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Visitors to campus may connect their personal laptops to the campus network for access to the Internet ONLY IF THEY HAVE RECEIVED A SPONSORED ACCOUNT ObieID from an Oberlin College account holder (faculty, staff, student). The account sponsor should have information on creating the sponsored account. That information is available online.

Be aware that the system will automatically perform virus checks and Windows updates checks prior to allowing access.

Configuring: Mac up to OS9.2 - Mac OS X - Mac Wireless, up to OS9.2 - Mac Wireless OS X - Windows - Windows Wireless

After configuring your computer, click here for Final Steps

General Information:

Most ethernet ports around campus and all of the ethernet ports in the residence halls are active. All you have to do is configure your computer's Ethernet networking to DHCP. If you connect via Wireless (or WiFi, the 802.11b standard), you will configure your computer's wireless networking to DHCP and choose the "ANY" wireless network. We have implemented a wireless network infrastructure that will support wireless network connectivity from laptop computers at several locations on campus.

Look for these signs for access to our wireless network! (802.11b or 802.11g wireless capabilities needed.) New! Map of wireless areas

Next are instructions on configuring your computer for DHCP. When you change a setting on your computer, you should write down your old settings so you can go back to them when you get back home. If you know how to setup a new location in the Macintosh OS (9.x or 10.1 or greater) or how to setup a new profile on a Windows computer, this may help to preserve your previous settings.

Once you have configured your computer for DHCP see the end of this document for information on protecting your machine and getting on the network.

Configuring for Macintosh, up to OS 9.2x

Your Macintosh should be using Open Transport and you will have an "Apple Talk" control panel and a "TCP/IP" control panel. If you do not have a "TCP/IP" control panel, you may not be able to connect to the Oberlin College network.

1. Go to the AppleTalk control panel (Apple Menu -> Control Panels -> AppleTalk).
2. Select Connect via: "Ethernet". Change the Current Zone: to "Resnet North" or "Resnet South", depending on your location on campus. In general, residence halls north of College St. are on Resnet North, residence halls south of College St. are on Resnet South.
3. Close the Apple Talk control panel and click on the "Save" button.
4. Open the TCP/IP control panel. (Apple Menu -> Control Panels -> TCP/IP).

5. Select Connect via: "Ethernet". Select Configure: "Using DHCP Server". In the "Search Domains" field, enter "oberlin.edu".
6. If prompted to restart your computer, do so.
    

Configuring for Macintosh OS X

1. Boot into Mac OS X
2. Go to the Apple Menu, select System Preferences (The OS X equivalent of Control Panels). Find and click on the Network Pane.
3. Go to the upper configure menu (it will probably say internal modem). Select Built-in Ethernet.

4. In the TCP/IP tab of the Network pane, select Using DHCP under the configure menu.

5. Your window should now look similar to this one except the IP address and Ethernet Address will be different.

6. Click on the Save button. You may need to grab the window and move it up, since the save button might be under the dock. It will be visible through the buttons of the dock, but unclickable. Just move it up and click Save.

Configuring for Wireless Macintosh up to OS 9.2.x

(These instructions assume that you have previously used your computer wirelessly.)

1. To connect to the network, go to the AppleTalk control panel (Apple Menu -> Control Panels -> AppleTalk).
2. Select Connect via: "your wireless card" (WaveLan/IEEE, Airport, etc.). Change the Current Zone: to "Resnet North" or "Resnet South", depending on which side of campus you're on.
3. Close the Apple Talk control panel and click on the Save button.
4. Open the TCP/IP control panel. (Apple Menu -> Control Panels -> TCP/IP)

5. Select Connect via: Choose "your wireless card" (WaveLan/IEEE, Airport, etc.)
6. Set Configure: Using DHCP Server.
7. In the Search Domains field, enter oberlin.edu
8. If prompted to restart your computer, do so.

Configuring Mac OS X for Wireless

1. Boot into Mac OS X
2. Go to the Apple Menu, select System Preferences (The OS X equivalent of Control Panels). Find and click on the Network Pane.
3. Go to the upper configure menu (it will probably say internal modem). Select Airport.

4. In the TCP/IP tab of the Network pane, select Using DHCP under the configure menu.
5. Your window should now look similar to the one below, except the IP address and Ethernet Address will be different.

4. Click on the Save button. You may need to grab the window and move it up, since the save button might be under the dock. It will be visible through the buttons of the dock, but unclickable. Just move it up and click Save.
5. (This step for Mac OS 10.2.x only.) Now in System Preferences, find and click on the Sharing Pane and the Internet Tab. Uncheck both of the "Share..." check boxes as shown below.

Configuring Windows

Step 1: Getting Started Before you can configure your system, you must have an ethernet card or interface physically installed. (Most new computers come with Ethernet built-in.) If you're not sure that you have ethernet installed, do the following: In the Start menu, choose "Control Panel" (may be under a menu called "Settings.") Double-click on the "System" control panel, and then click on the "Hardware" tab at the top. Choose "Device Manager." You should see a list of components similar to the one at right. Under the category "Network adapters" you will find your ethernet card, if you have one. Make sure your ethernet cable is firmly plugged into both your computer and the wall port before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Connecting to the Internet 1. Go to the Start Menu, Settings then to Control Panel. 2. Double click on the Network Control panel. 3. In some versions of Windows, double click on Local Area Connection… Click on Properties. (If you don’t see a Local Area Connection, you will need to create a new one using the Make New Connection program. 4. Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component for your ethernet network card (you may need to scroll down to find it) Click Properties. 5. Make sure to choose Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically.
Step 3: Using the Connection If prompted to restart your computer, do so.

 

Configuring Windows For Wireless Access

Step 1: Getting Started Before you can configure your system, you must have a wireless card physically installed. If you're not sure that you have wireless installed, do the following: In the Start menu, choose "Control Panel" (may be under a menu called "Settings.") Double-click on the "System" control panel, and then click on the "Hardware" tab at the top. Choose "Device Manager." You should see a list of components similar to the one at right. Under the category "Network adapters" you will find your wireless card, if you have one. Make sure you are in an area with wireless access, such as most public areas in Mudd Library, most public areas the Wilder Student Union, the two large lecture halls in King (rooms106 and 306) and lounge space outside each lecture hall, Kulas Hall and the student lounge in the Conservatory of Music, The Conservatory Library Annex, Wilder Bowl and Tappan Square.
Step 2: Choosing the Wireless Card 1. You may be able to Click on the Start Menu Button and choose "Connect to" Wireless Network Connection. Otherwise, 1. Go to the Start Menu, Settings then to Control Panel. 2. Double click on the Network Control panel. 3. In some versions of Windows, double click on Local Area Connection… Click on Properties. (If you don’t see a Local Area Connection, you will need to create a new one using the Make New Connection program. 4. Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component for your wireless network card (you may need to scroll down to find it) Click Properties. 5. Make sure to choose Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically. 6. Your wireless card must join the wireless network called "ANY". There may be a Network Name property for the wireless card or you may be able to configure your wireless card via an icon on the System tray.
Step 3: Using the Connection Reboot your machine. Also, make sure you are in an area with wireless access, such as most public areas in Mudd Library, most public areas the Wilder Student Union, the King building, many areas of Conservatory of Music, the Conservatory Library, most areas of the Science Center, the Art Photodomes and some areas of the Allen Art Building Annex, the dining hall in Stevenson Hall, East hall, Wilder Bowl and Tappan Square.

 
Final Steps for Connecting to the Oberlin Network

1. Install or Update your own Virus Protection software
2. Scan for Viruses
3. Patch the Operating System and perform all required system updates.
4. From your computer in your room, lounge, wireless, or network port anywhere on campus, open a web browser and authenticate by using the Sponsored Account information provided to you by your sponsor. You will have to authenticate once a day. You should open your web browser as the first thing you do when connecting on campus. Your connection will not work until you authenticate by entering your Sponsored Account ObieID username and password.
5. Follow any additional instructions you receive. If your computer has a problem, you will have about 20 minutes before you have to authenticate again. (In other words, your computer will not have full access until you follow the additional instructions your receive.) If you have questions, please send an email message to: rcc@oberlin.edu or cit@oberlin.edu
    
   

If you are having a difficult time configuring your computer for our network, please contact the Center for Information Technology Helpdesk in Mudd 005, phone: 775-8197, Monday through Friday, 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon and 1:00 - 4:30 P.M. during the summer, or contact your Conference Services representative. If you can send email, send questions to cit@oberlin.edu.