Connectivity

The Nexus domain
  • The main computer network on campus is called Nexus (also known as the Nexus domain). The WatIAM userid assigned to you is your Nexus userid; the password you set in WatIAM will be set for your Nexus account.
  • Office and lab computers are joined to the Nexus domain as are many servers that provide computing resources. To access these services, you enter either your userid or Nexus\userid, along with your WatIAM password. Some systems require you to add the "Nexus\" prefix to your userid, others do not.
  • If you are on a computer that is not on the Nexus domain (e.g. home computer) and want to access network storage, you will need to enter “Nexus\userid”. From off campus connection using the UW Virtual Private Network (VPN) is required to get to network storage and many services that are restricted to on-campus use.

Wireless - eduroam
  • eduroam is a network used by the research and education community. As such, you can log on to any eduroam network using your userid@uwaterloo.ca. The @uwaterloo.ca is required after your userid as it identifies what home institution to check with for authorization (see: What is Eduroam)
  • When you are on-campus, select eduroam as the wireless network and enter your userid followed by @uwaterloo.ca (i.e. userid@uwaterloo.ca) and your UW password
  • Refer to "Connecting to the eduroam wireless network" for more information on setting up specific devices
  • If you have visitors/guests who need to use the wireless network they can connect to the UniversityOfWaterloo wireless network. Instructions on connecting can be found at UniversityOfWaterloo - Captive Portal. Note that access is granted for 24 hours but can be repeated as necessary. If you have longer-term guests, please contact Health Computing to explore other options.  

Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  • Some resources are available only to those on-campus. In order to connect to these when you are off-campus, you need to establish a connection through the UW Virtual Private Network (VPN). This makes it look like you are on-campus to most systems.
  • Only your traffic to/from UW will be routed over the VPN connection. Traffic to non-UW sites will continue to use your normal connection.
  • Software/client set-up instructions are available for Windows and Mac computers on the IST website

Printing
  • Student printing is done through the W Print service offered through Print + Retail Solutions. Please refer to the Print + Retail Solutions website for more information on W Print.
  • Departments have multi-function printer/copier machines provided by Print + Retail Solutions. Most of these have print accounting codes associated with them.
  • For more sensitive documents, you may want to use the "Secure Print" option that allows you to send a print job and it will not print until you release it at the printer.
  • Faculty and Staff should contact your Health Computing representative to get information on how to print to the departmental printer in your area.

Virtual Computing lab
  • The virtual computing lab is a group of computers that you can use to access software for Faculty of Health courses. All you need is a browser to connect to a computer in the lab.
  • See Health Virtual Computing Lab for details and instructions on how to connect.