Eduroam Introduction

eduroam Wireless Logo

Overview

An iSolutions project has recently deployed the eduroam service across previously existing wireless access points and has delivered 50 new access points. eduroam is now the standard wireless access method for the University of Southampton.

The new eduroam service provides more than a standard wireless network as shown below. The previous wireless service provided by iSolutions called "ISS" is still available, and a link to the information pages can be found in the related menu on the right

  • eduroam is more secure
  • Members of the University can use the wireless network on campus.
  • Members of the University can use the wireless network at other eduroam enabled locations around the world.
  • Visitors from other eduroam enabled organisations can access the wireless network at the University of Southampton
Please read the detailed information and use the links to the right to find out more.

Detailed Information

eduroam (education roaming) is the secure, world-wide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community. Each country has a national provider. JANET is the eduroam provider for the UK, and their service is called the JANET Roaming Service (JRS).

eduroam allows students, researchers and staff from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity on their home campus and when visiting other participating institutions. eduroam is also starting to be used by non-educational organisations like libraries and research centers.

eduroam provides two service types that each institution can support. "Home" and "Visited".

  • The Home service means that you can authenticate and gain network access at your home organisation and at other eduroam/JRS enabled organisations that have implemented the visited service.
  • The Visited service allows visitors from organisations that have implemented a home service to authenticate and gain network access.

The University of Southampton provide both Home and Visited services.

This means that University of Southampton members can use the eduroam wireless service to access the internet and some local services at the University. Without re-configuring their device, they can also use the wireless network at other participating organisations world wide.

Visitors to the University of Southampton can use the wireless network at the University of Southampton as long as their home organisation has implemented the eduroam home service.

While visiting somewhere that supports eduroam a users credentials are passed back through JANET and eduroam to the home institution for approval, if successful, network access is granted. This means that once a device is configured and tested at the home site before departure, it should be usable without re-configuration at any of the eduroam locations world wide.

What can you access on eduroam

In order to provide a consistent service for all wireless users, and in line with our previous wireless service and eduroam standards, users of the eduroam wireless network at the University of Southampton can access the internet and also any university content that is normally accessible from outside the University. However this service does not provide full access to the SOTON domain and services, but you can combine with and login to the VPN service as well over eduroam to get this level of access if needed.

eduroam can be used to allow access to the wired network as well as wireless. This has not been implemented at the University of Southampton, but may be in the future.