Campus Wired Network

• Who can use the campus network?
• Do I have to pay for using the campus network?
• I have set my computer  to "Obtain an IP address automatically". How do I verify that my machine has been assigned an IP address?
• How can I determine whether TCP/IP is installed correctly on my computer?
• I am not able to get to the Internet even though I have an IP address. Why is that so?
• I have connected the network cable but my Local Area Connection does not show under Network Connections in Windows XP. Why is that so?
• Some of my peers Windows machines do not show up in My Network Places or Network Neighborhood. Why?
• Why am I not allowed to extend the network point in my room  with a wireless Access Point or Base Station?
• Does my sharing or distributing of movies, music, software, etc. on the campus network or on the Internet using IRC channels, etc. constituting to an offence?
• There are many network sniffers, file share scanners and port scanning utilities readily available on the Internet. Why am I not allowed to try out these software on the campus network?
• Does CITS check my computer for vulnerabilities?
• Is it alright if I keep my computer on and connected to the campus network 24-hours a day?
• I stay in the Halls and I'm having problem connecting my personal PC to the network. How can CITS help?

• Who can use the campus network?
  This network is open to all matriculated students and staff of the University, including students and staff of NIE (National Institute of Education) residing in the respective Halls of Residence, Graduate Housing and Staff Quarters. The campus network is however NOT open to graduated students or Alumni of the University.   
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• Do I have to pay for using the campus network?
  The use of campus network is provided free, until further notice, to all matriculated students and staff of the University, including students and staff of NIE. End-user must however purchase their own computer/laptop and network interface adapter cards to access this network.
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• Do I have to authenticate each time I use the campus network?
  No, at this point in time you do not have to.
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• I have set my computer  to "Obtain an IP address automatically". How do I verify that my machine has been assigned an IP address?
  To verify that your computer has been assigned an IP address:
   

  -	In Windows 95/98/ME: at the command prompt type winipcfg
  -	In Windows NT/2000/XP: at the command prompt type ipconfig
  -	For LINUX, UNIX machine: at the system prompt type ifconfig

You should be able to see the TCP/IP configurations of your computer as shown:

	IP Address	155.69.x.x  or 172.x.x.x
	Subnet Mask	255.255.x.x
	Default Gateway	155.69.x.x  or 172.x.x.x

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• How can I determine whether TCP/IP is installed correctly on my computer?
  You can try using the ping command by typing the IP loopback address of 127.0.0.1 at the command prompt i.e. :

  ping 127.0.0.1

  You should be able to see reply messages as shown:

  Pinging 127.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128 Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128 Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128 Reply from 127.0.0.1: bytes=32 time<10ms TTL=128 Ping statistics for 127.0.0.1: Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss), Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds: Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

  Successful use of ping indicates that the IP configuration of your system is probably functional.
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• I am not able to get to the Internet even though I have an IP address. Why is that so?
  Please check your web browser's proxy setting. You should use automatic configuration script: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/proxy.pac . For browsers that do not support script configuration, please use proxy.ntu.edu.sg port 8080 instead.
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• I have connected the network cable but my Local Area Connection does not show under Network Connections in Windows XP. Why is that so?
  Please keep the network cable connected and restart your Windows XP. Some computer BIOS (computer firmware) detects the presence of network connectivity when booting up. If it finds no network cable connected, the Local Area Connection is automatically disabled in Windows XP.
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• Some of my peers Windows machines do not show up in My Network Places or Network Neighborhood. Why?

1. Please first check your Windows machine has been configured as a member of a Workgroup (peer-to-peer networking) or a Domain i.e. Student or Staff
2. You need also to logon to the Windows Logon prompt during startup to view peer machines in My Network Places or Network Neighborhood
3. Lastly for remote host machines to be viewed by others in My Network Places or Network Neighborhood, they must have the File And Print Sharing for Microsoft Network component enabled too. For post Windows9x machines, this component/option is already installed and enabled by default 
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• Why am I not allowed to extend the network point in my room  with a wireless Access Point or Base Station?
  These unauthorized extensions or setup are perilous to a network's security as it opens up the wired LAN to unauthorized access over the airwaves. We take serious views on the setup of these "rogue" Access Points. Periodically we also perform routine scans of the campus airwaves to sniff out these unauthorized Access Points. (back to top)
  
  
• Does my sharing or distributing of movies, music, software, etc. on the campus network or on the Internet using IRC channels, etc. constituting to an offence?
  Copyright is the ownership of an intellectual property and provides the owner of the "property", like books, publications, movies, music, software, etc. the exclusive right to print, distribute, and copy the work. If you are sharing or distributing these medias for commercial gains or leisure, prior permission must first be obtained from the copyright owner. Infringing copyright of any work is a serious offence and we take serious views of such activities.
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• There are many network sniffers, file share scanners and port scanning utilities readily available on the Internet. Why am I not allowed to try out these software on the campus network?
  Network sniffing, file share scanning and port scanning are some of the tools/tricks used by attackers to look for weakened access point to break into computers. This is achieved usually by exploiting the vulnerabilities of the machine's operating system through these ports and services. Your use of these ultilities will be construed as acts to learn and explore weakness in a target computer or a group of computers on the campus network or even the Internet. While your "experimentation" may not be of malicious intent, we take very serious views of such activities that are perilous to network security.
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• Does CITS check my computer for vulnerabilities?
  We periodically does automated scans of campus subnets for viruses, intrusion attacks and systems vulnerabilities. However please play your part by ensuring your computers are installed with reputable and up-to-date anti-virus software. Make it a habit to apply the latest security patches and service packs to your computers to prevent network intrusions or attacks exploiting the weaknesses of your computer or operating systems.
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• Is it alright if I keep my computer on and connected to the campus network 24-hours a day?
  We do not encourage this as leaving your computer always on and active on the network leaves you more vulnerable to attacks by hackers and virus infection/intrusion. It also draws the attention of potential hackers thereby exposing your computer to unnecessary security risks. Our advice is therefore to switch off your computer when it is not being used.
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• I stay in the Halls and I'm having problem connecting my personal PC to the network. How can CITS help?
  Please click here to find where you can get help. Due to limited resources available, CITS does not provide on-site support for personal PC. For Halls and Staff Quarters, our maintenance visit covers only the room's network point.

  For on-site PC technical support services, you can engage outside vendors such as

    Campus Computer Store at South Spine
    NTUC Income PC Support under Home Services
    Other vendor of your choice

  Disclaimer: The external vendor services are listed for your reference. NTU does not certify nor warrant the services provided by these vendors.
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