• CD home page
• What’s on this CD
• Help from Information Services
• Protect your PC
• Windows XP Service Pack 2
• Virus protection
• Spyware protection
• Other useful software
• Web browsing
• OpenOffice
• Tools and utilities
• ResNet
• Subscribing to ResNet
• Quick start guide
• Terms and conditions
• University IT Regulations
• ResNet Usage Regulations

ResNet quick start guide

This guide tells you how to set up a ResNet computer connection in a study bedroom at the University of Exeter.

You should find the same information in a leaflet in each study bedroom – extra copies are available from IT Reception points. Alternatively you can print this page to refer to as you set up your connection.

There are five steps, which you need to follow in the numbered order:

1. Equipment you need
2. Install your Ethernet adapter
3. Set up your web browser
4. Secure your PC
5. Subscribe to ResNet

If you have any problems, contacts for help and advice are listed in the Help from Information Services section of this CD.

1 Equipment you need

1.1 Network outlet

Make sure you have a ResNet outlet in your room. Almost all University-owned student study bedrooms are fitted with these. If you are not sure, check with the staff of your accommodation.

Please treat the outlet socket gently – if you damage the socket it can take some time to get it repaired!

1.2 Network cable

You need a UTP cable to connect your computer to the ResNet outlet. A standard length cable is provided free of charge in each ResNet-fitted room – if you need a longer cable you can get one from IT Reception.

Note: If you have used the Internet at home over a phone connection, the modem cable is NOT suitable for ResNet.

1.3 Ethernet adapter

Your computer must have an Ethernet adapter to connect the network cable. Most newer Windows computers and all current Apple Mac models come with a built-in adapter.

If your computer has a socket (probably on the back) that the network cable will fit into without forcing it (there should be a small ‘click’ when it's correctly inserted), then it already has a suitable Ethernet adapter.

If your computer already has an adapter, connect the network cable between the ResNet outlet and the computer and go on to step 3.

If your PC doesn’t have an adapter, you can buy one from IT Services. We sell two types:

• USB Ethernet adapter. This plugs into a USB socket on your PC or laptop. USB adapters do not work with Windows 95.
• PCMCIA card. This fits into the PCMCIA slot on a laptop and can be used if there is no built-in Ethernet adapter or free USB socket.

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2 Install your Ethernet adapter

• If you have a USB Ethernet adapter, plug it into a USB socket on your computer.
• If you have a laptop, a PCMCIA card and a connector, push the card into your laptop’s PCMCIA slot (any slot, if it has more than one).

Connect the network cable between the adapter and the ResNet outlet.

If you have Windows XP or 2000, the computer should tell you it has ‘detected new hardware’ when you install your Ethernet adapter. It will normally install the adapter ‘driver’ (software to make it run properly) automatically – read and follow any instructions that appear on screen.

In Windows XP, you may see a warning that the driver has not been ‘certified’ by Microsoft. This is normal – if you see this message, click OK to continue installing.

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3 Set up your web browser

ResNet accesses the Internet via a ‘proxy server’ – you need to adjust your web browser (the program you use to get to web sites) to use the right settings.

3.1 Proxy server – Internet Explorer (Windows)

For security reasons we recommend version 6 of Internet Explorer (IE). To find out which version you have, open IE and select About from the Help menu. If you have an earlier version you should upgrade before starting to use ResNet.

To set up the proxy server in IE, go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Select the Connections tab within the window that appears, and make sure ‘Never dial a connection’ is selected. Then click the LAN Settings button.

Tick the box marked ‘Use automatic configuration script’ and type http://www.ex.ac.uk/resnet.pac in the ‘Address box’ next to it. Click OK, then click OK again to leave the Internet Options window.

3.2 Proxy server – Mozilla Firefox (Windows)

If you use the Firefox web browser (available on this CD), you can set up the proxy server settings by going to the Tools menu and choosing Options. Then click the Connection Settings button at the bottom of the General section of the Options window.

Select the ‘Automatic proxy configuration URL’ option and type http://www.ex.ac.uk/resnet.pac in the box that appears underneath it. Click the Reload button and click OK to leave the Options window.

3.3 Proxy server – Apple Mac

From the Apple menu choose System preferences, and then click the Network icon. Choose Built in Ethernet and then the Proxies section.

• In the ‘Select a proxy server...’ box, tick the Web Proxy item.
• In the ‘Web proxy server’ box, type 172.16.250.1, and in the small box to the right of this type 8080.
• In the ‘Bypass proxy settings...’ box, type *.ex.ac.uk, then (on a new line) *.exeter.ac.uk.

Click Apply Now and close the window.

3.4 Is it working?!

Now test your Internet connection by going to the University web site www.exeter.ac.uk and then to any site outside the University, such as www.bbc.co.uk. If you can see both sites, everything is working properly.

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4 Secure your PC

Before you go any further, you must make sure that your computer is secure against viruses, spyware and other security threats. If you don’t do this, you may be disconnected from ResNet.

4.1 Install Symantec AntiVirus (SAV)

To use ResNet you must install an anti-virus program and keep it up to date. If you haven’t already got anti-virus software on your computer, a copy of SAV is available on this CD.

If you don’t have up-to-date anti-virus software, you are likely to lose work and cause problems for yourself and other ResNet users.

4.2 Run Microsoft Update

If your PC runs Windows, you must keep it up to date using the regular security ‘patches’ released by Microsoft.

If you have Windows XP, make sure it has been upgraded to Service Pack 2 (‘SP2’). Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties from the menu that appears. If the details in the ‘General’ section of the System Properties window include the words ‘Service Pack 2’, you already have the upgrade.

To keep your copy of Windows up to date (including upgrading to SP2), go to the Microsoft Update web site www.microsoft.com/windowsupdate and follow the on-screen instructions. You should install all ‘critical’ or ‘high-priority’ updates and repeat this regularly.

4.3 Check for spyware

Read the Spyware web page at www.exeter.ac.uk/its/helpdesk/spyware to learn more about how to guard your computer against the serious problem of spyware. If you don’t do this you may cause problems for yourself and others.

The SpyBot Search & Destroy anti-spyware package is on this CD.

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5 Subscribe to ResNet

Finally, go to www.exeter.ac.uk/resnet and follow the instructions to subscribe to the ResNet service.

After you subscribe, you have two weeks to pay the ResNet fee (currently £65 for three terms). You can pay online via the ResNet web site, where you’ll find details of other payment options. If you haven’t paid after two weeks, your outlet will be disconnected.

All ResNet outlets are activated for the first two weeks of the academic year. This is to give you time to set up your computer and check that everything works before you have to pay.

After 16 October 2006 any unsubscribed outlets will be disconnected. You will still be able to subscribe and activate your outlet, but not from your own room – you will have to use a working ResNet connection or one of the public PC cluster rooms.

To subscribe, you need three pieces of information:

•  Your University username and password.

•  The outlet number for your room. This should be written on or near the outlet socket, in the format 1-02-003 or 1-a1-001.

•  The adapter address (sometimes called the ‘MAC address’) of your PC. This is a number with the format 12:34:56:78:90:AB – you can find it from your computer like this:

5.1 Adapter address – Windows XP and 2000

Click the Start button and choose Run. When a dialogue box appears, type cmd and click OK. A new black window should appear. Type ipconfig  /all and press Enter. Make a note of the ‘Physical Address’ shown.

5.2 Adapter address – Apple Mac

From the Apple menu choose System preferences, and then click the Network icon. Choose Built in Ethernet, and click the Ethernet section. Make a note of the ‘Ethernet ID’ shown.

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