Wireless VPN Support for Laptops
Anyone seeking support with wireless connections to the PSH network should start with the following two websites, which contain enough information to get 95% of our clients started with no further help: Wireless & Connecting to Wireless. If you find that you DO need assistance, please read below and take the appropriate steps depending on whether you are a student or faculty/staff. (FYI, the most common problems are (1) attempting to connect to the VPN without first connecting to the wireless network; (2) attempting to access resources on the wireless network without activating the VPN client; and (3) problems associated with 64-bit Vista, which are addressed on the website listed above.)
Student Laptop Support
Students should see our Student Help page for general information on getting support (specifically refer to the information regarding the Help Desk and Rescom). For private laptops (laptops not owned by Penn State), ITS staff are only able to help with issues directly related to connecting to the Penn State wireless network. Students should start at the Help Desk or Rescom; if they are unable to help you, they will refer you to the ITS offices in E302 Olmsted. If you are seeking assistance with issues not related to connecting to the wireless network, there are many private organizations in the area that will be happy to assist you for a fee.
Student Laptop Backups
ITS does not offer a backup service to students. All students should ensure that their data are backed up regularly. At a minimum, purchase a USB disk and make copies of all your files and folders on your USB disk. You might also consider using your PASS space to make backups. Any piece of information which is not located in two different places should be considered in danger of immediate loss.
Faculty & Staff Laptop Support
ITS provides full support for University-owned laptops. Simply submit a Service Request and an ITS Consultant will contact you to schedule a time to work with you. For private laptops (non-University-owned), ITS staff are only able to help with issues directly related to connecting to the Penn State wireless network; if you are seeking assistance with issues not related to connecting to the wireless network, there are many private organizations in the area that will be happy to assist you for a fee.
Faculty & Staff Laptop Backups
ITS will provide backups to any University-owned laptop used by any faculty or staff for University-related business. Your machine may already be regularly backed up!
How Do I Know If My Laptop Is Being Backed Up? Click on your Start Menu, then All Programs, then Utilities, then Backup, then Symantec Backup Exec, then the Symantec Backup Exec Desktop Agent. You will either see that it IS backing up your files, or that it IS NOT. If it is not, submit a Service Request to ITS. If you don't see the Symantec Backup Exec Desktop Agent, submit a Service Request to ITS.
IMPORTANT: Consider that your laptop may only be connected to our network every now and then. Thus even if it IS scheduled for regular backups, it may not be regularly backed up. All laptop users should ensure that their data are backed up regularly. At a minimum, purchase a USB disk and make copies of all your files and folders on your USB disk. You might also consider using your PASS space to make backups. Any piece of information which is not located in two different places should be considered in danger of immediate loss.