Using Your Computer in UW Housing
IT Connect > Connecting > Residence Halls
Making the Internet Work for You
Welcome to the University of Washington! We are glad that you are here, and we want to help you get connected to all the computing resources that the University provides to you. This guide is designed to make connecting your computer to the UW network as painless as possible. UW Housing includes UW residence halls and UW owned apartments.
Your UW Housing room is equipped with access to the high-speed campus Ethernet network. This gives you fast access to email, UW Libraries, the MyUW Web site, UW class pages, and information on the Web anywhere in the world. To connect your computer to the campus network, you need:
- A computer with a 10/100bT Ethernet port.
- A connecting cable.
- Software available on the Tools for Safe and Secure Computing page provides all the virus protection, terminal session, and file transfer software you need to securely connect to and use UW computing and networking services.
- If you are living in triples in McCarty, Terry, or Lander, or living in Hagget, Mercer, or Stevens Court buildings K or L, the room will not have enough wall jacks to provide one connection per person. For these rooms, you can check out a hub from the residence hall desk.
It is important that you know that the Internet is not always a safe place. Having high-speed access to the Internet is an important advantage for you in your studies. However, it also means that others have high-speed access to YOUR computer, YOUR files, and YOUR data! You need to take the steps in this document to protect yourself against viruses and other "bad" software being installed in your computer.
Step 1 - Before You Connect
There are important steps that you should take BEFORE you get a working network connection. You'll want to be sure your computer has:
- Working, and up-to-date, antivirus software installed
- All the available operating system updates installed
- Been configured to automatically KEEP these up to date
The Tools for Safe and Secure Computing page provides all the virus protection, terminal session, and file transfer software you need to securely connect to and use UW computing and networking services.
Microsoft Windows XP: If you use Microsoft Windows XP, be SURE that you have turned on the "Internet Connection Firewall" (ICF) BEFORE you connect to the network! If you have already installed Windows XP Service Pack 2, then the ICF should be "on" by default, but take a second to check it anyway. Failure to turn on the firewall could result in your computer being "infected" with a worm within just a few minutes of being connected, regardless of the state of your antivirus software!
How to Ensure That Your Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall Is Turned On:
Note that details might vary slightly, depending on how up-to-date you've kept Windows XP.
To check that your firewall is turned on:
- StepsActions
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Open Network
Connections.
Use Start -> Control Panel -> (double click) Network Connections.- Or if your Control Panel is set to "category view", then use Start -> Control Panel -> Network and Internet Connections -> Network Connections.
- Click the network you want to protect, usually "Local Area Network".
- In the pane at the left:
- Click "Change settings of this connection".
- ..or..
- Right-click the connection and select Properties.
- Click the Advanced tab. You should see something similar to the image at the right. Be sure the option to "Protect my computer..." is selected!
If you have difficulty, then use the MS Windows Help function (e.g., Start -> Help and Support) and search for "Internet Connection Firewall". You should find a section on "find out if your computer has a firewall" that is tailored to your installation of Windows.
Users with older MS Windows Systems - If you are using Windows 2000, or Windows NT, or an older Windows operating systems, then these systems DO have potential vulnerabilities, but they do NOT have a built-in firewall! It would be best for you to upgrade to Windows XP, although there are "add-in" software firewalls and external hardware firewall options available that you could buy instead.
Macintosh users - If you are using Mac OS X 10.2 or higher, then you will also find a built-in firewall accessed through "System Preferences" (e.g., open "System Preferences" and look for "firewall", usually found under "Sharing" or "Security" depending on the system version).
Users with older Macintosh Systems - If you are using a Mac pre OS X operating system, then there are no "services" running on your Mac to exploit, so generally there isn't anything going on that a firewall would help.
Step 2 - Making the Connection
If you are running Apple Macintosh OS X or Microsoft Windows XP, follow these steps to connect:
- StepsActions
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You DO need an Ethernet (aka 'cat5' or 'category 5' or '10bT/100bT') drop cable long enough to reach from your computer to the Ethernet wall jack. It will look like a "fat" phone cable. Cables can be purchased at the University Book Store.
Plug the Ethernet cable into the ORANGE wall jack! - Your computer DOES need a functional Ethernet (10bT/100bT) port.
- With your computer powered OFF, plug in one end of the drop cable to the ORANGE colored wall jack (see right) and the other to your computer's Ethernet port. Be careful here, it is probably your one big chance for a mistake. The OTHER wall jack is for your telephone, and won't work for Ethernet, even though the cable might fit.
- Turn on your computer, and start browsing the Web!
If this did not work, then
- StepsActions
- Check to make certain that you have plugged your drop cable into the ORANGE wall jack.
- Check to make certain that you have plugged your drop cable into the Ethernet port on your computer and not into your modem port.
- Check that your Ethernet port is configured properly. If you've previously configured your computer's Ethernet port to use something other than the usual defaults, you might have to set it back to the defaults. The most important setting is to "use DHCP" or "Obtain IP address automatically". You should NOT use a network IP address that you have previously typed in from some other network (like AOL or Comcast), nor should you guess at an IP address.
- If you are living in triple resident room, you won't have enough wall jacks to provide one per resident. In this case a "hub" can be used and should be available at your Residence Hall desk.
If you are still having problems, then
- StepsActions
- Check to make certain that your drop cable is not defective. Try using a different drop cable.
- Very rarely, but it happens, you might have a bad Ethernet port on your computer. You should check your warranty and have your computer serviced.
- If you get stuck, don't hesitate to telephone the UW Information Technology Service Center at 206-221-5000.
A set of answers to frequently asked questions about Residence Hall networks is also available.
Step 3 - Register Your Computer and Other Devices
Once you have a connection working, you will be able to connect to UW Web sites such as the UW Home Page. However, when you try to connect to an external Web site (such as Google), you will be asked to register the device connecting to the wall jack (usually your computer). Please be aware that each person in the residence halls has a limit on their bandwidth.
- StepsAction
- Connect your computer to the wall jack with an Ethernet cable and, to make sure the connection is working, go to a UW site such as the UW Home Page.
- Enter a URL to some site external to the UW (such as Google).
- You will be prompted to enter your UW NetID and
password. Doing so will register the your UW NetID as
the owner of the computer, as identified by its hardware
address (also known as the MAC number, is a unique
number identifying that specific device).
- For most computers, the process will detect your hardware address automatically. For some devices that you intend to plug into your wall port you will need to find their hardware address yourself and manually enter it. See the Manually Entering Hardware Addresses section below.
- Until this step is successfully done, anyone using the WAP will only be able to access on campus sites.
- If you are setting up a wireless router (also called a Wireless Access Point or WAP) see the Wireless Access Points in UW Residence Hall Rooms page.
- You can now use the computer to access Internet sites on campus and beyond.
Manually Entering Hardware Addresses
Some devices you may want to connect to the network, such as a router or video games, will need to be manually registered. To register such devices, take the following steps:
- StepsAction
- Look through the instruction manual for the device you want to register for instructions on how to find its hardware address. Sometimes it will be printed on an external label. On other devices you can navigate through menus to an information screen displaying the hardware address. The address consists of a string of six two-digit numbers separated by colons (for example: 00:1a:22:b3:04:55). Note that number.
- Using a computer connected to the wall port you intend to use, go to the HFS Network Access page.
- Toward the bottom of that page you will see a link for "manual registration". Click on that link. You will be asked to enter your UW NetID and password.
- In the field labelled "Enter a MAC address" enter the address of the device you are registering.
- In the field below it, enter a name for the device you are registering.
- Click on "Register"
- Repeat the process for each of the devices you plan to use through your wall jack.
Finding Hardware Addresses
The following are examples of how to find the hardware address of some common devices:
| Device | Finding the Hardware Address |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Xbox |
|
| Xbox 360 |
|
| Nintendo Wii |
|
| Sony Playstation |
|
For other devices, see your instruction manual or visit the Web site of the device manufacture for how to find the hardware address.
Step 4 - Using The Connection
Confirm that you have completed STEP 1 and that you have antivirus software installed, active, up-to-date, and configured to automatically update.
Confirm that you have configured your computer itself to perform automatic updates of the operating system:
If you are running MS Windows, then you might also want to install an antispyware program and regularly scan for spyware.
Following the Rules
The University of Washington provides digital networking capacity to campus housing owned by the UW for the purpose of facilitating student academic activity, whether or not such activity is directly related to formal course work. The services are limited by both policy and cost considerations: there are restraints on acceptable use as stated in law and UW policy, and there are inevitable restrictions based on the cost of providing network service.
Specifically, these are guidelines you need to know about and follow if you compute in a networked residence:
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You MAY set up private servers for your personal use for class projects, do local file sharing, or run other applications within the educational scope of the UW, as long as these file servers do not violate UW Information Technology or University of Washington policies.
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You MAY NOT use network connections in UW housing to provide any service that is visible off campus (i.e., available on the global Internet). This applies to services such as, but not limited to, HTTP (Web), telnet, FTP, IRC, and email. (Note that you MAY set up public services visible off campus using the servers provided on the UW Information Technology Uniform Access computers, as long as your use complies with UW Information Technology guidelines.)
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You MAY NOT use applications that consume disproportionate bandwidth, attempt denial-of-service attack(s), probe and/or exploit security holes in other systems, use unauthorized IP addresses, circumvent network management systems, or otherwise degrade or restrict network access for others (either on or off campus). If UW Information Technology receives complaints about or detects inappropriate behavior, your network connection will be disabled. You might also be subject to account suspension as well as University disciplinary and/or legal action.
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You MAY NOT configure your computer to provide Internet or UW network/ system access to anyone who is not a UW faculty or staff member or student. Also, you are responsible for what your roommates or friends do with your computer connection to the UW network. UW Information Technology has implemented technical methods designed to help enforce some of these policies and to regulate the consumption of network resources within UW Housing. These technical methods currently include (but are not necessarily limited to):
- Blocking access from off campus to specific services usually used for servers.
- Limiting total network bandwidth from the Residence Halls to off campus destinations to 1000 megabits per second.
- Further limiting inbound traffic on specific peer-to-peer applications to 20 megabits per second and outbound traffic to 2 megabits per second.
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You MAY NOT copy or use any software, images, music, or other intellectual property (such as books or videos) unless you have the legal right to do so. Unauthorized use of software, images, music, or files is regarded as a serious matter and any such use is without the consent of the University of Washington. If abuse of computer software, images, music, or files occurs, those responsible for such abuse will be held legally accountable.
Questions about these policies can be addressed to help@u.washington.edu
If Your Computer Gets Infected
If you've followed the above suggestions your system should be fairly well protected against viruses and worms. However, no protection is ever perfect; your system could STILL be infected. The UW network is constantly monitored for signs of compromised systems. When a compromised system is detected, the most likely response is to limit network access from this system so that the compromised system can't be used as a "launching pad" for further attacks. You would typically see this as a sudden inability to reach Web pages OUTSIDE the UW. If you suspect your network access has been restricted, you can confirm this and start the process to get cleaned up and back on the Internet by going to the How to Fix Your System and Get It Back Online pages.
Help
To get help or make comments about the information on this page, use the Send a Question to UW Information Technology form, send email to help@uw.edu, or call us at 206-221-5000.
