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LAN Access - Campus Ethernet

Communications Network Services (CNS) offers LAN (Ethernet) connections in residence halls for students and offices for faculty and staff on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus.

Note: Public Portals are also available for your laptop on in certain areas on campus. For more information, refer to Configuring Your Laptop to Use Public Ethernet Portals in Torgersen Hall and Newman Library.

Contents

Bandwidth Limits

Please be aware that the maximum upload permitted from an on-campus computer to an off-campus location is 4.7 GB in a twenty-four hour period. For more information, read Bandwidth Management (http://www.cns.vt.edu/data_usage.html).

If you exceed the bandwidth limit, you will receive an e-mail message from CNS informing you that the bandwidth to your Ethernet portal will be restricted. To read the fulltext of this e-mail message, refer to Consequences for Exceeding Virginia Tech's Network.

Residence Hall Connections

Connections (DHCP) in the student residence halls are provided and paid for with your room. The Ethernet ports are orange and are located on a white box attached to the wall. You can set up your connection automatically using the VTnet CD that came with your room.

Notes:
  • Caution: Verify that your firewall is turned on before plugging into the network. You may use the VTnet CD to enable your firewall.
  • Caution: For Windows XP, be sure you have installed Service Pack 2 (SP2).

For manual DHCP Ethernet connection instructions, follow the link that matches the operating system on your computer:

If you have more than one computer, there are two ways to connect:

  • Use a hub. You must pay an additional monthly fee to register your hub. For more information, refer to the CNS Private Network Policy page (http://www.cns.vt.edu/data_privateNetworks.html).
  • Request an additional connection for your room. You must pay an activation fee. To sign up, visit CNS Student Network Services in 120 Student Services Building.

Academic and Administrative Building Connections

Both DHCP and Static IP connections are offered in academic and administrative buildings and are arranged by the department. You can find out about available ports, the type of connection (DHCP or static), and the correct settings for your department by contacting your network liaison. To locate your liaison, see the Network Liaisons page (http://rdweb.cns.vt.edu/public/info/network-liaisons.html).

Notes:

  • Caution: Verify that your firewall is turned on before plugging into the network. You may use the VTnet CD to enable your firewall.
  • Caution: For Windows XP, be sure you have installed Service Pack 2 (SP2).

DHCP

If your department uses DHCP connections:

  • Register your Media Access Control (MAC) address with Communications Network Services. To register or find out if your MAC address is already registered, go to the MAC Registration Tool.
  • Configure your computer for DHCP by following the link below that matches your computer's operating system:

Static IP

If your department uses Static IP connections:, configure your computer by following the link that matches your computer's operating system:

  • Obtain an IP address from your departmental network liaison. If you are unsure who to contact, refer to the Network Liaisons page.
  • Configure your computer to use your Static IP address by following the link below that matcher your computer's operating system:

 

Last updated on September 7, 2009
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