The student residence halls are prone to sluggish network and internet speeds during the normal academic year due to viruses and malware attempting to send and recieve information from the internet. The purpose of Cisco Clean Access (NAC) is to help prevent these kinds of connectivity issues by requiring operating system updates and antivirus software before allowing a connection to the Rockhurst internet connection.

Cisco Clean Access is active in all residence halls, on all wireless and open wired ports on campus. 

In order to use our connection, even for basic Internet access, we require all systems to run the Cisco NAC Agent. The agent will validate your network username and password, then scan your machine for vulnerabilities. Once you have been verified as a trusted user and your computer is deemed "clean", you will be allowed unrestricted access.

The NAC agent will scan your system and deny access if a file sharing application such as Limewire, Usenet, Ares, BearShare and FrostWire are found on your machine.  A basic rule of thumb here is, if the music or video or any other kind of media you are downloading is "free", it is not legal.

MAC users will now be required to install and use the NAC agent.  This agent checks to make sure your MAC has the latest operating system updates.  With the MAC agent, you will be required to quit the NAC agent when switching between the Rockhurst and Students wireless networks.  We also reccomend installing an antivirus software for your MAC.  It is not required as of today, but expect that requirement within a year.

Apple suggests using Antivirus for Mac:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/11389.html

Some MAC antivirus software that we reccomend are:

http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/free-mac-anti-virus/features.html

http://www.eset.com/home/cybersecurity-for-mac

http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/sb/worry-free-business-security/

Microsoft Windows Users

There are seven major criteria for gaining access to the network. If you meet all of them, you will be allowed access.

1. Laptop or desktop computer with either a wired or wireless (802.11 b/g) network card.
2. Valid Rockhurst network account.
3. Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista Service Pack 2 or Windows 7 Service Pack 1.
   (Previous versions of Windows are not supported.)
4. Latest version of the Cisco NAC software installed on your machine.
    Download Cisco NAC (self-extracting .msi installer)
5. Microsoft Security Essentials with the most current virus/malware definitions. This is a free software product provided by Microsoft. For more information on this product please see this page.
   Download Microsoft Security Essentials (5MB 32-bit or 8.8MB for 64-bit, self-extracting .exe installer)

6. Required Microsoft issued updates and service packs installed for your operating system.
   Download updates from Microsoft

7. No file sharing applications installed on your system.

Apple Mac OS X, Linux or BSD Users

There are four major criteria for gaining access to the network. If you meet all of them, you will be allowed access.

1. Laptop or desktop computer with either a wired or wireless (802.11 b/g) network card.
2. Valid Rockhurst network account.
3. Latest NAC Agent for MAC.
4. All latest updates applied.
5. No file sharing applications installed on your system.

Please note, RUCS Help Desk staff can provide limited technical support for Apple Mac OS X, Linux and other non-Windows operating systems.

Wireless Networks at Rockhurst and Cisco NAC: 

1. The wireless network called “students” is used when you are in a residence hall, like the Townhouse Village, Mcgee, XL or Corcoran.
2. The wireless network called “Rockhurst” is used when you are on the main campus, such as in Massman Hall or an academic building.

When you go from a residence hall to an academic building or vice versa with your laptop, it is necessary for you to log out of or close the NAC (CCA) Agent.  This applies to both Windows and MAC machines.  If you forget to do this, you may not get internet access after you go back to your room.  In this case, just close out the NAC/CCA Agent and open it back it up or reboot your machine.

For example on a Windows-based computer: 

You are in Corcoran Hall, logged into the “students” network and you decided to take your laptop to class.  Before you walk out and close, hibernate or shut down your laptop locate the Cisco NAC icon, usually in the lower right of your computer screen (next to the time) and right click on the icon then select Logout.  When you get to the classroom, right click on your wireless connection icon; select “Rockhurst” as your network, then log back into the Cisco NAC program like normal.  When class is over, repeat the above steps to logout. When you get back to Corcoran, remember to select “students” as your network, then log back into the Cisco Agent.

This will help prevent any connection issues or the inability to connect to the internet.

Example for Mac computers:

You are in Corcoran Hall, logged into the “students” network and you decided to take your laptop to class.  Before you walk out and close, hibernate or shut down your laptop locate the Cisco NAC icon, usually in the upper right of your computer screen (next to the wireless icon) and  click on the icon then select quit.  When you get to the classroom, click on your wireless connection icon; select “Rockhurst” as your network, then log back into the Cisco NAC program like normal.  When class is over, repeat the above steps to logout. When you get back to Corcoran, remember to select “students” as your network, then log back into the Cisco Agent.