Welcome to AU! Information Technology Services provides a wide range of computing and telecommunications services. This document will give you a quick overview about computing at AU and provide quick answers to some of the questions you may have. In many cases the answer provided includes a link to a separate document containing more detailed information. You can locate information on variety of topics on the Information Technology Services web site at http://www.aurora.edu/its/.
1. What causes the residence hall network to become unavailable?
2. Why does my computer appear to be slow?
3. Why do some of my computer applications fail to work?
4. How can I help prevent network problems?
5. My computer doesn't work. What should I do?
1. What causes the residence hall network to become unavailable?
There is no single cause of network access problems in the residence halls. These are three of the most common:
We have experienced occasional bandwidth problems caused by demands on our connection to the outside world that exceed its capacity. These periods of saturation are typically brief and have the effect of gradually slowing down response time rather than causing it to fail.
Some students have had problems getting onto the network not because of any problem on the network itself but because of hardware and software problems on their own machines. Typical problems are network interface configuration errors, incorrect cables, and misconfigured firewall settings. These are individual problems and do not affect other users.
By far the main source of network interruptions this semester has been computer viruses. In simple terms, when a computer connected to the network is infected by certain viruses or worms it begins to pump a stream of infected messages out onto the network, using up bandwidth and slowing everything down. If enough machines are infected (and it doesn't take many), the stream of virus-induced garbage consumes all of the available internal bandwidth, causing the network to freeze up and become unavailable. When these outbreaks occur AU Information Technology Services staff attempts to locate the compromised machines, remove them from the network, and works with the machines' owners to have them get their computers cleaned up and protected from further infection. New service policies are in the planning stages which will help prevent these problems in the future.
2. Why do some of my computer applications fail to work?
Resnet policies have been designed to preserve the the maximum utility for the greatest number of students. We have established rules that are specifically designed with this goal in mind. In particular, certain high-bandwidth recreational uses such as network gaming have been restricted in order to preserve the Resnet bandwidth for student educational activities. We have also blocked access to certain "peer-to-peer" file-sharing services that are widely used to facilitate the illegal exchange of copyrighted files (most commonly music and movies) between desktop PCs over the Internet. Students are encouraged to contact Information Technology Services before purchasing certain recreational software applications to make sure they are compatible with current Resnet policies.
3. How can I help prevent network problems?
The most important thing you can do to maintain a healthy network connection is to keep your computer fully patched and free of virus and spyware infections. ITS staff will provide you with assistance and support, but in the end it is your responsibility to keep your machine clean. You owe it not only to yourself but to your fellow students, because when your machine becomes infected everyone else on the network pays the price.
4. My computer doesn't work. What should I do?
Maintenance of all privately owned equipment in use by students on the AU campus, including computers, is the responsibility of the owner. When your equipment needs repair, your choices are to do the work yourself, call on the services of a computer-savvy friend, or take your machine to a commercial repair service. AU Information Technology Services staff members are not able to provide hands-on repair services. However, we will do everything we can to help you diagnose any problem that you may be having and if possible solve it yourself. We can evaluate the performance of the machine, help you figure out where the problem is, and provide you with diagnostic and repair software where appropriate to solve your problem.
[Rev. 9 July 2007]