Wifi and Network Access
Wifi
Randolph-Macon provides wifi for all students in residential and academic areas. There is no need to bring routers or wireless access points for students on-campus. The use of unauthorized wireless access points degrades the performance of campus wifi and students may be fined for installing a wifi device that negatively impacts other students. For optimum performance Randolph-Macon recommends using a device that supports 802.11 ac Dual Band connectivity.
Network Access
The college also recommends bringing a Cat 6 Ethernet cord for students on-campus. All rooms are currently equipped with one Ethernet port per resident. The wired Ethernet connections are helpful for connecting computers and gaming devices for increased bandwidth and performance.
RMC Guest Wifi
Assessing the Guest Wireless Network throughout campus
Note: Faculty, Staff and Students should only connect to the “RMC” wireless.
- Connect to RMC Connect.
- If a browser page does not automatically open up, then launch one.
- A Welcome to the RMC Network banner page will load.
- Click the check box to accept the network policy.
- Choose to Connect Guest.
Eduroam Global Wifi
Randolph-Macon College is part of eduroam which is an international wireless network providing secure internet service for faculty, staff, and students when traveling to other participating eduroam institutions.
Once your device is connected to the eduroam WiFi, it will connect automatically as you move from one eduroam institution to another, similar to moving between buildings while on the RMC campus. This wireless network provides internet access at any participating organization for members of the RMC community with a valid wireless login.
The Eduroam network is encrypted and secure, and requires you to authenticate once with your home institution full email address and password. (You don’t have to authenticate again until your next password change.)
Eduroam is available in thousands of institutions across 90 countries and territories worldwide.
Benefits of Eduroam
- Travel – Immediate access to secure wireless internet service when you travel to other participating eduroam institutions.
- Visitors – Guests from participating eduroam institutions have immediate access to a secure wireless network at RMC.
- Security – Eduroam employs the latest encryption standard to keep data secure.
Eduroam Locations
- Check out this interactive map of eduroam locations worldwide.
- Use this country list to find participating eduroam institutions in a specific country.
- Find participating institutions in the United States.
*Please note that RMC issued windows laptops connect to RMC while on campus. They can not connect to eduroam even though it is broadcasting.
Duo Multi-Factor Authentication
Duo is Randolph Macon College’s multi-factor authentication service. It provides an additional level of security to prevent unauthorized access to a variety of systems. Multi-factor authentication helps protect against increasingly sophisticated security threats, like phishing, and thwarts unauthorized use of your login credentials.
HOW IT WORKS
- Sign-in with your RMC email address and password as usual when accessing college resources protected by Duo.
- Confirm your login with an enrolled device when prompted.
- If you did not initiate the push, deny access.
ENROLLING IN DUO
Before you can use RMC services that require Duo authentication, you need to enroll.
Before you start the enrollment process install the Duo Mobile App (iOS or Android) on your mobile phone or tablet. Enable push notifications once the app is installed following Duo’s iOS or Android instructions.
If your phone is not compatible with the Duo mobile app, please choose mobile device and enter your cell phone number with area code. For device type choose Other and then Automatically call this device from the pull-down menu.
To start the Duo enrollment process, open a browser on your computer that you are not currently logged into or an incognito window and sign into RMC Webmail using your RMC email address and password. Duo will prompt you to start the setup process. During the enrollment process you can register multiple authentication methods. Methods supported include: Mobile App with Duo Push, tablet, landline, or security key.
We recommend you register at least two devices during the enrollment process, such as your mobile phone and your office phone/landline as a backup. We recommend registering a mobile phone with Duo Push as your preferred authentication method. To add, reactivate, or remove a device, please see visit Duo’s Guide.
Unified Prompt
Duo now provides a simplified and accessible Duo login experience that offers a redesigned visual interface with security and usability enhancements.
Here is an example of the Universal Prompt:
For users who do not want to receive the DUO push, they will need to select “other options”:
DUO Verified Push Upgrade
Rather than texting a code to your phone for you to enter on your computer, Duo will show the code on your computer for you to enter into your phone when you accept the Duo alert. The requirement to enter a number into the phone ensures that you cannot approve a Duo alert unless you are the person who is logging in on the computer.
The login flow now looks like this:
1. Log in with your RMC username and password
2. Duo displays a code on your computer screen.
3. The Duo app on your phone asks you to enter the code that is on your computer screen. You will enter the 3-digit code into your phone’s Duo app and then tap Verify.
The first time you use the verified push version of Duo on a computer, you will be asked if you are using your own device or a device that belongs to someone else. If you are on your own device/computer, meaning that no one else can use it, select #1 in the screenshot below to remember your device to make future logins faster. If you are on a device belonging to someone else (a classroom or lab computer, for example) please select #2 in the screenshot below to make certain Duo will prompt anyone trying to sign in as you.
Traveling or in a location without cellular or internet access? If Duo Push or calls are not accessible, use a six-digit code generated by the Duo Mobile app to authenticate. Launch the Duo Mobile app on your device to get the authentication code, choose “Other options” followed by “Duo Mobile passcode” in the Duo prompt, put in the passcode, and select login to continue as usual. Click here for a Duo passcode video tutorial.
FAQS
- Find more details about how Duo works in the Duo Guide.
- Familiarize yourself with the process by checking out Duo’s Enrollment Instructions.
- Please see Duo’s Guide to Common Issues
- Have a new phone, same number? You still need to reinstall and reactivate Duo Mobile.
- Questions? Contact the ITS Service Desk | 804-752-8500 | helpline@rmc.edu