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New PPS-Wireless Staff/Student Network
Important Information for All PPS Staff
The Office of Technology & Information Services is excited to announce that Portland Public Schools is making the move to a new, more secure wireless network. This network will become the main staff and student wireless network in all PPS buildings and will replace the current PPS-wifi network.
All PPS-owned devices will have secure permissions to access this network.
Personal devices (mobile phones, personal laptops/iPads etc.) should continue to use the default PPS-Wifi-Guest wireless network.
Why are we making this change?
Our existing PPS-Wifi network configuration is out of date with newer advances in IT networking technology.
Replacing with the new PPS-Wireless configuration will improve network speeds, provide increased security and prevent unauthorized devices accessing PPS networks.
When is this change taking place?
This change will take place as follows:
1. The new PPS-Wireless network will be piloted at a) PEC, Harrison Park & Ockley Green beginning on March 14th, 2022 and b) Grant HS & McDaniel HS beginning on May 1st 2022.
2. After pilot issues are identified and quickly resolved, OTIS will announce a go live for all PPS buildings. UPDATE: The new network will go live district-wide on Saturday, May 14th, 2022.
OTIS staff will begin deploying secure certificates to all PPS chromebooks and PPS Windows devices automatically. These certificates will allow PPS devices to auto-connect to the new, more robust network. You may also continue to connect to the old PPS-Wifi network during this time. PPS Chromebook certificates were deployed in May 2022. All PPS Windows desktops/laptops will have certificates deployed on August 1st, 2022.
3. PPS MAC/OS devices (desktops/laptops/PPS iPads) may need to be manually updated by PPS Support.
4. The old PPS-Wifi password-protected network will be deactivated on Saturday, December 17th 2022. Please contact the support desk if you are having connectivity issues once the old network is deactivated.
**** Target project dates last revised - 12/15/2022 ****
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What is the new PPS-Wireless network password?
There is no publicly available network password. Your PPS device will need a certificate to connect and certificates will be deployed seamlessly by the OTIS team.
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How will my PPS device change?
IT Support will deploy a technology certificate to your device that will give you secure access to the new wireless network. This will be like a 'ticket' that allows you access to the PPS network. Only PPS owned devices will get a certificate.
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I have a PPS Chromebook or Windows device - what do I need to do?
OTIS will deploy new wireless network credentials automatically to all PPS-owned chromebooks and Windows devices. You should see that your device auto-connects to the new PPS-Wireless network as a default.
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I have a PPS MAC/OS device - what do I need to do?
If your MAC/OS device is PPS-owned and less than 3 years old, you should have no significant issues. Older versions of MAC devices may need OTIS support to detect the new network.
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What about PPS Student Chromebooks?
OTIS staff will auto-deploy certificates to all PPS student chromebooks. Once updated a chromebook will connect to the new PPS-Wireless network seamlessly.
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Will I need to update any wireless settings?
The new network configuration will be deployed to Chrome and Windows devices automatically.
In December 2022 OTIS will remove the old PPS-Wifi network and you will need to delete any old network connection settings that still point to PPS-Wifi.
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I bring my own device to work - what are my options?
Our new security posture only allows known PPS-owned devices access to PPS-Wireless. You may connect using the existing PPS-Wifi-Guest wireless network.
New PPS-Wireless network
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We are moving to a new, more secure PPS-Wireless network at all PPS Buildings.
Both the new network (PPS-Wireless) and the older network (PPS-Wifi) will be available, but your PPS-owned device will attempt to connect to the new network by default. The guest wifi network is still available for non-PPS devices.
All PPS-issued devices have been updated to connect to the new PPS-Wireless as a default.
On December 17th, 2022, the old PPS-WiFi network will be deactivated. Please contact support@pps.net if you experience any connectivity issues.