration link at the top of the page. Here, choose a new passwordfor logging into your router. THIS IS IMPORTANT! Keeping admin/admin as you router's

login credentials is just asking for someone to come into your library and cause trouble.

Also, be sure to record the new password in a secure location as unlike many Web sites

there is no simple way to recover it. You will also want to change the UPnP setting to

Disable. This will prevent certain types of software on user laptops from automaticallychanging router settings. Once finished, click Save Settings.

6. After saving the settings this time you will be asked to re-login to the router with yournew password. (The username is still admin.)

7. Close the browser and log out of the laptop/Q1.You now need to place your router somewhere in your building where it can offer the best

signal based on your situation.

WiFi Router Hardware Setup - Step 2: Final placement

Now that your router is set up you should disconnect the router, plug the desktop back into the

wall directly, and move your router to a better location. The Nebraska Library Commission

cannot guarantee that this single Linksys Wireless Router will provide access throughout your

whole building. Factors such as your building's square footage, number of floors, and


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construction material will affect the signal's range. Keeping

these things in mind we offer the following suggestions for

where to place your router:

Try to place the router centrally to where you wish toprovide access. As radio signals radiate out in alldirections from the transmission point, a central

placement is best.

If you have a specific area in your library where you thinkusers would like to use their laptops, feel free to consider

that space when placing your router. For example, if you

have a seating area at one end of the building, and no

seating at the other end, you may want to place the router closer to the seating area

instead of in the middle of the floor.

Physical security of the router should be something you consider. For example, thechance of the router walking out of the building is significantly reduced if you place the

router behind the reference desk. Also, you can probably attach the router high on a

wall using some strong Velcro or by installing a small shelf.

Considering the location of an available LAN jack will always be important. The LANcable that comes with the router is not that long. However, you can always purchase a

longer cable (CAT-5) to extend the distance from an outlet you can place your router. If

you wish to invest a little, you could also get a new LAN jack installed in the location of

your choice. Please keep in mind that for security reasons, do not plug the router into a

jack into which you would connect a staff computer. (If you do not delineate between

staff and public LAN jacks, then this should not matter to you.) Please keep the router

connected only to outlets to which you would connect a public computer.

Placing the router in the plenum (the space between the ceiling and the floor/roofabove) is not recommended as this placement will quickly degrade signal strength and

quality. Keeping the outer antenna out in the open will allow for greater signal strength.

You can find some other photo examples of WiFi Router placement on Flickr. Some are better

than others.

Once youve found a suitable location you will need to plug in the routers power and Ethernetcable. To start I suggest you connect the Ethernet cable into port #1 on the router. If after

testing the WiFi connection you are unable to connect to the Internet, try moving the Ethernet

cable to the Internet port on the back of the router and trying again.

Connecting to WiFi with Windows Vista


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Your new laptop/Q1 that came with this grant is running Windows Vista and you may not be

familiar with how to connect it to a WiFi signal. Here are the basic instructions.

1. Boot the computer and log in as either staff or public.2. Look for the connectivity icon in the system tray near the clock. The icon should be oftwo computer monitors. (Your screen may not exactly match the one in these

screenshots but itll be close enough.)

3. Click on the connectivity icon and select "Connect to a network".

4. When the Connect to a network window appears, the computer will search for availableWiFi signals. It should find yours and show the Network Name (SSID) that you set up in

your router. The bars to the right of the SSID indicate the signal strength. The closer to

your router you are the more bars you should receive.


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5. Select your Network Name (SSID) and click the Connect button.

6. Since you are running an unsecured connection you will receive a warning to that effect.Click Connect Anyway to confirm you wish to connect.


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7. Now give the computer a chance to connect to the network. This should take about 10-15 seconds.

8. You will be given the option to Save this network. Be sure this is checked. This way, inthe future, your computer will always connect to this signal whenever it can without

requiring you to repeat this process.


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9. You should now be connected to the Internet and the connectivity icon will include asmall globe.

10.After a few moments you may be asked to set the location type of this connection.Choose "Public". This disallows others using your WiFi connection from being able to see

items on this computer from across the network.

Once youve hooked up the Linksys router in its final location and youve connected to it there

is a small chance youll still not have Internet access. (i.e. It says youve connected but when

you open your Web browser youre not able to pull up any Web pages.) If this happens try the

following:

Move the Ethernet cable that is connected to the back of the router from port #1 to theInternet port.

If this doesnt work try rebooting and reconnecting.If neither of these solutions work, please call your tech person. If you dont have one give

Michael a call.

If in the future you lose connectivity try one or more of the following troubleshooting steps on

the computer:

If available, test another WiFi enabled device. If it works, it's probably your computer. Ifnot, it's probably the router. (Refer to the Router Troubleshooting section of this

document.)

Click on the connectivity icon and choose Connect or disconnect... Select the WiFi signalyou're currently connected to and click Disconnect. They try reconnecting to the signal.


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Manually disable and re-enable the WiFi antenna on your computer.o Dell

There is a switch on the right side of the laptop jus to the left of the DVD drive.

Move the switch to the left to manually turn WiFi off. Move the switch to the

right to turn it back on.

o Q1Press the Menu button above the right side of the screen. Using your stylus, tap

the on-screen "Off" button for Wireless LAN. Wait 10 seconds then repeat the

process tapping the "On" button. (See page 15 of the Q1 Getting Started Guide

for screenshots and button locations.)

Reboot the computer and try reconnecting to the signal.If none of these steps worked, try troubleshooting the router.

WiFi Router Troubleshooting


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When logged in as Staff, there is a windows sidebar gadget that will show you the name of the

WiFi network youre currently connected to and the signal strength in bars and as a percentage

of possible strength. Although there are more powerful tools available, this basic tool will give

you an idea as to how far your signal extends throughout your library. To use it, just log in as

Staff, and connect to your WiFi network. (This will most likely happen automatically after the

first time.) Now walk through the library keeping an eye on this tool. Make note as to where thesignal is strongest and weakest, or nonexistent, so as to better inform your patrons and/or

move the router to a better location.

When WiFi routers work, they work great. When they don't work, there's not much you can

honestly do. If your patrons are having trouble seeing the SSID, getting a solid connection, or

seem to be surfing more slowly than usual there's generally just one thing you can do: unplug

the router's power (from either the back of the router or the wall), wait 10-15 seconds, and

plug it back in. After about 30 seconds, the router should reacquire the information it needs

from your network and be ready to start providing access to wireless devices again. If this

doesn't solve the problem, please consider these other relevant issues:

If the library's Internet connection is down, your router will not be able to provide WiFiaccess.

WiFi connections are slower than cabled connections. While your desktop computersare most likely getting speeds up to 100MBPS, your WiFi router will only supply a

connection up to 56MBPS. Both of these are also affected by the number of concurrent

users. So, two patrons using your WiFi access at one time will have faster connections

than when there are 10 users at one time.

Sometimes they just don't want to reset immediately. Try leaving it unplugged for alonger period of time (maybe 30 minutes) and try again.

Lastly, you can try resetting the router to the factory settings. To do this, use a pen orpencil to hold down the reset button on the back of the router for approximately 15

seconds. If you do this you must immediately redo the setup steps listed at the

beginning of this document.

In the end, this equipment will not last forever and if none of this worked, you may need to

replace it.

WiFi Policy Issues

Here is a short list of items that should be in your library's policy regarding public-access WiFi.

Introduce the serviceUse your policy as a marketing tool. Start out by pointing out all of the benefits of the

service before you focus on the limitations.


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Technical requirementsWhat will your patrons need to get connected?

Disclaimer of liabilityIts their equipment, if they want to use it, theyre responsible for whatever happens to

it.

Security issuesOpen WiFi connections can be intercepted by others with the right equipment and

software. Your patrons need to be warned of this.

Limits of staff assistanceUnless your whole staff is knowledgeable enough to be able to assist your patrons with

their equipment, make sure to specify that they should not expect such assistance.

More complete explanations and examples of each of these points can be found in the Web

Junction article "A Library Policy for Public Wireless Internet Access" and the MaintainIT article"Now that you have wireless, how about a policy?".

Regarding CIPA and your new Mobile Computer

If you are currently filtering Internet access in order to fulfill certain

requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) then

there may be certain additional steps you may need to take

regarding your new mobile computer:

If you are filtering at the network level then you need to perform no additional steps.Since your new mobile computer is connecting to that network it will also be filtered.

This will also filter the public's equipment that is connecting to your WiFi signal.

If you are filtering through the installation of software on your public access computersyou will also need to install that software on your new mobile computer. This will not

filter the public's equipment and it is our understanding at this time that you are not

required to filter equipment not owned by the library.

Equipment Loaning Policy Issues

As part of this Gates Foundation grant libraries are required to make the computers (Q1 or Dell)

available to the public. Here are policies that we suggest your library should implement in

regards to this requirement:

Mobile computers checked out by the public are not allowed to leave the building.


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Photo identification should be required to check out a mobile computer. It is alsosuggested that you keep the photo identification during the length of the checkout

period.

Establish a time limit for checking out a mobile computer. Have staff shutdown or reboot the computer immediately after it is returned. This will

remove any changes made by, or files left by, the patron.

Promote Your WiFi

Once your WiFi is up and running youll want to promote it to

your patrons. Here are just a few ideas and links to more.

Advertise your wi-fi! Promote in the library - Photo examples Create some bookmarks with your SSID on it.

Windows SteadyState

Windows SteadyState is a free Microsoft product that allows computer

administrators to lock down many features of Windows. It has been

installed on both the Q1 and the Dell as a means of security. Only two

features have been enabled in these installations:

1. Account lockingThis feature is set to remove any files saved to the computer while logged in to the

public account. Public users will see an on-screen warning of this when the log in.

2. Disk ProtectionWhile this feature is enabled, any changes made to the computer under any

login will be removed. This will in some cases slow down the boot process of

your computer. Disk Protection is on by default.

3. Program BlockingSteady State allows an administrator to block certain users from running

certain programs. The only program that has been blocked on these computers

is SteadyState itself for the public account.

There are many more settings available. If you are interested in finding out more about the

options Steady State offers please refer to the SteadyState Support page on the Microsoft site.


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However, please consider carefully any additional restrictions you put on these computers as

each additional restriction can significantly impact usability of the computer.

Also, the staff login will have access to the Steady State program via a desktop icon (and via the

Start menu).

If you ever run SteadyState and receive this error:

There is a solution. Just reboot the computer and re-login as Staff. SteadyState will now run.

Updating your Mobile Computer

By default, Windows Steady State will remove any changes you make to the computer.

However, this is a problem when you wish to do things like install/remove software and run

updates. Here are the steps to make computer-wide changes and updates to your computer

without Steady State causing problems:

1. Boot the computer2. Log in as staff.3. Run SteadyState and choose Protect the Hard Disk.4. Change the setting to Retain All Changes Permanentlyand click OK.5. Perform all your changes/updates rebooting if/when necessary making sure you log in

each time as staff.

6. When updates are complete, reboot one last time and log in as Staff.7. Run SteadyState and choose Protect the Hard Disk.8. Change the setting to Remove All Changes at Restart.9. Log out of the staff account or shutdown the computer.


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A note about installing new software:

If you are installing new software that you wish to make available to the public look for a choice

of only this user / all users during the installation process. Be sure to choose the all users

option. If this choice is not given to you, chances are it will assume all users.

The above-listed steps will work for things such as installing and uninstalling software packagesand Windows system updates. However, if you want to do specific things to the Public side of

the computer (set up desktop icons, set the browser home page, change the wallpaper) youll

need to follow a slightly different process: (The new items are in italics)

1. Boot the computer2. Log in as staff.3. Run SteadyState and choose Protect the Hard Disk.4. Change the setting to Retain All Changes Permanentlyand click OK.5. Click on the Public Profile in the right and on the next screen uncheck the lock profile

option, and click OK.

6. Log out of the Staff account.7. Log in to the Public account.8. Make your public-side changes.9.

Log out of the Public account.

10.Log into the Staff account.11.Run SteadyState, select the Public Profile on the right, check the option to lock the

profile, and click OK.

12.Choose Protect the Hard Disk.13.Change the setting to Remove All Changes at Restart.14.Log out of the staff account or shutdown the computer.

A few more configuration issues

If you live in the Mountain Time Zone you will need to change the time zone inWindows.

You'll need to change the location for the Weather widget in the Vista sidebar


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If you install different AntiVirus software

As stated previously if you choose to install another anti-virus program you MUST uninstall

ClamWin first. To uninstall ClamWin open the control panel, select Uninstall a program, Select

ClamWin, click the Uninstall button at the top of the list and follow the onscreen instructions.

Once ClamWin has been completely uninstalled you may now install your other AV program.

Once your new AV program is installed youll need to follow these steps:

1. Open the Control Panel and select Security.2. Click Check this computers security status.3. Open the Malware protection section and click the Monitor now button for Virus protection.

At this point, Vista should automatically recognize your new AV program and automatically notify you

when its out of date. (This feature does not work with ClamWin.)

Reference Links

If you're looking for additional documentation, drivers, or updates they can be found through

the following links:

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC LITEON DX-20A3H USB DVD-R/W Drive Microsoft Windows Update Windows SteadyState ClamWin Firefox 3 Windows Live Photo Gallery

2008 WiFi Connectivity Grant Setup Rev. 10.01.08b

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