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How to configure Monash-Connect and eduroam for Linux

Step 1 - Configuring Linux

If you are are using a Gnome based distribution which uses NetworkManagers (such as Ubuntu), follow the instructions in Step 1A.

Alternatively if you would prefer to invoke wpa_supplicant directly follow the instructions in step Step 1B.

Note: If you are using a different network manager you will need to work out how to configure it using the settings listed below.

Step 1A - Configuring Gnome NetworkManager to access Monash-Connect or eduroam

  • Right click on the NetworkManager icon (otherwise called nm-applet) in your taskbar. Make sure that there is a tick next to both Enable Networking and Enable Wireless.
  • Left click on the same NetworkManager icon and either click on the name of the network you are trying to connect to (eduroam or Monash-Connect), or click on Connect to Other Wireless Network....
  • In the dialogue box enter the appropriate details as listed below:

For Monash-Connect:

Network Name: Monash-Connect
Wireless Security: WPA Enterprise
EAP Method: TTLS
Key Type: TKIP
Phase2 Type: PAP
Identify: authcate-username
Password: authcate-password
Anonymous Identity: [ leave blank ]
Client Certificate File: (None)
CA Certificate File:see below
Private Key File: (None)
Private Key Password: [ leave blank ]

For eduroam

Note: The username is entered differently

Network Name: eduroam
Wireless Security: WPA Enterprise
EAP Method: TTLS
Key Type: TKIP
Phase2 Type: PAP
Identify: authcate-username@monash.edu.au   eg fsmith@monash.edu.au
Password: authcate-password
Anonymous Identity: [ leave blank ]
Client Certificate File: (None)
CA Certificate File:see below
Private Key Password: [ leave blank ]

Certificate File

The CA Certificate File option can be left as (None) but it is recommended that you use a certificate for improved security.

Save the file below

on to your local local hard disk and then point CA Certificate File to this file.

 

Step 1B - Configuring Monash-Connect or eduroam using wpa_supplicant.

Note: For the following steps eth1 needs to be replaced with the name of your wireless ethernet interface. This is usually eth0 or eth1, and can be found by examining the output from iwconfig (run in a terminal).

  • Refer to Certificate File above for instructions on downloading the file thawteCA.cer
  • Create the required configuration file from the information below.

wpa_supplicant-monash-connect.conf

# begin wpa_supplicant-monash-connect.conf
# use this file by running:
# wpa_supplicant -c wpa_supplicant-monash-connect.conf -i eth1 &
# dhclient eth1
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ap_scan=1
network={
        ssid="Monash-Connect"
        scan_ssid=1
        key_mgmt=WPA-EAP
        eap=TTLS
        # specififying ca_cert is not required,
        # but specifying it improves security
        ca_cert="thawteCA.cer"
        identity="authcate-username"
        password="authcate-password"
        phase2="auth=PAP"
}
# end wpa_supplicant-monash-connect.conf

wpa_supplicant-eduroam.conf

# begin wpa_supplicant-eduroam.conf
# use this file by running:
# wpa_supplicant -c wpa_supplicant-eduroam.conf -i eth1 &
# dhclient eth1
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
ap_scan=1
network={
        ssid="eduroam"
        scan_ssid=1
        key_mgmt=WPA-EAP
        eap=TTLS
        # specififying ca_cert is not required,
        # but specifying it improves security
        ca_cert="thawteCA.cer"
        identity="authcate-username@monash.edu.au"
        password="authcate-password"
        phase2="auth=PAP"
}
# end wpa_supplicant-eduroam.conf

Step 2 - Connect to Monash-Connect or eduroam

  • When connecting to Monash-Connect using the Gnome NetworkManager it will automatically connect to the first wireless network it finds in range and it has been configured for.

    To connect to a different network left click on the NetworkManager icon in the taskbar and click on the name of the network you would like to connect to.

  • To connect to Monash-Connect using wpa_supplicant, run the following commands as the root user: 
    wpa_supplicant -c /path/to/wpa_supplicant-monash-connect.conf -i eth1 &
dhclient eth1
  • To connect to eduroam using wpa_supplicant, run the following commands as the root user: 
    wpa_supplicant -c /path/to/wpa_supplicant-eduroam.conf -i eth1 &
dhclient eth1
    For the wpa_supplicant commands above eth1 needs to be replaced with the name of your wireless ethernet interface. This is usually eth0 or eth1, and can be found by examining the output from iwconfig (run in a terminal).

 

  
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