Network Access for Students
To protect HLS network resources and ensure the availability of network services to the entire HLS community, your access is conditioned upon your agreeing to and complying with the terms of the Harvard Law School Computer and Network Resources Usage Agreement. Failure to comply with the terms of the Usage Agreement may result in the suspension or termination of network privileges.
- Hardware Required to Establish a Connection to HLS Network
- FAStAccess Device Management System
- Wireless Networking
- Configuring Wireless for use on the HLS Network
- Securing your Wireless Network with VPN
- ITSI Phone Line (network outage information)
- Reporting Network Problems
Hardware Required to Establish a Connection to HLS network
| Type of connection: | Location: | Hardware required: | Available: |
| Wired Ethernet | Langdell Library, Harkness, Dorms | a computer that meets HLS minimum required configuration, HLS-approved wired Ethernet card, an RJ45 10/100 Base-T Ethernet cable, dongle (if necessary) | on-campus only |
| Wireless Ethernet | Campus Wide | a computer that meets HLS minimum required configuration, HLS-approved wireless Ethernet card | on-campus only |
FAStAccess Device Management System
You must register each devise before you can use it on the HLS network. This means you will need to register both your wired and wireless cards separately. Log into the FAStAccess Device Management system at: https://autoreg.fas.harvard.edu with your HUID and PIN. The system will walk you through the registration process, including securing your computer.
Wireless Networking
- Wireless networking provides convenience and freedom but is not meant to be a replacement for wired networking. Wireless networks are designed to handle light network traffic (Internet browsing, email, etc). Activities that require high-bandwidth, high data transfer rates, or a high level of security should be done over a wired network.
- Speed: Wireless networks transmit data at much slower rates than wired networks (typically 11 or 54 MB per seconds as compared to 100 MB or 1 GB per second on a wired network). If you will be doing things that require high data transfer speeds, such as streaming video or online gaming, you should connect via a wired jack.
- Bandwidth: Wireless networks use shared bandwidth. This means the total available bandwidth
(of 11 or 54 MB) is divided amongst all the users connected to an access point. Users should avoid bandwidth intensive activities over wireless (downloading large files, playing online games, etc). Please be considerate of your fellow wireless users and use the wired network for these activities. - Reliability: Wireless operates in the 2.4GHz radio frequency. There are many other common devices that also use this radio frequency, including microwaves, cordless phones, and blue tooth devices. Any of these devices in range of you can interfere with your connection.
- Security: Data transmitted via wireless is easily intercepted. Confidential information should not be transmitted. You can secure your wireless connection with HLS's VPN Software (see below).
Securing your Wireless Network with VPN
VPN (Virtual Private Network) is used to allow members of the HLS community to encrypt their wireless connection.
To encrypt their connection, students should first install the appropriate VPN Client software on their system. VPN installers can be downloaded from the software library.
To login to VPN, students should enter his/her email username (including @law) and password.
Configuring Wireless for use on the HLS Network
When configuring wireless for use on the HLS network, make sure that Internet Connection Sharing is not enabled. If you have Internet Connection Sharing enabled and your computer is found to be interfering with the ability of others to connect to the HLS network, your network connection will be disabled until you turn off Internet Connection Sharing.
ITSI Line (network outage information)
ITS maintains an automated information line to keep the community informed of network outages. Please call 8.ITSI (617.998.4874) to get updated information on known network and system outages.
Reporting Network Problems
When reporting network issues, please provide these key pieces of information:
- Your name and contact information in case we need to follow up with you
- Whether it is a wired or wireless problem
- Exact location, including jack number if it is a wired issue. Please provide building and location description for wireless issues
- Exact time and date of the problem
- Detailed description of the problem including any error messages
You may also submit problem reports via these online forms: