Troubleshoot Ethernet

If you require assistance in the installation of your Ethernet card, please call or visit Computer Showcase
[PC Sales - 814-677-2447 x607, PC Service - 814-677-2447 x402]

Activation turn-around time	If you have subscribed to the high-speed Internet service through the Campus Bookstore (see Campus Resources for contact information), please note that it takes 72 hours to 1 week for the service to be activated. Please note that the ports are activated based on date of subscription, not who firsts occupies the room.
Check for IP assignment	Is the machine receiving an IP address from the network's DHCP server? DHCP dishes out a 10.x.x.x range of IP's that are nat'ed and private. You can check your IP address assignment on Windows by using the "ipconfig" command or the "winipcfg" utility, the latter of which available on some Windows operating systems. See this page for more information on using these tools. Renew IP You can manually refresh the lease of the IP address by using the ipconfig /renew command. If the problem continues to occur, update the NIC drivers: Make sure the latest NIC drivers are installed. (Beware of generic NICs. A cheap NIC may sometimes cause network connection problems).
Perform some ping tests	The ping command can be used to verify TCP/IP connectivity. See this page for screenshots. ping 127.0.0.1 to verify TCP/IP is installed and configured correctly ping your IP to verify network connectivity ping default gateway IP to verify communication with a local host on the local network. ping IP of remote host to verify communication through a router (e.g. ping 208.40.175.241) ping www.expedient.net to verify DNS resolution If ping fails, shut the computer off, reboot and try again.
Check the network status	Find out if other people in your building are also having networking problems. If they can't use the network either, the problem may not be limited to your computer. If you and others in your Resident Hall are having network problems, call us at 814-732-1000 or fill out a "Contact Us" form to tell us where your computer is and what problems you are experiencing.
Make sure your Ethernet cable is securely connected	The connectors on 10Base-T Ethernet cables look like those on common phone cords, but 10Base-T connectors are slightly wider. To ensure that the cable is firmly connected, insert the connector until you feel a slight click. Make sure you are trying to plug it into a data jack, not a phone jack. Note: See the Wall Jack Diagram. The ethernet cable goes from your computer to the RJ-45 jacks, which are blue and yellow (in Rose Hall they are both blue).
Swap Ethernet cables or try another jack	A good way to isolate hardware problems is to test with similar equipment that you know works. The most common faulty item is a bad Ethernet cable. You can test this by trying your cable on another computer on which the Internet connection works. If, after switching the cables, the other computer still works, the cable is not the problem. If the other computer is no longer able to use the network, the cable is the source of the problem. In a multiple-occupancy room, try using one of the other Ethernet data jacks. If, after connecting to the other jack, your network problems disappear, the original jack is faulty. To report a bad jack, please call us at 814-732-1000. Note: See the Wall Jack Diagram. The ethernet cable goes from your computer to the RJ-45 jacks, which are blue and yellow (in Rose Hall they are both blue).
Check the Hardware	Some of the most stubborn networking problems are hardware-related. Unless all the hardware is properly installed and connected, your network connection cannot work. The Ethernet card must be installed in the computer correctly. A 10Base-T Ethernet cable should be plugged into the card and the data port in the wall.
Check the Ethernet Driver Software	If you bought a Windows computer with a pre-installed Ethernet adapter, the Ethernet driver software is probably already installed. For PCs that do not already have an Ethernet card installed, you will have to install the Ethernet driver software from the manufacturer before the Ethernet connection will work. Run the installer from the disk that came with your Ethernet card to install the appropriate driver. If you bought a Macintosh with built-in Ethernet, the Apple Ethernet driver software is pre-installed. For older Macs that require an additional card for Ethernet, or an external device like the Farallon EtherWave adapter, you will probably have to install the Ethernet driver software from the manufacturer before the Ethernet connection will work. Run the installer from the disk that came with your Ethernet card to install the appropriate driver. If you have updated your system software, you may need to download a more recent version of your Ethernet Driver Software from the Web. Refer to the documentation that came with your card to find the most recent driver. Macintosh Network Utility Mac OS X comes with a Network Utility to assist in troubleshooting. You will find it in your root drive under Applications -> Utilities. Click the Network Utility icon to open it.
Switching from Dial-up to LAN connection?	If you attempt to go to a web page and are prompted to connect using a dial-up connection, click here for instructions to change your Internet Options connection type from dial-up to LAN.

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