Set up Mac OS X for on-campus Ethernet
Out of the box with a fresh install, Mac OS X is configured to work with RIT's campus network -- and many other kinds of networks like it. Before you can use your Ethernet port to connect to other computers at RIT, or to the Internet at large, you must register your computer at http://start.rit.edu/.
You can customize your network settings for the campus network Ethernet access. To do so, simply follow these steps:
- Open the "Network" preference pane in the System Preferences application.
- Click the pop-up menu next to "Show" and select "Active Network Ports" (Jaguar or earlier) or "Network Port Configurations" (Panther). The window will change to display the status of your network interfaces -- whether they are on or off, and in what order they will be used.
- Verify that your Ethernet port has a check next to its name. The Ethernet port is usually named either "Built-in Ethernet" or "PCI Ethernet Slot."
- Click on the name of your Ethernet port and drag it to the top of the list. We recommend setting your Ethernet connection to be the highest-priority port because Ethernet will be faster and more secure than any other connection.
- Click the pop-up menu labeled "Show" again and select the Ethernet port item.
- Click the pop-up menu next to the "Configure" (Jaguar or earlier) or "Configure IPv4" (Panther) text and select the "Using DHCP" item.
- Click the "Apply Now" button in the lower right hand corner of the window and wait until an address appears next to the "IP Address" text.
Register your network card
If you haven't registered your network card (Ethernet or wireless) yet, this is the perfect time to do so. You only need to register a network card once (or, for student computers in the residence halls and apartments, once per academic year). If you already registered your network card in classic Mac OS then you do not have to register it again, and vice versa.
Each network card that you use at RIT must be registered separately. If you have already registered for the RIT Ethernet network but want to use wireless networking, you must register your wireless card, as well. If you do not register your network card, you will not be able to use that connection to get to the Internet.
If you have an Apple AirPort or AirPort Extreme-capable computer, the wireless card installed which may be installed inside must still be registered. Apple's on-board Ethernet boards also count as a "network card."
Before you can use your Mac's Ethernet port to get on the Internet, you must register it:
- Make sure you are connected to a working Ethernet jack on the RIT campus network using a good quality Ethernet cable.
- Open a Web browser.
- Go to http://start.rit.edu/ and follow the on-screen instructions to register your computer.
That's it! To activate your new registration immediately, you will need to Release and renew an Internet address.
