To connect a Smart TV or gaming device, or to ensure a faster, more reliable Internet connection on your laptop, you will need to connect the device to the Ethernet port in your room. To do so, follow the steps listed below.
You will connect your device to the Ethernet port with an Ethernet cable. You will need to provide your own RJ-45 cable, commonly known as an Ethernet cable, to connect devices to the wired network.
Ethernet cables can be purchased in most stores that sell electronics.
Please make sure you have an RJ-45 (fig. 1), not an RJ-11(fig. 2), commonly known as a phone chord. Examples are provided below to help with identification.
Fig. 1 (RJ-45 Ethernet cord that you need)
Fig. 2 (RJ-11 phone cord. You do not need this)
All of the residence halls have Ethernet connections, but there are two different forms of Ethernet access.
Please look at the connection in your room to see which best resembles the configuration in your room.
Configuration 1: Cisco Access Point
This access point can be identified by a Cisco logo on the front that resembles the box pictured. This box contains several active Ethernet ports. You may plug in your devices to this box. Proceed to Step Three.
Note: All ports are active in the following residence halls and do not require a request to activate ports: University Village, HSC Housing, Building 1516, Mary Lyndon Hall, Morris Hall and Myers Hall. |
If your room does not have this box, please look at Configuration 2 for instructions on getting your ports activated.
Configuration 1: Cisco Access Point
Configuration 2: Standard Ethernet ports
If your room does not have a Cisco box, your room is equipped with a standard Ethernet port. A sample port is pictured. Many Ethernet jacks may also be orange or red.
Try plugging an Ethernet cable into the port and connect it to your device. If your device does not automatically connect, your port is not currently active, and you will need to submit a port activation request to EITS.
You should receive an email when you submit the request, and a separate email once the port has been activated. Once the port has been activated, proceed to Step Three.
Open a web browser on your device and register the device on the Device Registration Portal in order to access the Internet. Instructions for doing so can be found here. This will allow you to connect to the Internet when you plug your device into the Ethernet port.
This will require you to know the wired MAC address of your device. To find the wired MAC address of your device, follow the instructions found here.