The WiFi@OSU network functions as the entry point for network connectivity at Ohio State. Predominately used by guests and visitors, this open Wi-Fi network allows for easy association and a login through a captive portal. Guests and visitors are provided 12 hours of uninterrupted network access after accepting the terms of use. Students, faculty, and staff can also use the captive portal as a launching point to onboard and configure their device for the eduroam Wi-Fi network.
It is not recommended that students, faculty, and staff log in through the captive portal. Instead, use the eduroam or Registered4OSU Wi-Fi networks. Read more at wireless.osu.edu.
Network role at a glance:
- Wi-Fi connectivity only. No wired option available
- Private IP addressing with network address translation (NAT) for all traffic
- DHCP reservations and Dynamic DNS are not supported.
- All outbound traffic permitted
- No inbound traffic permitted.
- Traffic between WiFi@OSU devices disallowed
Network Role Characteristics
Aliases for this role include
- Guest
- Visitor
- Open network
- osu-cp
- WiFi@OSU
Network Traffic Permissions
No outbound traffic limitations are applied to this role.
Inbound traffic is limited to:
- Required Microsoft Teams and Skype protocols and ports
- Known Wi-Fi calling protocols and ports
- Known Apple FaceTime voice and video protocols and ports
How to connect
Users select the WiFi@OSU network from the list of Wi-Fi networks. Most popular operating systems will automatically open a web browser window and display the Network Access Login page. If a web browser window does not open, simply open a web browser and browse to wireless.osu.edu, which will redirect to the Network Access Login page.
Guests and visitors should review the terms of use, check the box accepting those terms, and select Log In. After logging in, the user will be redirected to the Ohio State website and will have 12 hours of Internet access before having to reauthenticate through the login page again.
Students, faculty, and staff should select the Connect to eduroam option to onboard and configure their device for the eduroam Wi-Fi network.
IP (Internet Protocol) Addressing
Devices that have logged in through the captive portal are placed in an authenticated role and are assigned private IPv4 address space dynamically assigned through DHCP. Neither IP address reservations nor Dynamic DNS is supported for this network role. All outbound traffic will have the source IP translated to routable IPv4 public address space outside of Ohio State’s traditionally assigned campus address space. IPv6 addresses are not currently supported for this network role.
Additional Information for IT Teams
All devices that associate to WiFi@OSU for the first time are placed into an unauthenticated network role. It is that unauthenticated network role that forces the captive portal redirection. Once a user logs in as a guest, the role is assigned an authenticated role and the device’s MAC address is cached for 12 hours. This means that if the device disassociates and comes back within the 12 hours, it is automatically assigned the authenticated network role and does not have to revisit the captive portal.