MSU Information Technology provides the MSU community with network and wired and wireless Internet access on campus and in outlying MSU research centers. MSU IT also manages the MSUnet campus backbone and IP network resources.
Wired network connections are provided in offices, residence halls, lecture halls, and computer labs, as well as in common meeting areas such as libraries, study lounges, and athletic areas.
Wi-Fi network access is available in academic buildings on much of campus (including the south campus farms) to support the mobility of faculty, staff, and students.
Network Partnerships
MSU partners in several external network and data connectivity projects with other universities and organizations.
The Michigan LambdaRail (MiLR) is a high-speed network built jointly by Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University, and operated by the Merit Network. MiLR provides 10Gbps Ethernet connections between researchers at the three universities and national and international connection points in Chicago.
MSU is also part of OmniPoP, which is a fiber optic network collaboration between the participating Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions that connects them to each other and to research hubs worldwide with 10Gbps connectivity.
Wi-Fi Details
MSUnet Wireless supports the current Wi-Fi standards – 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n. The 802.11n standard operates in both the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies.
To maintain Wi-Fi quality, MSU IT can constrain any wireless network devices with incorrect or conflicting configurations that could adversely impact the performance of MSUnet Wireless.
Wi-Fi in Residence Halls
MSU provides Wi-Fi in common areas and classroom spaces in all residence halls. All residence hall rooms are Wi-Fi ready.
Some residence halls provide wireless network service throughout the building, including student rooms, while others require residents to bring their own access points. Access points are available from the MSU Tech Store and other retail outlets.
Current halls with Wi-Fi throughout the buildings include:
- Akers
- Butterfield
- Case
- Holden
- Holmes
- Hubbard
- Landon
- McDonel
- Rather
- Snyder-Philips
- Wilson
Setting up an Access Point
Students looking to set up a wireless access point in residence halls that don’t have Wi-Fi should be sure to password protect the access point to help ensure other users don’t use their connection. Students are responsible for whatever is done using their registered Internet connection, including any pirated file activity.
Note: Whoever registers the wireless connection/access point with MSU (over DHCP) is liable for the activities of any system connected to that device. If it’s unsecured and others use the network connection for malicious activities (including illegal sharing of copyrighted materials), the access point owner will be liable.
Read the NetGear Access Point configuration article for more information.
Department Wi-Fi Networks
Any MSU unit wireless network not integrated with MSUnet Wireless should follow these guidelines:
- The SSID “MSUnet Wireless” and any SSID containing the words “MSUnet Wireless” are reserved for devices belonging to the MSUnet Wireless network.
- The transmitting power of access points should be limited to the minimum that is needed to cover a desired area.
