Will My Computer Work on Bethel's Network?

http://kb.its.bethel.edu/articles/298/

KB298 ResNet support Bethel University Information Technology Services provides secure 802.1x-based network connections to:

Students and employees living in our residential computer network (ResNet)
Students and employees working in the Bethel University and Seminary academic buildings

All Bethel community members and guests using our network must agree to the Responsible Use Policy (RUP). Those who fail to comply by the RUP will loose access to the network or be placed in a restricted area of the network. Information about our restricted network policy can be found in KB306, answers to commonly asked questions can be found below.

What are the hardware and Operating System requirements to run on Bethel's network?

While ITS does not restrict 802.1x viable computers from accessing the network we do carry a hardware and Operating System requirement for support. These requirements can be found in our ResNet support policy, KB312.

How do I set up my computer to work with Bethel's network?

The ITS Help Desk has 802.1x configuration documents for the following Operating Systems:

Microsoft Windows XP
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows 7
Macintosh OS X 10.4
Macintosh OS X 10.5
Macintosh OS X 10.6
Macintosh OS X 10.7

If you have a OS that is not listed (such as Linux) this does not mean your computer will not work on our network, only that ITS does not provide the configuration resources to do so. Please see our network configuration page for downloadable PDF instructions.

Should I do anything before I bring my computer to campus?

We recommend that your computer is up-to-date with the latest security updates, hotfixes and services packs before coming to campus. Although all updates are not (always) needed to get connected it is important to keep your machine up-to-date for security reasons. If you plan on using a wireless connection while at Bethel verify that your computer supports the WPA2 security protocol that our setup requires.

Can I connect my wireless router or other similar device to Bethel's network?

No. We do not provide connection or support for these devices. This includes, but is not limited to, wired/wireless routers, hubs, network switches and other similar networking equipment. Please leave these at home since they will not work in our 802.1x environment.

Can I connect my gaming console or other similar systems to Bethel's network?

Yes. Although ITS cannot directly support your console we can and will help you setup Internet Connection Sharing (or ICS) on your Windows-based computer. The ICS PDF instructions provided on our network configuration page should work with the following devices. Currently we do not support this in Macintosh OS X due to a bug in the software that keeps 802.1x connections from being shared out to other devices.

ICS for DVRs
ICS for Xbox and Xbox 360
ICS for PS2 and PS3
ICS for Nintendo Wii (note: this requires the Nintendo USB to ethernet adapter or a wireless card in your computer to work properly).

Does Bethel provide wireless network access in the academic buildings and residences?

Bethel provides full wireless network access in all the residence halls and academic buildings. Although there is wireless available in these locations ITS recommends residents bring a ethernet cord to campus to use in for wired ethernet access which can provide a faster and more reliable connection.

Note: North Village only provides wireless access to students living in these buildings.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions about Bethel University's network or for a computer recommendation?

Please contact the ITS Help Desk if you need help or clarification about how your computer will work at Bethel University.

You can reach us by phone or email:
(651) 638-6500 or 1-800-255-8706, ext. #6500
helpdesk@bethel.edu

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Created: 2005-08-18 16:17:52

Updated: 2011-08-23 13:01:46

Targeted toward: Bethel Community

This is a step-by-step article

Maintained by: stuservices