UNC wireless network on Ubuntu Linux

Finally I got the encrypted UNC wireless network (WLAN) working on Ubuntu today (in Ram Village Dining hall)! I have yet to try further to really be sure it works, though.

Since I arrived at UNC I have not managed to get the wireless working in Ubuntu Feisty 7.04. I tried the inofficial instructions given at the ITS website*, but to no extent. Of course the more I tried the less sure I was what encryption that was used at the campus etcetera.

Also, what is a bit sad, is that the GNU/Linux instructions given on the ITS website requires the user to use a terminal - which isn't required in most distributions nowadays!

This is what I did to get the wireless working (these instructions requires that you use GNOME as you desktop environment - and should probably work with any distribution which does so):

1. Install the "Network Manager Applet". In Ubuntu this can be done by installing the "network-manager-gnome" package in the Synaptic Package Manager.
2. Restart your computer (maybe restarting GNOME will be enough).
3. When GNOME is again up and running you should have a new icon in the top right corner of your screen containing something like one computer in front of another. This icon is the GNOME Network Manager Applet.
4. Double check that your wireless network card is turned on. Some computer's got a button to turn it on, some don't. Usually the wireless LED begins flashing on most computers. By turning on the WLAN the computer automagically begins to search for wireless networks around your computer.
   
5. After a few seconds a left click on the network manager applet should give a list of the available WLAN:s together with their signal strenth. For many network it is just to click on any of the to get them working. For the UNC wireless network DON'T...!
6. ...instead click on "Connect to Other Wireless Network Network..."
7. Network name should be "UNC-1", wireless security should be set to "WEP 64/128-bit Hex", authentication should be "Open System" and the key is the key given by ITS (I guess they don't want me to post it here...even though the encryption sucks).
8. Press "Connect", sometimes the GNOME Keyring Manager requires you to enter your password. This is to be able to save the WEP key so that it can connect automatically for you later on.
   

If all is well you should be given an IP-adress and the network should work straight away. Try fire up your web browser and see if it works.

Good luck and I hope this helps!

* Notice that the program 'dhcpcd' is replaced by 'dhclient' on Ubuntu. The link requires an onyen login - which all students at UNC have.