UAHuntsville

The UAHuntsville Residential Network (ResNet) is a wired connection available from student housing to the Campus Network and sites on the Internet. top

What type computer will I need in order to access the Internet from my room's network connection?

UAHuntsville uses a network authentication application to grant access to its network resources. This application supports Microsoft Windows XP (Home and Pro), Vista, Windows 7 and Apple Macintosh OS X operating systems. Linux distributions are not supported at this time. The computer will also need to be equipped with an Ethernet port. Click here for computer recommendations.

Antivirus software is mandatory for all Windows computers connecting to ResNet or the Campus Wireless Network. The Technical Assistance Group (TAG) offers free McAfee anti-virus software for installation on student and university owned computers. Click here to downlaod the free McAfee anti-virus software available through TAG. You must use a computer that is connected to the network through an on-campus network access point, i.e., ResNet or the campus wired/wireless networks in order to download the McAfee software. top

Does the university have any special agreements with any of the computer manufacturers or software companies to offer "special deals" for UAHuntsville students?

UAHuntsville does not have any special arrangements with computer manufacturers to offer "special deals" on computer hardware, and the only "special deal" for software is the McAfee anti-virus software that is available for free to students through TAG. Most major computer manufacturers and software companies do, however, offer education discounts for college students.

The UAHuntsville Bookstore also sells computer hardware and software at education discounted prices, but you will need to contact the bookstore directly for more information. The UAHuntsville Bookstore may be reached at (256) 824-6600 or through their website. top

Will I need to register my computer in order to access the ResNet service?

Yes, each computer that connects to our campus network must be registered. For information on connecting, refer to the Quick Start Guide for ResNet Internet Connection. top

What is the bandwidth allocation available to ResNet and the campus?

The bandwidth allocated to the campus users, including ResNet, varies from day to day based on demand. We make adjustments many times each day to maximize performance based upon actual demand. Your connection should be adequate for your academic needs, general web browsing, and email. If you encounter problems with bandwidth, contact TAG so the issue may be investigated. top

Does UAHuntsville provide hardware or software support to students?

By law, we are prohibited from working on privately-owned computers. We can, however, help you configure the basic software you already have installed on your computer, should you run into problems when you attempt to register your computer for ResNet. top

Is any free software provided to me?

We do not have any application software such as Microsoft Office, but as a registered UAHuntsville student you are welcome to use our version of McAfee VirusScan Enterprise Edition antivirus software. You must be on campus in order to download this software. Also, it is important that you uninstall any existing antivirus software packages prior to installing the McAfee software. Failing to do so will not result in damage to your system, but you will experience dramatic performance problems if more than one AV application is installed. top

Can you suggest a place where I can purchase application software for my computer?

Legally, we cannot make any recommendations for a specific store, but we can say that many of the local and Internet resellers offer what they call "Educationally Priced" software for sale at prices that are substantially lower than retail. Your Google Apps account provides you document, spreadsheet, and presentation software via Google Docs. Another option available to you is via Sun Corporation's Open Office initiative. Open Office is a powerful, yet free, alternative to some of the commercially available software and in most cases is compatible with Microsoft's Office product. It is important to note that support for Open Office is handled through their website, via volunteers, so your support may not be quite as dependable as one of the commercially available packages. Also, by default Open Office uses a file format that is a little different from the .doc or .ppt file you may be familiar with if you are a Microsoft Word or PowerPoint user. You do, however, have the option to do a "save as" to Word or PowerPoint file formats. We strongly recommend you check with your instructor to see what kind of file format he or she requires you to use. top

We use Vonage, Skype or one of the other low-cost IP phone programs at our home. Can I use these from my ResNet or wireless connection?

No. Skype is a peer-to-peer application which is not allowed on campus. Vonage and other similar IP telephone programs are also not supported. top

Can I use a peer-to-peer application to share files with my friends and colleagues?

No. Peer-to-peer applications create a serious bandwidth issue, so their use is prohibited across the entire Campus Network. That includes the wireless network, ResNet, and any university-owned computers with wired connections to the Campus Network. top

Will I be able to access the wireless network from my room in the residence hall?

In 2011/2012, wireless is being installed in campus housing and will be available using the same pass phrase that is used in classroom wireless. Currently wireless is available in Charger Village and Fraternity and Sorority Housing. top

Can I use the Campus Wireless Network while I am in another campus facility and my ResNet connection when I am in my residence hall?

Yes, you can access both ResNet and the wireless network with the same computer. The only catch is that you will need to configure your computer to use the campus wireless network in addition to registering it for use with your ResNet connection.

To configure your computer to access the Campus Wireless Network, either download the appropriate Wireless Quick Start Guide for your computer's operating system from the TAG website or pick up a copy at the TAG Help Desk in the library. The Wireless Quick Start Guides provide step-by-step instructions for to set up your computer to log into the Campus Wireless Network. Click here for more information on the Campus Wireless Network and to download the Wireless Quick Start Guides. top

Can I use a wireless access point or router to provide additional access through my room's ResNet connection?

No. Wireless access points and routers are strictly prohibited on our campus as they can create security holes for our network and can cause stability problems when they are not properly configured. Use of unauthorized devices is considered a serious violation of the campus network and ResNet usage policies, and you can be referred to the Student Judicial Board if you are found to be using one of these devices. top

Can I connect my Xbox or other game device to my ResNet connection?

Not presently, although i.t.solutions is investigating the possibility of creating a VLAN to provide an avenue for devices of this type to connect to the network. You are, however, welcome in the meantime to use any PC-based games on the network so long as those gaming activities are within bounds and don't interfere with other network traffic. top

Am I allowed to play online video games like World of Warcraft through my ResNet connection?

There are no restrictions on playing online video games. Although we don't have any real restrictions to keep you from doing this, we do ask that you limit your game play hours during university business hours, Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. Why? You are sharing network bandwidth with your fellow UAHuntsville students and faculty/staff members. Remember if you are using a lot of bandwidth for your game or download, you are limiting the amount of bandwidth available to other ResNet and campus users. top

Details: Hits: 1989

The University of Alabama in Huntsville • 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899 • Map