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Technology - Frequently Asked Questions Note: The following questions may not apply to those residents living in Orchard Downs or Ashton Woods, because they are not on the URHnet network. Those residents should use the following questions as a guide only and refer to the Orchard Downs and Ashton Woods technology pages for specific information regarding off-campus internet.
General Questions URHnet (the University Residence Hall network) brings Ethernet computer communications (10Mbps) to the rooms of students living in University residence halls. Jointly sponsored by the University's CITES (Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services) and University Housing, URHnet offers connections not only with other computers on campus but access to computing resources around the world. Where and when did URHnet start? URHnet all started in 1992 as a pilot program at ISR. The goal was to create campus-wide access to the network. Over the next 4 years, all the other undergraduate halls were added to the campus network. The network used existing 10BaseT technology to combine telephone and network wiring. This system was very efficient considering the time, energy, and expense put into its creation. Older technologies need to be upgraded every so often, and we are working on it! With faster computers and increased usage, URHnet has seen the need to grow from the older system. The newest addition of URHnet is the recently renovated system in Daniels hall. Daniels hall has category 5 wiring, with 10/100 switched capabilities (users restricted to 10Mb/s). Residents of University Residence Halls, of whom 95% own computers, use URHnet to connect their personal computers to other computers inside the hall, elsewhere on campus, and across the Internet. UIUCnet, the campus network, is part of the Internet, an international "web" of computing networks which has been made even more accessible by the use of web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc. Your res. hall connections on URHnet can take you to computers all over the world! Is URHnet available in all University residence halls? Yes! With the exception of Orchard Downs and Ashton Woods, which use Comcast Internet. If I use URHnet, what are my rights and responsibilities? The University owns all physical cabling and hardware leading to your connection. Additionally it is responsible for all for the information that is transmitted across its network. Therefore, it is your responsibility to conform the official policies laid down by the University. Regarding network traffic, the policy is based around a 2GB a day rule of thumb. Currently, URHnet uses a system called "Rate-Limiting", so your connection is not disabled if you exceed the 2GB limit, but your network speed will decrease. However, ports may be disabled for high traffic when the rate-limiting system is abused or for copyright violations. If your machine is "hacked" or infected with a virus your room's connection may be moved to the quarantine network. Your rights and responsibilities are best explained in the documents below: A NetTech, or Network Technician, is a University Housing Student Employee. NetTechs often live in the halls they tech in and provide computer support for students in University Residence Halls with the exception of Orchard Downs and Ashton Woods. NetTechs hold lab hours weekly during which students can go down to the computer labs and have their questions answered. Other NetTechs work at the Helpline answering phones when students call needing help. You may receive a phone call from a NetTech at some point during your stay in the halls. All NetTechs work on online help requests. NetTechs are not CITES and NetTechs do not help students who do not live in the Residence Halls and currently do not support Orchard Downs and Ashton Woods. For information on contacting a NetTech visit the help pages.
Getting Connected What do I need to get connected? You'll probably want a computer with at least a Pentium 4 (or equivalent.) For more specific recommendations consult our Computer Systems guidelines. Try looking through our New Student Guide. If you need to install an ethernet card into your computer, or you are not sure, look through our hardware section for information. Once you have done that, plug in your computer using the appropriate cable (described in the Connecting Your Computer) page. If your computer seems to be connected to the internet, you may need to walk through the software section for your operating system. Walk through the steps on our Troubleshooting Pages. If you cannot connect after following all of the steps then contact a NetTech. Viruses Use the free virus scanner provided by CITES to remove the virus from your computer. For further instructions on the installation and use of the virus scanner click here. Firewalls The firewall on URHnet is used to block internet traffic on certain ports. A firewall on your computer may block certain programs from accessing the internet by asking the user if the program should be allowed to access the internet. A firewall on URHnet provides better security for our residents and the campus community. Security problems are a major cause of network interruptions on campus, and the firewall helps to decrease the number of problems and computers that get “hacked” on URHnet. URHnet has a firewall set on the network and many computers come loaded with a firewall. If you have Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (don't know which OS you have? Find out.) then you can follow instructions on configuring the Windows XP firewall to make sure it is turned on. If you do not have Windows XP, then you can download a free firewall such as ZoneAlarm What applications are blocked by the campus firewall? A list of applications is provided here. Wireless Are wireless routers allowed in my dorm room? Absolutely NOT. The default configuration of most wireless routers interferes with the internet connectivity of rooms around you. Because of this, we have decided to prohibit wireless routers & access points in dorm rooms, regardless of configuration. If caught with a wireless router in your room, you should expect to have your room's network connection disabled until we can confirm the router was removed. Printing How can I print to the lab laser printers from my room? Click here Software Help How can I configure my computer to make Compass work? Assuming your internet connection is working, you need three things to get Compass to work. #1 a Java Platform, #2 allow uiuc popups, & #3 allow cookies.
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