Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Superchicken · Sep 5, 2003, 10:55 AM

Hey all, just got to college, and the whole network setup is driving me nuts, I've already paid my fees and they have instructions for windows users but of COURSE not Mac users.

Anyway, so last night I went through all my system preffs to try and get it to work but couldn't find anything.

I am on the network, it sent me an IP, I can see other computers on the network, but it's not letting me out of the network and onto the web.

Essentially under windows, the person would open up explorer, then it gives them a dialouge asking for their user name and password. OS X isn't doing this. And like I say I've searched high and low but have no clue what to do!

Please any and all help would be greatly appriciated.

ratlater · Sep 5, 2003, 10:59 AM

You need to talk to the campus computer support staff. I'm sure they can help you.

-matt

wadesworld · Sep 5, 2003, 11:11 AM

Sounds like they're using a proxy server.

Wade

PubGuy · Sep 5, 2003, 02:35 PM

Under your network settings, do you have information set on your DNS servers?

Find out what settings the Window's folks are using. 10 to 1 you can place those same settings into OS X and get on the system.

I understand that some college's IT departments "dont' support Macintosh"....but it's mainly because they are still thinking it as OS9 and below and don't want to mess with it. OS X is a breeze to setup on a network.

biscool · Sep 5, 2003, 03:24 PM

It may sound stupid but check to see if safari is blocking the window. That's happen to me before

Peter · Sep 5, 2003, 03:44 PM

do chickens have hair?

utidjian · Sep 5, 2003, 04:24 PM

If you can connect to the LAN as you say and can ping/access local machines or servers then basic networking is just fine.

It sounds like your uni is using a user password scheme for access to the internet via their proxy server(s). Usually this the proxy server settings are "broadcast" locally via the DHCP server (that is how you get your IP address and DNS settings). It is a very common setup.

You may need to talk to your resnet IT people and/or some other students in your dorm. The information you may need is the IP address and port number of the proxy server. The IT people should know this information. Thee may be several possible proxies... and if they are doing it right, when someone connects they are issued the IP address of the least loaded proxy server.

In any case....
Open IE
Click on Explorer --> Preferences --> Proxies
Check "Web Proxy" (if it isn't already)
Click on "Settings"
Enter Address, Port, Username and Password.
Leave Method as normal and don't check Use proxy for local servers.
Click OK and then OK.
See if you can surf.

BurpetheadX · Sep 5, 2003, 04:54 PM

At Duke University i know that they have a registration system you must go through. It involves going to the one website you're allowed to go to (registration page), and you put in your MAC address, and then you would be registered for the web.

Gummi Bear · Sep 5, 2003, 05:07 PM

what college are you at?

Richyfp · Sep 5, 2003, 06:23 PM

<OT>
I'm starting at Cambridge University this October and Macs are supported very well. So much so that the University has an account manager at Apple UK who contacts all undergraduates giving them education prices on Apple stuff. Also, there are support documents for OS X on the IT dept. website and they have an AirPort network at my college!!
</OT>

sushiism · Sep 5, 2003, 06:42 PM

ahh was easy for me, plugged it in the wall, and it worked instantly, was much harder for the windows people

besson3c · Sep 5, 2003, 10:14 PM

Check to see if you need to register your MAC address with the DHCP server

mitchell_pgh · Sep 5, 2003, 11:28 PM

Yah, usually it's just the opposite. I have walked into rooms and simply plugged the cable into the wall and picked up a DHCP connection. MANY Universities use manual as their internet connection and you have to type in all of the user information. Others use an admin program to control the students from plugging in whatever they want to the network (you register your MAC address etc.)

Like the others have said, it must be a proxy.

Amorya · Sep 6, 2003, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by Richyfp:
<OT>
I'm starting at Cambridge University this October and Macs are supported very well. So much so that the University has an account manager at Apple UK who contacts all undergraduates giving them education prices on Apple stuff. Also, there are support documents for OS X on the IT dept. website and they have an AirPort network at my college!!
</OT>

Yeah, Oxford were nicely Mac friendly too.

I'm going to Warwick, though... they actually list a Pentium processor as a requirement for all student computers! Never heard of Macs, and no support if you don't buy a Toshiba laptop through the uni

They do have a wireless network, though, which uses 802.11b.

Amorya

Uday's Carcass · Sep 7, 2003, 12:00 PM

my alma mater is extremely network-friendly. no user names, passwords, or proxies--just plug into the ethernet port and away you go. of course as tech support, I'd spend a lot of time getting the windows users up and running (although windows xp was good at picking up network settings).

mitchell_pgh · Sep 7, 2003, 07:10 PM

At my school, you get an IP... any wrong doing on the IP is your own fault...

But it's easy as pie to hijack an IP, but then again, they do log MAC addresses... but then again, I can see what my friends IP is and trick my router to have the same MAC...

but I'm a good soul...

Superchicken · Sep 7, 2003, 08:30 PM

yeah I got safari working... same with firebird... havn't gotten IE working...

The guy with an iMac right bellow me still doesn't have his working cause of problems with the physical aspeccts of the network.

Anyway, yeah... it was the proxy worked it all out. Unfortunately though noone can download their e-mail so I think everyone right now is using mail2web which is helpful but has no spam blocking.

Brass · Sep 7, 2003, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by Superchic[k]en:
yeah I got safari working... same with firebird... havn't gotten IE working...

The guy with an iMac right bellow me still doesn't have his working cause of problems with the physical aspeccts of the network.

Anyway, yeah... it was the proxy worked it all out. Unfortunately though noone can download their e-mail so I think everyone right now is using mail2web which is helpful but has no spam blocking.

Sounds like they are using very restrictive firewall settings... possibly due to the recent spate of email-borne virusses. We will be implemting blocking of incoming email to all but our own email servers soon too, however, when we do, we will allow routing of other email traffic through our network virus checking email gateway. Just requires some minor reconfiguration of the email clients.

You might want to check with the IT people if they are doing this or not.

waffffffle · Sep 8, 2003, 03:41 AM

I would look for the help desk or IT department's web site. All schools document how to set up your computer on the network, and even if the directions are for windows, you should be able to get them to work with your mac.