Connecting Ubuntu to TAMU WiFi

Overview

TAMU_WiFi, a service of Technology Services, is Texas A&M’s campus wireless network that provides Internet and network access on the go. TAMU_WiFi primarily uses Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) for greater security and easier access for Texas A&M faculty, staff, and students. This documentation will show you how to configure Ubuntu in order to connect to the TAMU_WiFi wireless network. 

Instructions

Note: you should only use the second set of instructions (Connecting on Ubuntu Desktop without CA certificates) if the first set of instructions does not work. Connecting without a CA certificate makes it much easier for someone to steal your credentials and monitor your network activity. Additionally, many companies are removing the option to not use a CA certificate, including Android.

Connecting on Ubuntu Desktop with CA certificates

1. Click in the top right corner to open the quick menu
2. Click on Settings
3. Click on Wi-Fi on the left side of the settings window
4. Ensure the WiFi toggle switch is turn on in the upper right corner of the settings window.
5. Forget the network if you have tried to connect to it before
   1. Click the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner of the settings window
   2. Select Known Wi-Fi Networks
   3. Check TAMU_WiFi in the menu which appears. If it does not appear, click the close button on the popup and continue to step 6 below
   4. Select Forget
   5. Select Forget again in the popup that appears.
   6. Click the close button in the upper right corner of the popup 
6. Select TAMU_WiFi under "Visible Networks"
7. Use these settings for TAMU_WiFi:
   • Wi-Fi security: WPA & WPA2 Enterprise
   • Authentication: Protected EAP (PEAP)
   • Anonymous identity: leave blank
   • Domain: tamu.edu
   • CA certificate: Select from file...
     • You will need to either find this file or download it onto your device
       1. Navigate to /etc/ssl/certs and select one of these files:
          • USERTrust_RSA_Certification_Authority.pem
          • USERTrust_RSA_Certification_Authority.der
          • USERTrust_RSA_Certification_Authority.crt
          • USERTrust_RSA_Certification_Authority.cer
       2. If you cannot find that file, you will need to download it:
          1. Navigate to https://sectigo.com/knowledge-base/detail/Sectigo-Intermediate-Certificates/kA01N000000rfBO on a device with internet access.
          2. Download the file SHA-2 Root : USERTrust RSA Certification Authority under Root Certificates
             • Transfer this file to the device which needs to connect to WiFi if you had to download it on another device.
          3. Move the file to /etc/ssl/certs
          4. Select that file.
   • PEAP version: Automatic
   • Inner authentication: MSCHAPv2
   • Username: your NetID
   • Password: your NetID password
8. Your device should now be connecting to TAMU_WiFi. If it is successful, there will be a check mark next to the network name in the "Visible Networks" list.

Connecting on Ubuntu Desktop without CA certificates

1. Click in the top right corner to open the quick menu
2. Click on Settings
3. Click on Wi-Fi on the left side of the settings window
4. Ensure the WiFi toggle switch is turn on in the upper right corner of the settings window.
5. Forget the network ifyou have tried to connect to it before
   1. Click the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner of the settings window
   2. Select Known Wi-Fi Networks
   3. Check TAMU_WiFi in the menu which appears. If it does not appear, click the close button on the popup and continue to step 6 below
   4. Select Forget
   5. Select Forget again in the popup that appears.
   6. Click the close button in the upper right corner of the popup 
6. Select TAMU_WiFi under "Visible Networks"
7. Use these settings for TAMU_WiFi:
   • Wi-Fi security: WPA & WPA2 Enterprise
   • Authentication: Protected EAP (PEAP)
   • Anonymous identity: leave blank
   • Domain: tamu.edu
   • CA Certificate: Check No CA Certificate Is Required
   • PEAP version: Automatic
   • Inner authentication: MSCHAPv2
   • Username: your NetID
   • Password: your NetID password
8. Your device should now be connecting to TAMU_WiFi. If it is successful, there will be a check mark next to the network name in the "Visible Networks" list.

Ubuntu Command Line

Ubuntu 16.04 or Earlier

These versions of Ubuntu use a package called wpa_supplicant.

Ubuntu 18.04 or Later

These versions of Ubuntu use a package called netplan.