Network/Connectivity at MIT

Short-Term Network Connectivity for MIT Guests

IS&T offers short-term network service to campus guests. Guests are allowed up to fourteen days of network service when they register on MITnet. To get their personal machine connected to the MIT network, campus visitors need to have a wireless network card or a wired Ethernet card and an Ethernet cable.

For wired machines, visitors need to plug the Ethernet cable into their computer and an MITnet network drop. This drop will likely have a green MITnet sticker. For wireless machines, visitors need to make sure the wireless card is on and enabled. In both cases, the machine needs to be configured for DHCP (obtaining an IP address automatically). Many machines come with their network cards configured for DHCP by default. If the machine is running firewall software, it will need to be disabled until the registration process is complete.

Once their equipment is ready, visitors should open a web browser and point it to any web page. After selecting Visitor registration, the returned page will display the MITnet Rules of Use, followed by a registration screen, requesting the visitor's contact information, number of days of connectivity, and the event for which they are on campus. Visitors can register between one and five (consecutive) days at a time, up to fourteen days per year. The network connection takes about ten minutes to activate, and remains active for the number of days selected.

New students arriving on campus can still set up their machines with permanent access. See DHCP for Students at MIT for instructions.

Alumni also have their own network registration area, similar to that for campus visitors.

For more information on connecting to the network, see Network/Connectivity at MIT.