Network Validation Process FAQ
Questions
Q: Why do I have to go through this Network Access Procedure?
Q: Am I required to install any software on my computer?
Q: What is the Clean Access Agent?
Q: How often will I have to login?
Q: What is the difference between "authenticating" and "validating"?
Q: How will I know when my login session expires?
Q: Each time I try to use my computer to access the internet, my browser
tells me that I need to login. Why do I have to login frequently?
Q: How do I tell if I am already logged in?
Q: How do I tell if I am Quarantined/Unauthenticated?
Q: I use a personal firewall; will this cause a problem?
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Q: Why do I have to go through this Network Access Procedure?
A: UNC Charlotte is making every effort to make your network experience
productive and secure. This will assist us in protecting the network
resources and reduce excessive downtime and cleanup costs due to virus
outbreaks and vulnerabilities.
In the past, students, through no fault of their own, in most cases, were
not able to access the internet/network due to computer virus infections and
Operating System vulnerabilities for as long as several weeks. From
investigations into the cause of these problems, it has been determined that
the best way to prevent down time from happening as frequently is to insure
that virus software and Operating System critical update/patches are current
and maintained.
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Q: Am I required to install any software on my computer?
A: All Microsoft Windows computers are required to install the Clean Access
Agent before they can connect to the university network. You will also be
required to use an Anti-virus application and turn on Automatic Updates. If
you don't currently own Anti-virus software, the university provides Symantec
Anti-virus Corporate free of charge.
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Q: What is the Clean Access Agent?
A: Clean Access Agent is the client application that can check certain
security settings on any Microsoft Windows PC to make sure that the system
is up-to-date with required security patches and report this status to the
Clean Access Server. No information about the user or the content of user
files is sent to the server. Each user must use Clean Access Agent for
his/her Microsoft Windows PC in order to authenticate and use the university
network.
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Q: How often will I have to login?
A: Each time your PC reboots or comes out of sleep mode you'll have to login
to regain network access. PC's are only allowed continuous network
access for a period of 12 hours. After that time they will be forced
to login to regain network access. Additionally every Monday your machine will have
to re-validate requiring a login.
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Q: What is the difference between "authenticating" and "validating"?
A: Authenticating is the process of verifying your access to the network by
confirming your username and password and associating it with your computer. Validating is the process of confirming that certain security measures are
in place on your computer. When you login using the Clean Access Agent, you
first authenticate your username, then the agent validates your system
state.
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Q: How will I know when my login session expires?
A: The software will proactively notify you that your network connection
will timeout shortly. Also, you will know that your login has expired when
your browser redirects you to the login page. If you choose “logout” from
Clean Access Agent or your browser, you expire your login session. Other
indications that your network connection has been terminated are:
• Email may fail to send or receive.
• Instant messaging fails or suddenly stops working.
• File downloads may suddenly stop
• Browser may be redirected to login page.
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Q: Each time I try to use my computer to access the internet, my browser
tells me that I need to login. Why do I have to login frequently?
A: Many computers are configured to "sleep" when not in use, if your
computer is set this way, you will be logged off the network and must
authenticate to regain access each time your computer "sleeps" more than
5
minutes.
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Q: How do I tell if I am already logged in?
A: The best way is to try to go to an internet site. In most cases, if you
are ABLE to access a site such as www.google.com, you are online and logged
in.
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Q: How do I tell if I am Quarantined/Unauthenticated?
A: The best way is to try to go to an internet site. In most cases, if you
are UNABLE to access an external site, such as www.google.com, you are
UNauthenticated or might be Quarantined (the Clean Access Agent should
indicate this status).
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Q: I use a personal firewall; will this cause a problem?
A: Usually no. In most cases, a personal firewall will work fine. Depending
upon the firewall product you will receive several pop-up windows requesting
“ok to proceed”. Some of the personal firewalls are:
• Windows XP
• BlackIce
• Zone Alarm
• Sygate
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