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Updated: March 5, 2008
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    networking menu RESIDENCE HALL CONNECTIVITY  
  Attention Students living in the Residence Halls:  
  FSU’s ResNET is always evolving and being challenged on several fronts at any given time. Internet users in the Residence Halls share one bandwidth pipe going to the Internet. Therefore, the Residence Halls have a specific amount of available bandwidth.  At any point within an academic year, new software threats such as viruses, P2P traffic, on-line gaming, port scanning and other high band width applications can drastically affect performance of this bandwidth pipe. In short any networks performance is directly affected by the use of and quality of users connected to that network.

To help mitigate these performance affecting issues, University Housing’s Residence Hall network is constantly being monitored for high bandwidth users, scanned for viruses and detecting users that, for example, run their own servers out of the Residence Halls. Every time we alleviate these types of culprits we often see improvements in the network performance. We would ask you to alert us of any known high bandwidth users and also be sure that your computer is running a current version of virus protection software.

We hope that this information explains some of the issues surrounding the management of a large network like FSU’s ResNET.  As FSU Housing has oversight for this network, they are always trying to find more permanent acceptable solutions and usage policies to address these types of networking issues. We hope you will experience network improvements as the semester continues.
 
If you have any further concerns please contact University Housing, Frank Cuevas, Associate Director, Housing or the OTC at help@fsu.edu.
 

All of Florida State's residence halls have been wired for Ethernet access -- providing students with direct, fast access to the campus network and the world wide Internet.

If you are living on campus, it is strongly recommended that you bring a computer with a 10base-T Ethernet card capability, so you can use an Ethernet connection rather than a modem connection. Ethernet connections are much faster than modem connections.

Please do NOT use a wireless router in the residence hall or any electronics that interfere with the radio frequencies used by the FSU WIN program.

To use an Ethernet connection you will need:

  • an Ethernet card (either built-in or external)
  • the CD that contains the card drivers (this usually comes with the card)
  • an Ethernet cable to connect your card to the wall port (not a telephone cord)
  • both card and cable must be "Ethernet 10base-T or 10/100 megabits"

Machine IP addresses and names are configured through DHCP servers. Most computers will connect "out of the box."

CHECKLIST TO USE AN ETHERNET CONNECTION IN FSU RESIDENCE HALLS
____1. Acquire an Ethernet (network interface) card and have it installed in your computer.
____2. Obtain the FSUCard from the Card Center.
____3. Wait an hour after receiving your FSUCard, then register for your free email account using the FSUID system.
____4. Obtain DHCP settings brochure from your residence hall office, and follow instructions.
____5.

If you are unsuccessful in configuring your machine, call the OTC Helpdesk at 644-HELP or visit the FSU Computer Store. OTC does not service computers.

If you have not purchased a computer with an Ethernet card installed, you may purchase one from a retailer such as:

FSU Computer Store
199 Micco Drive
Oglesby Union by the FSU Post office
(850) 644-7344

They will install the ethernet card for you, and are able to assist you with other computer repairs, if needed.

Residence Hall Network Connections

Location Building Connection Room Connection Computer Laboratory?
Broward Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps   
Bryan Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps   
Cawthon Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps yes
Degraff Hall    100 Mbps 100 Mbps   
Dorman Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Deviney Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Gilchrist Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Jennie Murphree Hall 100 Mbps 10 Mbps  
Kellum Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Landis Hall      100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
McCollum Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
New Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Reynolds Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Rogers Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Salley Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps  
Smith Hall 100 Mbps 100 Mbps yes
Wildwood Hall    100 Mbps 100 Mbps   
 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Your computer should be equipped with software that protects computer from network-based hazards. This software should include (but not limited to):

  • Firewall: Firewall software prevents network communication with harmful sources. Windows XP comes with a minimal firewall. Earlier versions need to be enabled by the user. For better protection, it is recommended that the user purchase and install a third party firewall. The better firewalls usually require a subscription to stay current.
  • Antivirus software
  • Antispam software
  • Windows updates

Additional Information is available from University Housing's website or see OTC Helpdesk at 644-HELP.

Please read OTC's Network Policies and Server Restrictions for Residence Halls.

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