IT Device support statement

You must ensure that your devices and operating systems are up-to-date and in line with our minimum hardware specifications.

Before attempting to connect any device to the University network, please ensure the device is up to date with all available updates including firmware updates, security updates and patches.

Devices no longer supported by the manufacturer, or unable to receive the latest updates, may be incompatible with some university systems and may not be able to be connected to the University’s secure wireless network (eduroam).

The wireless network

Please note that some older devices may not be compatible with the university network. You may not be able to utilise a full online gaming experience using gaming consoles, as they will need to be NAT type 3 (Strict).

We recommend that your device’s operating system is up to date with all the updates and patches installed, and you have applied the latest wireless network drivers onto the device beforehand.

Supported Wi-Fi standards (generations)

Please consult your manufacturer’s website to confirm the network connection type used by your device

Please note: whilst 802.11n is supported, performance on the university network may be poor when compared to newer 802.11ac or ax. Use of an 802.11n device may also impact the performance of other network users. If this is the case, you may be requested to remove an 802.11n device from the network.

Operating System Requirements

Devices and software change often. Given the diverse range of devices staff and students bring to the university, it’s difficult to maintain a list of all supported devices and operating systems.

However, generally, devices no longer supported by the manufacturer, not running an up-to-date operating system, or unable to receive latest security updates are considered obsolete.

Obsolete devices present a security risk to the University and should not be connected to the university network and may not run certain university applications.

Please consult with your device manufacturer (this information is normally available on their website) to confirm if your device remains a supported and able to receive the latest updates.

The university network in halls of residence

The university network, which is also used in halls of residence, is primarily an academic network. It does not replicate an ‘at home’ (home broadband) network experience.

For students staying in halls of residence, some gaming consoles may not offer a full online gaming experience and some types of devices (for example some printers) may not be compatible.

Gaming

Modern gaming consoles offer the ability to host games, allow others to connect to your hosted game, or allow you to connect to games hosted by others.

This is achieved using a ‘public’ IP address, and at home, your home router will convert an internal private IP address into a public one – a process known as Network Address Translation (NAT).

There are different types of NAT environment.

Wi-Fi printers in halls of residences will need to connect to the network using a “Personal Pre-Shared Key (PPSK)”.  Like a password, a PPSK is required to authenticate the printer on the University Network. It’s important to check your printer is PPSK compatible (for example, it will allow you to enter a Pre-shared key (PPSK)), and this information will be displayed in the specification/technical information for your printer (a good place to check is the printer manufacturers website for your specific printer)

If your device does not support PPSK, for devices with a USB connection, you may be required to print directly to your printer from USB.  For devices that do not have a USB connection, it may not be possible to use the printer on the University network.

Windows devices

Microsoft regularly review how updates and releases are delivered and supported but the practical outcome is generally similar to the following:

Microsoft supplies regular updates for the current Windows version and the two previous major releases.

Users should verify that all the software and services required for their working or learning role are fully supported by a newly released Windows operating system version before updating to that new version.

To ensure that users are not exposed to unnecessary security risks and compatibility issues we strongly recommend that users use a device that can run any of the supported operating system versions described above. Regular updates will be delivered which users should not prevent from being deployed. An up-to-date endpoint protection and anti-malware utility is also required. University owned devices must run the approved endpoint protection product provided by University IT.

MacOS users must run an up-to-date anti-malware utility. Sophos Endpoint Protection is available for University-owned Apple computers.

Find details of Apple’s recently released updates and the device models they support on the Apple support website.

University IT reserves the right to disconnect Apple devices from the Cardiff University networks if they pose a threat to other users, devices or services.

Tablets, Chromebooks and computers running Windows 10S

Please note that tablets, Chromebooks, and computers running Windows 10S (a cut down version of Windows) may not be suitable for long term academic study.