Network (Ethernet) Port

An Ethernet network card is needed to connect your computer to the ResNet. Some computers have an Ethernet network card already installed. Other computers have an integrated Ethernet adapter. If an Ethernet adapter is already installed in the computer, it should be mentioned in the documentation which accompanied the computer. You can quickly verify that an adapter is installed by looking at the rear of the computer for the Ethernet port. An Ethernet adapter port resembles a phone port but is twice as wide. A picture of a typical Ethernet port is to the right.

A phone cord will fit into an Ethernet port but it cannot be used. You must use an Ethernet port on your computer to connect. Connecting a cable to your computer's modem (phone port) will not work.



 

Ethernet Patch Cable

A Category 5 (Cat 5) Ethernet cable is necessary to connect the Ethernet adapter in your computer to the data port in the wall. If the Cat 5 cable is not in your room, contact the MHC Book Store. Use only cables rated for Category 5 network use. Do not attempt to use a telephone cord or other non-10BaseT cable with your Ethernet adapter.
 

Network Card Installation

 

PCI/ISA Network Cards

If your computer did not come with a network card installed you will need to purchase one. A picture of a typical network card is shown at the right. Network cards are available in 2 different speeds and 2 physical connector formats. ResNet supports both the 10Mb/s and 100Mb/s speeds, so you won't need to worry about choosing the right card as most cards are capable of both speeds. Before going to the store to purchase a network card, you should check your computer to make sure you have an available expansion slot to install the network card.

 

 

There are two types of slots pictured at the right. The shorter white one is a PCI slot, while the longer black one is an ISA slot. If you have both types of slots available in your computer you'll want to purchase a PCI network card as they are easier to install and support faster speeds. If you don't have any open slots, you may want to consider removing an expansion card that is currently installed, such as the modem, to free up a slot for the network card. Another option is to purchase a USB Ethernet Adapter if you have an available USB port. More information on the USB Ethernet Adapter is below.
 

 

Once you know what type of network card you will need, you can go to the MHC Book Store. You can also visit BestBuy or Circuit City to purchase your network card. To install the network card you will need to remove one of the rear expansion slot cover plates on your computer. Some computers use a screw to hold the plate in, others use a push-in style cover plate, while a third type is actually part of the computer case and must be "broken" off. Once the expansion slot cover plate is removed you can install the network card by aligning it with the correct type of slot and gently pushing it in. Be sure to screw it back down at the point where you removed the expansion slot cover plate. Then you can reinstall the case cover and power the computer on.

Once the operating system reboots, it may ask you for drivers. If so, follow the instructions included with the card. If you received the network card from some source other than purchasing it, windows may not have the necessary drivers for it. Check for a manufacturer on the card as well as a model type. This will help you in finding your drivers on a company's Internet site. Should no manufacturer or model type be found on a card and Windows cannot find a driver for it, it may be best to purchase a brand new network card. You can download drivers from sites such as Windrivers.com, Driverguide.com, and Winfiles.com. Another good method to find drivers is to use a search engine such as Google or Excite and search for the manufacturer and model type of your Ethernet card.
 

 

USB Network Adapters

 USB network adapters are a relatively new way to allow a computer to access a network. The USB network adapters are typically easier to install than previous types because you do not have to disassemble the computer. The USB network adapter plugs into a USB port on the computer.
 

Most modern computers have a USB port on the rear of the case, and many now include USB ports on the front of the case as well as on some keyboards and monitors. A typical pair of USB port looks like this:
 

Even if you already have all of your USB slots full, you can still use a USB network adapter by purchasing a USB hub. The USB hub will split one USB port in to several more. A picture of a typical USB hub.

USB network adapters can be purchased at most local stores such as BestBuy or Circuit City. After purchasing the adapter, installation involves plugging it into the USB slot and following the included instructions to install the drivers.