Re: more info
Originally posted by mattevil
i'm trying to connect with a dual 1 ghz(non ddr) with jaguar installed. for thw workgroup setting they want me to put down my dorm name.when i get the dynamic ip dhcp setting in the network preferences there is no place to put all these settings. i was never given an ip address. however after leaving my computer on i seam to have one now but it still won't coonnect.
here is the only directions i could find
http://www.roanoke.edu/Computing/faq/expressconnect.htm
Try putting your dorm name in the DHCP client field (says optional). It sounds like the IT folks want to track machine a bit--though dorm name seems somewhat broad, but they may just be tracking subnets. That doesn't make a difference for connectivity--you do have an IP address now. Do you also see a subnet mask, router address, DNS server number and domain name in the Network Pref panel? Note that the fact that you have an IP address means that you are making it out to the campus network as their DHCP server can see your machine.
I also see that they want a username--so they do want to track you more closely. Perhaps your "RCNnet username" is first initial, middle initial, lastname and that should go into short name of your description under the Accounts pref panel. Be sure that your "official" name is in the Name field above the "short name" field. All that is in an effort to replicate the Win Identification Tab (see the web page you posted).
When you say it won't connect, what won't it connect to? website, email, anything? Are you having the same trouble for local university sites (
http://www.roanoke.edu) and external sites (apple, nytimes, macrumors, etc.)?
Using DHCP you aren't assigned a static IP address. Each time you turn on your computer you are automatically assigned an IP address from a server, it may change each time. If you leave your computer on all the time, the IP address will not change after the first assignment until reboot.
Launch the terminal program (in Utilities) and try pinging the router address if you see one in the or ping
http://www.apple.com (type in the terminal, after you see Welcome to Darwin and your username, etc. "ping
http://www.apple.com" or your local university web server. Does it ping or does it fail?
It looks like you can put in a search domain of "roanoke.edu" in the "Search Domain" field of the Network pref panel--that may be necessary so give it a try if the pinging doesn't work and try that again.
All that typed above, on to practicalities...I checked the computing web site for Roanoke and it is a completely MS place--it is unlikely that you'll find any official support there. If you can get things working, that's great. However, at this URL
http://www.roanoke.edu/Computing/computer_recommendations.htm
there is mention of servers that allow you to share docs with professors, etc. that suggest that win xp is necessary for access. My level of Win experience just isn't sufficient to hazard a guess about whether or not OSX will get you into such servers--and this is your academic life--for the next 4 years. If Roanoke encourages such interaction of students and faculty, you may be at a disadvantage with a Mac--they're not thinking about Macs as they build, etc. There is no promise that a Mac will be able to do everything necessary for your best academic experience.
I don't know what your finances are like, but you might want to purchase a Win laptop that has wireless access--lightweight but good enough to run XP or 2000--truly portable so you can take it with you to classes in your backpack. It looks like Roanoke is creating a wireless net around the campus. It's spotty right now, but it looks like the library is covered as are what might be classroom or lab buildings. We run wireless where I work (for both Mac and Win--using Airports) and for folks who have laptops it's changed the way we work. Having such access in a library seems like a plus. The laptop would complement your Mac desktop and allow you to work anywhere. If your Mac has an airport card in it you could connect the Win laptop to it for filesharing, etc. Anyway, the concern is that Roanoke is Wincentric and you should not jeopardize your academic experience by remaining true to Apple--and running both platforms, using a win laptop, might get you the best of all worlds and allow you to not compromize your university experience. That you have a tower and not a Powerbook makes this much easier for me to write...
Best,
Nathan
