ISUnet Services

What is ethernet?

At Illinois State University, ethernet is a service that allows all faculty and staff located within academic, administrative, and residential facilities on campus to obtain network connectivity to ISUnet.  Each ethernet user is capable of connecting to ISUnet at speeds up to 100 MBPS (megabits per second).  All buildings on campus have switched ethernet service available at this time.

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Why do I want ethernet connectivity on ISUnet?

There are many network services available on ISUnet and the Internet. This includes applications such as the Web, e-mail, mainframe, and access to local servers, as well as to off-campus Internet services. Ethernet connectivity provides the fastest service available on ISUnet.

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Steps for getting connected to ethernet on ISUnet.

To obtain ethernet connectivity on ISUnet, you can contact a computer support professional for assistance or follow the steps below.

Step 1: Install an ethernet card in your computer

The first step in getting contacted is to install an ethernet card in your computer to obtain ethernet connectivity on ISUnet. If an ethernet card is already installed in your computer, go to step 2. Otherwise, you will need to locate an ethernet card to install in your computer. If you are not sure what type of ethernet card you need, contact your computer support professional for assistance.

Ethernet cards can be purchased from Software Management online from the URL below if you do not have an ethernet card for your computer in your possession. If you do not already have an ethernet card for your computer, it can be purchased online through the link below. Use your ULID and password to authenticate to place your order.

Online ordering system for ethernet cards, cabling, and baluns

Step 2: Locate an ethernet jack

The first step in gaining access to ethernet on ISUnet, is to locate an ethernet jack. Below are photographs of the two types of jacks used on campus to provide ethernet connectivity on ISUnet.

Figure 1 - ISUnet jacks

If you wish to connect your computer to an existing jack as pictured above, you will need to verify whether or not the jack is already active. This can be verified using the cable number listed on a white sticker located at the top of the wall jack. You can:

1) ask the computer support professional assigned to your unit to determine if your jack is active as ethernet.

2) contact the Office of Telecommunications and Network Support Services at 438-8731 to determine if your jack is active as ethernet.

If the jack is already active as ethernet, go to step 2. If the jack is active as token ring, it may be converted to ethernet at no charge. Contact your computer support professional for details on how to convert a token ring jack to ethernet. If the jack is not active, there is an activation charge and a monthly service cost for activating a jack with ethernet service on campus. Contact your computer support professional for activating an ethernet jack on ISUnet.

If you decide that you need an ethernet jack where one does not already exist, you may request a jack to be installed through your computer support professional. All new jacks installed on campus are either single or dual port UTP jacks as pictured in Figure 1 of this section. A dual port UTP jack allows two computers to be connected to a single faceplate.

There is a cost for installing ethernet jacks on campus. There is also an ethernet activation fee and a monthly service charge. Contact your computer support professional or the Office of Telecommunications and Network Support Services for more information regarding these charges. All installation and ethernet activation requests must come from a fiscal agent in your unit.

Step 3: Plug your computer into your ethernet jack

Once the ethernet card has been installed in your computer, you can then connect your ethernet card to an ethernet jack that was selected in step 1. If the jack you are connecting to resembles the STP jack pictured in Figure 1, you will need to obtain an ethernet balun and ethernet patch cord to connect your computer to the ethernet jack. If you do not have an ethernet balun or patch cord, you can obtain these items online from the URL listed in step 2 of this section.

If the jack you are connecting to resembles the UTP jack pictured in Figure 1, you will only need an ethernet patch cord to connect your computer to the ethernet jack you selected in step 1. If you do not have an ethernet patch cord, you can obtain this item online from the URL listed above in step 2 of this section.

Figure 2 - Ethernet Balun and Patch Cord

If you have selected an STP jack, the ethernet balun should be connected to the top jack within the faceplate. The ethernet patch cord is then connected to the other end of the ethernet balun. The other end of the ethernet patch cord is then connected to your ethernet card in your computer.

If you have selected or installed a UTP jack, no ethernet balun is required. One end of the ethernet patch cord is connected to the UTP jack. The other end of the ethernet patch cord is connected to your ethernet card in your computer.

Step 4: Configure networking on your computer

Once you have installed an ethernet card in your computer and connected the ethernet card to an ethernet jack using patch cabling, you are now ready to configure your computer for network connectivity to ISUnet. Before proceeding, check with your computer support professional as to the policy within your unit regarding self-installs. If your unit allows you to perform a self-install, then proceed to the next paragraph. Otherwise, you will need to coordinate the configuration of the network connection of your computer with your computer support professional.

If your computer will not be mobile on ISUnet, then you should configure your computer with a static IP address. Contact your computer support professional to obtain a valid static IP address, gateway, network mask, DNS server addresses, and WINS server addresses for your computer. Once this configuration has been applied, you will probably need to reboot your computer (depending on the operating system you are using) to obtain connectivity to network services on ISUnet or the Internet. After you have rebooted your computer, we recommend that you test network connectivity by launching a web browser (such as Netscape or Internet Explorer) and connecting to www.ilstu.edu.

If your computer will be mobile between multiple ethernet jacks on campus or between campus and an ADSL network at your residence, then you will need to configure your computer with a dynamic IP address. Dynamic IP addresses are provided through a service called DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). This service is provided on all on-campus ethernet networks and all off-campus ADSL networks on ISUnet. Contact your computer support professional for assistance in configuring dynamic IP addressing on your computer. Click the link below for more information about using static or dynamic addressing.

Static and dynamic IP addressing on ISUnet

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How do I configure my computer?

We strongly encourage all users to install the most recent version of Itools to automate the process of configuring your computer while installing or upgrading critical Internet applications and dialup access. For more information about Itools, visit the University Help Desk web site.

If you are not installing Itools and want to manually configure your computer for dialup connectivity, check out Technical Support at the University Help Desk.

It is a violation of University policy to introduce ethernet patch cords or baluns on ISUnet that were manufactured on campus. This prevents the introduction of poorly made cables and connectors on campus. Manufactured patch cords or baluns will be confiscated if discovered. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Office of Telecommunications and Network Support Services for more information at 438-8731.

It is also a violation of University policy to connect an ethernet hub to an ethernet jack. If an ethernet hub is discovered on ISUnet, the ethernet jack it is connected to will be disabled automatically. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Office of Telecommunications and Networking for more information at 438-8731.

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How much does ethernet service on ISUnet cost?

A startup fee and monthly service fee is charged for a jack where ethernet service on ISUnet has been requested. Click the link below for more information:

Ethernet Service Costs on ISUnet

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Where do I get help with ethernet connectivity?

If you encounter any problems or have any questions with ethernet connectivity on ISUnet, please contact the University Help Desk at 438-HELP.

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