Wireless network

Introduction

The wireless network of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) allows all of the users of the PRBB building (residents and visitors) to access the internet via WIFI technology, a service based on mobility, speed and flexible access.

The service does not only meet the needs of the residents, but also permits visitors to access the web. The PRBB participates in the Eduroam roaming Project, which aims to enable network access for our visitors from academic and research institutions as well as for members of the PRBB Consortium when they visit other institutions in the Project.. 

Eduroam is a project driven by the TERENA TF-Mobility roaming group and the Géant2 JRA5 project.

Eduroam is a common roaming area between the institutions in the group:

• Members of the Eduroam associate institutions can connect to the Internet through the PRBB wireless network while visiting our building.
• PRBB Consortium members who visit other institutions associated with Eduroam can connect to the Internet using the wireless network of the institution they are visiting.

Internet access from the PRBB

The PRBB’s wireless network can be accessed in two ways. Each method is identified by a name published though the wireless network, or SSID (Service Set IDentifier)

• SSID PRBB. This is the access method recommended by the Information Technology Service for both residents and visiting researchers, as well as for meetings and conferences that take place in the PRBB building. It is the only access method available for people belonging to groups for which the PRBB cannot give Eduroam access (see service regulations). The configuration of most Windows and Macintosh machines is automatic and only needs a shared password which is periodically changed and which is always published on the PRBB intranet.
• SSID eduroam. This may be used by personnel from centres associated to the project, which in the PRBB building are the UPF, the PRBB Consortium as well as external PRBB visitors from Eduroam associated centres. The initial configuration is more complex, but it is more secure and allows WIFI access from other Eduroam institutions. Access to the service is always though the same credentials provided by the home institution. In the case of the PRBB Consortium the credentials for access to the internal PRBB network are used, adding @prbb.org to the user code (for example ncognom@prbb.org).
  

Areas with signal

The majority of departments on the 7 floors of the PRBB have cover as do the Auditorium, terraces, Animal House and interior patio.

Given the physical medium which the wireless network uses (electromagnetic waves) and the architecture of the buildings it is difficult to define in detail the areas which enjoy wireless access. Moreover, different types of connection devices or models of devices can behave differently in areas with limited cover.

Support

In case of problems connecting to the PRBB or Eduroam wireless networks, you can phone the PRBB Information Technology service on extension 1021, or email tic@prbb.org.

Access from other Eduroam associated institutions

Spain

The Eduroam project has a strong presence in Spain, in the case of having to visit another university or research centre it is highly probable that there is the possibility of connecting to their wireless network using the Eduroam method. The list of Spanish institutions associated to the project can be found on the eduroam.eswebpage, together with the access method and links to each institution’s service information pages.

Being away from the PRBB needs no additional configuration. The fact that all of the Spanish institutions use exactly the same configuration means that the connection procedure is the same from within the PRBB as from any other Spanish institution which is associated to the project.

The rest of the world

The Eduroam project has a strong presence in Europe and is beginning to develop in the rest of the world. In the case of travel to these areas we advise that you consult the availability of the service in the institutions or cities to be visited.

It is also necessary to bear in mind that although Spain has standardised the SSID, authentication system and encryption algorithm, in other countries this has not happened. This means that it may be necessary to reconfigure the computer in order to adapt it to the specific Eduroam access configuration used by the institution to be visited.

Regulation

As a participant in the project the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) adopts the Eduroam usage policy.