The network jacks located in many general classrooms and some of the Kresge Library study rooms allow faculty, staff, and students to connect their laptops to the Internet using DHCP.
This document explains how to configure a laptop personal computer in order to use these network jacks. A configuration procedure is provided for computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Mac OS X.
What you need
Users will need to have the following items ready before connecting laptop computers to the network jacks.
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A working network interface card or built in port
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A network cord (Cat 5 or Cat 5e)
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TCP/IP software installed (This should be installed by default. If not, you will need to install the TCP/IP software from the operating system installation CD that came with your computer)
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Locate the network jacks on the wall or in the multimedia cabinets
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Once you have all the items ready, connect your computer to one of the network jacks on the wall mount panel, e.g. the jack labeled Data A. Do not attempt to connect your modem to the network jacks in study rooms. Doing so may damage the jack and/or may damage your computer.
Important Notes
The network setup for the study rooms in Kresge Library only allow computers to establish connections from the study rooms to the Internet.
You do not need to enter information for Gateway, DNS or WINS in the TCP/IP Properties window because this information is provided by the DHCP server.
Users should be aware that any previous network settings would be lost, so you will want to back them up and write them down before following these steps.
Do not insert telephone cables into the network jacks.
How to configure your computer
Please select your operating system from the sections below and follow the instructions.
Microsoft Windows XP
Click on the Start Menu then right click on My Network Places and select Properties.
Right click on the Local Area Connection icon as shown and select Properties as shown in Figure 1.
Choose Internet Protocol TCP/IP and click the Properties button as shown in Figure 2.
Verify settings as shown in Figure 3 and click the Alternate Configuration tab and click OK.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Microsoft Windows Vista
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Click on the Start Menu then right click on Network and select Properties.
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Click on Manage network connections from the list of Tasks shown on the left hand side.
Follow steps 3-5 below from Microsoft Windows 7.
Microsoft Windows 7
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Click on the Start Menu then Control Panel
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Click Network and Internet then Network and Sharing Center, then select Change adapter settings
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Right click on the Local Area Connection icon as shown and select Properties as shown in Figure 4.
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Choose Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click the Properties button as shown in Figure 5.
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Verify settings as shown in Figure 6 and click OK and click close on the Local Area Connection Properties window.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Mac OS X
Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
In the System Preferences Menu under the Internet & Network category click on the Network icon.
A window titled Network will appear. Click on the Location box and choose Edit Locations as shown in Figure 7.
A dialog box will appear as shown in Figure 8. Click the + icon at the bottom of the dialog box to add a new Location. Name the location so it is easy for you to remember. When you are finished, click Done.
You will now be at the screen as shown partially in Figure 9. Click the Ethernet selection on the left hand side. The dropdown menu next to Configure should read Using DHCP. If it does not, click the drop-down menu next to Configure and select Using DHCP. Then click Apply in the bottom right corner of the window.
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9