Connecting Your Computer to the Internet at the UW

Making Ethernet Connections
Making Dial-in Connections
Making Wireless Connections
Other Useful Information (including phone numbers for the dial-in modem pools, using outside ISPs to connect to the UW)

Making Ethernet Connections

UW Technology has overall responsibility for the communications infrastructure for the entire UW system. This includes central computing and telephone services within buildings and between buildings, as well as remote facilities such as the UW campuses in Bothell and Tacoma.

From Campus Offices
A standard campus office configuration to connect to the campus network consists of twisted-pair wiring for voice and data communication. Check with your computer support person to see if you need to request an IP address and a unique name for your computer. For assistance in obtaining network connections, contact Network Installation at install@u.washington.edu or 206.543.5068.

If you have the correct wiring, you can buy the UW Internet Connectivity Kit at the University Book Store. Easy instructions for setting up your office computer with an Ethernet connection to the UW Network accompany the connectivity software in the kit.
From Residence Halls
Most rooms in the campus residence halls now have Ethernet access. To connect to the UW network, please configure your computer for use in the Residence Halls. Then, with the proper equipment, a UW NetID, and the UW Internet Connectivity Kit (UWICK), you will have access to your UW e-mail and computing services. Your use of the UW network is governed by several rules.
From Off Campus
If you already have a connection to the Internet for your off-campus computer, such as with your home computer through a private Internet Service Provider (ISP), you can access most UW services using that connection. For more information, see Using Outside ISPs to Connect to the UW.

Connecting to UW Computing Services

Once you are connected, you can reach UW computing services in a number of ways.

Use your browser to connect to MyUW, the The UW Home Page or any of the thousands of other UW Web sites.
Use a desktop email program such as PC-Pine, Outlook Express, or Netscape Communicator to read your UW email. These three, pre-configured for use with UW dial-in modems and computers, are included in the UW Internet Connectivity Kit.
Use a secure terminal session program (available in the UW Internet Connectivity Kit) to make secure connections to UW Uniform Access Unix computers. You can also use a secure terminal session program to read your UW email on Dante (for UW students) or Homer (for UW faculty and staff).

Making Dial-in Connections

In addition to campus Ethernet connections, UW students, faculty, and staff can use the UW Technology dial-in modem pools to connect to the campus network and computers from home or on the road whenever they need to check email, search databases or Web pages, write programs, etc.

The UW Internet Connectivity Kit
For most people, whether you are connecting to the campus network from on campus or off, whether you are connecting through the campus network or dial-in modems, all the software and information you need to get connected can be found in the UW Internet Connectivity Kit. The connectivity kit is available for $1 at the University Bookstore and its campus branches.
Set Up Notes for Those Unable to Use the Connectivity Kit to Connect to the UW Network
Before you buy the kit, please take a look at its description here on the Web to make sure the kit meets your needs. Though UW Technology is only able to support the software it provides, the information given on the Web may be enough to get you started on your own. If you still have questions about connecting your computer to the UW Network after studying this information, send email to UW Technology technical support at help@u.washington.edu

Other Useful Information

You are expected to know and adhere to the rules for network use at the UW no matter where or how you are making your connection to the campus computing and networking resources.

Though the UW Internet Connectivity Kit comes pre-configured with the Internet addresses, modem standards and dial-in numbers you need, you might find yourself in a situation where the following information will come in handy:

To get help or make comments about the information on this page, use Send a Question to UW Technology to contact UW Technology.