Connecting laptop to a university LAN

  • Thread starter Sharky.
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Sharky.

Sharky.

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Quick question - how do I connect my laptop to my university's LAN via a network jack?

I've tried using both regular Ethernet cable and crossover from my laptop's Ethernet jack to my university's network jacks, but Windows keeps reporting "network cable unplugged" in Network Connections.

I want (need) to figure this out because I have 10GB of internet allowance per month there, but over wireless you only get 200MB free traffic per day - go over that and you pay 2.1c/MB.


edit: Of course, I could always go buy a 4GB USB stick and download on an actual uni computer, but I'm too lazy to do that. :D
 
I would have thought it was as simple as it sounds - just connect your laptop via ethernet and you're away.
If it's telling you it's unplugged, it would suggest to me that there's either a fault with the ethernet port in your laptop or the wall socket.

Can you try it with anyone else's laptop? If you attain that it's probably not a problem at your end, I'd inform the Uni (or whoever runs the accommodation if it's an external company) and get them to sort it out.

EDIT

Whoops, sort of assumed it's the accommodation where you're trying to connect...

In which case, go to the IT department instead (I would imagine). Sounds like you're going about it the right way, so that's all I can really say.
 
My laptop's port works fine - I tested it earlier by connecting to a mate's laptop.

The wall sockets *may* be the problem, but I don't understand why they would be put in the walls if they weren't functional. They're numbered for identification which suggests they ARE functional =/


edit: ok, I *think* I may have figured out why the ports are numbered - so staff can request a port be activated for them. I'll go get a gig USB stick instead, as this obviously isn't going to work. :lol:
 
Last edited:
Sharky.
My laptop's port works fine - I tested it earlier by connecting to a mate's laptop.

The wall sockets *may* be the problem, but I don't understand why they would be put in the walls if they weren't functional. They're numbered for identification which suggests they ARE functional =/
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Half the ones in my school have absolutely no function. Presumably they used to be wired up, and now sort of... aren't. Does anyone else connect by ethernet in such a way?
 
Yes, either the port you're connecting to isn't patched to a switch, or a Network Access Control device is not activating the port for your machine. Speak to the University IT department about it.
 
Slightly late to the party but....

At my Universities all Network ports aren't enabled by default for a couple of reasons, Hardware cost, because why buy a ton of ports on switches when 50%+ of them won't be used. And IP addresses, which aren't unlimited and using them up on outlets which aren't being used is a big waste.

Regards,

IT University Department
 
Exactly. They may have a patch panel with 2 or 3 (or more) times as many wall jacks as they have switch ports. Somebody just needs to be told you need an active connection, and they'll drop a patch cable from the port on their panel to a switch. The jack isn't live until it's connected at the other end.

In most environments like that it's just not practical to make every stinking jack live at all times. Switches aren't free, nor is the rack space to mount them, especially if as many as two thirds of the end ports are going unused.
 
Ah, I see, thanks guys.

It wasn't that big of an issue in the end, as the wireless cost was cut to 0.1c/MB a couple of weeks back. It *was* 2c/MB previously. :lol:
 

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