Network and Connectivity FAQs
There is a wealth of information about computing at Virginia Tech
located at http://www.computing.vt.edu.
You will find help
and tutorials, information about the computing
services offered at VT, information about web
access and e-mail, and much more. If you don't find what you are looking
for here, you may find it there.You may contact 4HELP at 231-HELP (4357) from off-campus, 4-HELP
(4-4357) from on-campus, or you may visit their website.
General Network Questions
What
is the speed of Internet connection from Virginia Tech's Blacksburg
campus?
Virginia Tech's primary Internet connection is via Network Virginia's
shared T3 from 'SprintLink'. The link between Virginia Tech and the T3
over 'NetworkVirginia.NET' is an OC-12 622Mbps ATM. Virginia Tech also
maintains
a backup T1 from 'MCI' in case of primary link failure. You can find out
more about Network Virginia at http://www.networkvirginia.net.
How can I get Virginia Tech Ethernet service?
If you are an on-campus student, Ethernet is already installed in your
room. Each residential student has one Ethernet connection. Therefore,
if there are two people in your room, then there will be two Ethernet
portals as well.
Off-campus, several apartment complexes offer access to Ethernet service.
Why is the network so slow?
The network may be slow for a number of reasons. It is possible
that the number of people using the network at any given moment may cause
a lag in the speed of the network. Also, CNS reserves the right to limit
users who frequently use more than their fair share of network capacity.
As such, if you have been using a large amount of bandwidth, you may have been limited in some way by CNS. Finally, there may, indeed, be a problem
with a piece of the network or with your individual connection. We recommend
contacting the Virginia Tech Operations Center (VTOC) to determine what
your actual problem is. You may reach the VTOC at 231-6780 24 hours a
day.
For how long after I graduate will I be able
to use my VT PID and filebox?
Access to your PID will be terminated if you are no longer an employee, a retiree, or a sponsored person, and have not been a student.
Regarding your filebox, please refer to the question, "Can I keep
my filebox if I leave Virginia Tech?", and its answer, near the bottom
of the Virginia Tech Filebox FAQ, on the web, at answers.vt.edu.
Not surprisingly, this mirrors the PID/e-mail policy (above).
Modem Pool
What is the VTMP number?
(540) 232-7000.
Why isn't CNS supporting
X2 56K technology?
Because it is not a standard technology. Your X2 based products will continue
to function, just not at 56K type speeds. The move to K56flex modems earlier
this past Summer was only a step in preparation for support for the ITU
V.90 standard. All the major modem vendors will support V.90 including
3com/USR. You should be able to update your modem to the ITU standard.
Who is eligible to subscribe to the VT Modem
Pool (VTMP)?
Subscription is limited to Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff, retirees,
and University affiliates.
Why does my session get dropped?
The Virginia Tech Modem Pool is set up with two timeouts:
- When no data has been sent from your computer after 30 minutes, the session
will be dropped.
- If the session exceeds 8 hours, it will be dropped regardless of traffic.
How do I know that I've been disconnected?
For more information than what is listed below, contact 4HELP.
- External Modem. If you're using an external modem, look at
the CD (carrier detect) light. If it isn't lit, you've been disconnected.
- Windows 95 or NT. If you're using Windows 95 or NT, look on
the task bar for the modem icon. If the lights are off, you've been
disconnected.
- All Other. If the network application stops working, try something
that you know has worked in the past. If it doesn't work now, chances
are, you've been disconnected. The only way to make certain that you've
been disconnected is to listen for a dial tone on that telephone line.
Keep in mind that if you are still connected, once you pick up the phone,
the connection will most likely be dropped. Be daring! Pick it up! You're
stopped anyway.
I am a student and live off campus, how do I
get access to the Virginia Tech Modem Pool (VTMP)?
You may get access to the modem pool by logging into COLA
or by going to the Student Network Services Office in 120 Student Services
Building (8a-noon and 1p-5p, M-F).
I am a faculty member, how do I get access to
the VTMP?
You will find general information about the modem pool at Virginia Tech
(prices, instructions, etc) in the Data Services section of this web site. You wil find an application for modem pool service that will allow you to
set up your account. Please
be aware that you can have a "personally paid" account, or your
department can pay for you. Which way you go depends on your individual
situation and your department. If you need more information than provided
here, please feel free to call 1-6460 to talk to the Faculty/Staff CNS
Modem Pool Administrator directly.
Network Adapters
What is the MAC address?
The MAC address is also called the hardware address or physical address
of a machine; it is a unique 48-bit address that is encoded directly
on the Ethernet interface of the computer. It serves to uniquely identify
the physical network interface of the computer, regardless of the IP
address it may have at the moment. The MAC address is made
up of 12 characters and appears in the format of xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx,
such as 00-00-00-15-89-EE.
How do I identify my computer's MAC address?
Depending on the operating system (OS) you are running, you should
do the following:
For Windows 95/98/ME:
- Click Start and select Run.
- Type winipcfg in the Open: field and click "OK."
- The MAC address is displayed in the Adapter Address box
For Windows NT/2000/XP:
- Go to the Start menu and select Run.
- In the text box, enter: cmd and click "OK."
- At the prompt, enter: ipconfig /all.
- The 12-digit number listed as Physical Address is the MAC address.
Example
Windows 2000 IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 3:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . .:
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : IBM High Rate Wireless LAN PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-2D-0E-43-D1
For OS X
- Click the Apple
- Go to system preferences
- Select Network
- Select the TCP/IP tab
The MAC address is located at the bottom under Ethernet
address and looks like 00:00:00:15:89:EE
For OS 9
- Click the Apple
- Go to control panels
- Select TCP/IP
- In the window select File > Get Info.
A second window will pop up and the MAC address is listed as hardware number 00:00:00:15:89:EE
What if I have more than one network adapter?
Some computers may have more than one network adapter available. For
instance, a computer may have both an Ethernet adapter and a PPP adapter
( for dial-up connections) or a Wireless LAN adapter.
In Windows NT/2000/XP, "wired" connections, or cards
that require a physical cable to connect, are usually labeled "Ethernet
adapter Local Area Connection #."
Wireless connections should appear as "Ethernet adapter Wireless
Network Connection" or something similar.
Example
Windows
2000 IP Configuration
Host Name . . . .
. . . . . . . .:
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . : cns.w2k.vt.edu
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . .: Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . .: No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . .: No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . .: w2k.vt.edu
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cns.vt.edu
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cc.vt.edu
Ethernet adapter Local
Area Connection 3:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . .:
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : IBM High Rate Wireless LAN PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-2D-0E-43-D1
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 198.82.168.137
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 198.82.168.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 198.82.247.67
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 198.82.247.34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 198.82.247.98
Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 198.82.162.243
Secondary WINS Server . . . . . . : 198.82.162.242
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 02, 2003 11:14:54 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, September 02, 2003 12:14:54 PM
Ethernet adapter Local
Area Connection 2:
Media State . . .
. . . . . . . . : Cable Disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Xircom Cardbus Ethernet II 10/100 #2
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-10-A4-19-1C-B6
Windows 95/98/Me displays drop-down boxes with each adapter listed
as a separate entry. Wired connections will appear as Ethernet, Dial-up
may appear as PPP, and Wireless connections should appear as Brand
(ex. 3Com) Wireless LAN PC Card.
Servers and Listservs
How do I set up a listserv for my organization?
Contact 4Help for assistance
setting up a listserv. Their URL is: http://www.4help.vt.edu.
I am interested in running a website off of
my personal computer in my room. How woud I go about getting my IP address
registered and ensuring I am within the limits of the Acceptable Use Policy?
A dynamically assigned IP address works for most students' computer needs. We
do not provide static addresses on the residence hall network.
Be sure to read the University's policy and guidelines on acceptable use at: http://www.vt.edu/about/acceptable-use.html.
Can I set up a server to run off of the Virginia
Tech network?
Yes. If you plan to run multiple machines via a single network portal,
you must complete an application for Private Ethernet-Additional Connections
at Student Network Services. Their office is located at 120 Student
Services Building and is open 8:00 a.m. to noon or 1:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m., Monday through Friday. There are limits to the amount of bandwidth
available
to given connection and, to ensure minimal exposure to computer viruses,
it is critical that you keep up to date with the latest software patches.
Be sure that your server operation complies with the university's acceptable
use standard (see: http://www.vt.edu/about/acceptable-use.html)
and, that you do not contravene copyright laws.
E-mail
Is there any way to configure my e-mail to filter
out SPAM from particular Domains at the server level?
The mail servers and related services are administered by a unit of
the University Computing Center. The 4HELP consultants are the "front
desk" for that group. You may contact them at 231-HELP or 4-HELP.
