Faculty and Staff members are welcome to bring their own laptops on campus to connect to Pacernet.  Initially the laptop should be brought by the Help Desk to have it checked and configured to connect to USC Aiken's wireless network.

Once your laptop is configured, you'll simply need to open your browser each time you arrive on campus and log into the PacerNet Impulse screen as shown below.

Once you've logged in as shown above, you should have access to the internet.  If you run into any further issues, please give the Help Desk a call for assistance.

Connecting a network drive from a campus owned Mac, is a fairly simply procedure.  Once done correctly, repeating the task is even easier.

The video below explains this procedure.

New video available soon

To connect to the campus network while you're away from campus, you'll just need an internet connection and our Junos Pulse VPN software installed.

Please visit our VPN (Off-Campus Network Access) topic for instructions on how to install Junos PulseSecure.

Faculty and staff should connect their laptops and wireless devices to the PacerNet wireless network, which uses Impulse SafeConnect software.

Desktop users connecting through a wired connection will also need to install the Impulse software.

The setup for Impulse is very simple.  As a result, the screen shots and instructions below are not meant to be step-by-step instructions or to walk you through installation.  These instructions are provided only to make you familiar with what you will likely see the first time you open your web browser after connecting to PacerNet.

Off-Campus Install

If you are off-campus and would like to pre-install the SafeConnect client, you may do so by downloading and installing it directly.  After running the downloaded file, the installation process will be similar to the screens shown below.

Install Impulse on a Windows system: Impulse SafeConnect Installer 

Install Impulse on a Mac system: Impulse SafeConnect Installer

On-Campus Install

You should first connect to PacerNet through wireless, or by connecting your computer through a wired connection.

To install Impulse SafeConnect, open your web browser. You should immediately see a screen similar to the one show below.

NOTE: In some cases this screen may take several minutes to appear. If the screen doesn't appear immediately just continue to use the web as you normally would until the screen is displayed, then continue with the instructions. If the screen fails to eventually display, or if you are off-campus, you should follow the Off-Campus Install instructions.

Enter your Pacer Account username and password as shown. Then click Submit.

You'll be shown this screen, and given the chance to read the terms and requirements regarding use of Impulse. To continue, and receive access to the internet, you must click Yes stating that you accept the terms as shown below.

At this point the software will automatically begin downloading. You may see a pop-up bar at the top of your browser asking if it is OK to download or install the software, if so, you must permit it.

A pop-up window similar to the one shown below will be displayed. To begin installation click Run.

You may be presented with a second pop-up window, if so, again click Run as shown below.

Within just a few seconds, the software will be ready to install. You'll then see the window below. Click Install.

The installation should take only a few moments. When it's complete, you'll be show the window below. Just click OK. Impulse SafeConnect is now fully installed on your system.

You should be left with a web page like the one shown here. Close and reopen your web broswer. Impulse SafeConnect will then automatically check your computer to ensure that all anti-virus and Windows Updates are fully updated. If anything is found to require an update, Impulse will instruct you on how to proceed.

All campus owned computers have the Symantec anti-virus software installed.  If at any time, Symantec pops up a warning regarding possible detection of a virus, spyware, or any other malware related issue, you should immediately contact the Help Desk for assistance.

A few things to keep in mind regarding viruses on campus:

• Many spyware/viruses will attempt to mimic anti-virus software warnings, by stating that your system is infected with viruses.  For this reason, if at any time you see ANY such warning, we ask that you not continue using your system until after you have contacted the Help Desk and we have eliminated any threat from your system.  If you do continue using  your system, you are taking a serious risk of further infecting your system and those of your coworkers.
• No one from CSD or the Help Desk will ever ask for your password through an email.  Any email you receive which requests this information should immediately be forwarded to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and then deleted from your mailbox.  
• NEVER open an attachment with the extension of EXE or ZIP, without first contacting the sender to ensure that they did in fact send you the attached file.  Many viruses are spread using these file types.  For this reason these file types are automatically stripped from emails going to or coming from your USC Aiken email address.
• If for any reason the Help Desk or CSD requests you disconnect your computer from the network, or do so themselves due to an infection on your system, you MUST NOT reconnect this cable yourself.  Doing so can cause an immediate spread of infection to your coworkers computers, do damage to the network and servers, and could lead to expensive damage to other network resources and components. 

Installing PulseSecure is now much easier than with previous versions.  If you already have an older version installed, your client will update the first time you re-connect. If you don't currently have it installed on your system, just follow the instructions below:

• If you run a 64-bit version of Windows, click here to download the 64-bit PulseSecure installer (most people).
• If you run a 32-bit version of Windows, click here to download the 32-bit PulseSecure installer.
• Sign-in using your USC Aiken email address and password.
• The installer will download to your system, run it and complete any prompts necessary to complete the install.

PulseSecure is now installed on your computer.

Installing PulseSecure is now much easier than with previous versions.  If you already have an older version installed, your client will update the first time you re-connect. If you don't currently have it installed on your system, just follow the instructions below:

• Click here to download PulseSecure for Mac.
• Sign-in using your USC Aiken email address and password.
• The installer will download to your system, run it and complete any prompts necessary to complete the install.

PulseSecure is now installed on your computer.

Windows

To Connect:

• Click Start -> All Applications - > Pulse Secure or PulseSecure. The icon will be similar to the one shown to the right.
• Click "Connect" in the Pulse Secure window.
• If asked for a server enter: vpn.usca.edu/ad
• Enter your USCA email address and password in the login dialog before clicking "Connect" again to complete the connection.

To Disconnect:

• Click the PulseSecure icon in your task bar.
• Click "Disconnect" in the Pulse window.

Mac

To Connect:

• Click Go -> Applications - > Junos Pulse Secure or PulseSecure. The icon will be similar to the one shown to the right.
• Click "Connect" in the Junos Pulse window.
• If asked for a server enter: vpn.usca.edu/ad
• Enter your USCA email address and password in the login dialog before clicking "Connect" again to complete the connection.

To Disconnect:

• Click the PulseSecure icon in your launch Bar.
• Click "Disconnect" in the Juno Pulse window.

Accessing files stored at J-drive and K-drive from a non-USC Aiken computer is a simple two step process. First you'll need to establish a Impulse or VPN connection to USC Aiken. Then, you'll connect directly to the server using the commands listed below. 

There are a few things to keep in mind when accessing your folders remotely:

• If you're off-campus, a high speed (DSL or Cable) internet connection is suggested for best results.
• You will only have access to your personal J drive and only K drive folders (and other drives) which you normally have access to.
• If you are on-campus (but on a personal computer), you must first log into Impulse. If you are off-campus, you must first create a VPN connection. You will not be able to connect to the servers until a Impulse or VPN connection has been established.

Connect to Network Drives on PC

 Log Into Impulse (On-Campus) or Log Into VPN (Off-Campus)

 Click Start

 Click the Search field (sometimes called the "Run" field)

 Type one of the following:

• For Student J-drive type: \\student.usca.edu\yourusername$
• For Faculty/Staff J-drive type: \\fileshare.usca.edu\yourusername$
• For K-drive type: \\fileshare.usca.edu\shared
• For USCA Class Folders: \\fileshare.usca.edu\shared\USCA Class Folders

Click OK

Enter This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Password

Check Remember Username and Password

Click OK 

Connect to Network Drives on MACs

Log Into Impulse (On-Campus) or Log Into VPN (Off-Campus)

Click GO

Click Connect to Server

Type one of the following:

• For Student J-drive type: smb://student.usca.edu/yourusername$
• For Faculty/Staff J-drive type: smb://fileshare.usca.edu/home/yourusername
• For K-drive type: smb://fileshare.usca.edu/shared
• For USCA Class Folders: smb://fileshare.usca.edu/shared/USCA Class Folders

Click OK

USC-Columbia recently switched back to using Cisco AnyConnect for VPN access.  If you need to connect to Columbia's VPN, please follow the instructions on their website:

Download the Cisco AnyConnect Software

You'll find this software listed in the catalog at the link above.  The software is free to download.

Installation Guide for Cisco AnyConnect

Step-by-step instructions to install Cisco AnyConnect on both Windows and Mac computers.

Using Cisco AnyConnect

Detailed instructions on using AnyConnect for the first time.

Cisco AnyConnect and the Columbia VPN are supported by the Columbia campus.  If you have any issues connecting to Columbia's VPN, please contact the Columbia UTS Service Desk at: 803-777-1800.

Campus computer labs can be accessed remotely using the VMware Horizon Client. 

See instructions for connecting to a campus computer lab remotely

To access class folders on a Windows machine:

• Open File Explorer
• Double-click shared (\\fileshare) (K:)
• Locate your folders within the USCA CLASS FOLDERS folder

To access the class folders on a Mac:

• Connect To Fileshare.usca.edu
• Select SHARED
• Locate your folders within the USCA CLASS FOLDERS folder

NOTE: If you need to access these folders from off-campus you'll first need to connect to VPN and follow the instructions under "How do I access the K or J-drive while connected to PulseSecure/VPN?" to locate the USCA CLASS FOLDERS.

Students can turn completed work in using the ! Inbox folder which acts as a dropbox.  Students cannot see the contents of this folder and once they drop a file into the folder it is no longer visible to them.  Many professors request students name files using their last name and drag & drop completed work into this folder.  After it has been turned in, it cannot be retracted. The ! Inbox is located at: 

• K:\USCA CLASS FOLDERS\Professor Name\Class Name\! Inbox (Windows)
• Fileshare.usca.edu -> SHARED -> USCA CLASS FOLDERS -> Professor Name -> Class Name -> ! Inbox (Mac)

The class folders also contain a separate sub-folder for each student in the class. The individual student folders are periodically updated to ensure every student added to your class, even after the start of classes, will still have their own folder. Students can store assignments for a class within their sub-folder so that the student and professor can collaborate on files before completion.  Students cannot see files within another student's individual sub-folder, so it is safe for them to use without having to worry about cheating. Only the instructor and the individual student can see the contents of a student's individual folder.  The individual folders are located at:

• K:\USCA CLASS FOLDERS\Professor Name\Class Name\Student Name (Windows)
• Fileshare.usca.edu -> SHARED -> USCA CLASS FOLDERS -> Professor Name -> Class Name -> Student Name (Mac)

NOTE: The settings on the individual student folders may not always work properly on Mac computers.

Class folders are deleted at the end of each semester to make room for the following semester.  Be sure to backup any files you wish to keep before the end of the semester.

If you, or a student, needs to access these folders from off-campus you'll first need to connect to VPN and follow the instructions under "How do I access the K or J-drive while connected to PulseSecure/VPN?" to locate the USCA CLASS FOLDERS.  The Help Desk can assist with installation of the VPN software and locating the class folders once connected.

Setting up a wireless device like a phone or tablet for PacerNet Wi-Fi is quick and easy.  You shouldn't require any special setup or assistance to connect to Wi-Fi.

Just locate "PacerNet" in the list of available Wi-Fi connections. Connect to it by entering your Pacer Account username (without the @usca.edu) and password when prompted.

If your device asks for additional settings during setup, make sure to use the following :

• Set the EAP method to “PEAP,”
• Set Phase 2 authentication to “MSCHAPV2,”
• Set the CA certificate to “Don’t validate,”

If you don't see PacerNet listed or can't connect, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.