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Residential computing: FAQ

Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions about MIT Residential Networking. Note that some of these questions apply to dorms only.

FAQ Sections:
General
Dorm Networking
Multiple Computers
MIT Networking
Remote Access
Copyright and File Sharing
Network Security


General:
Zero. The campus wide computing system, Project Athena, has large numbers of clusters spread around campus. With a few exceptions, all coursework can be done on Athena or in a departmental computing cluster.
Most people find that one computer is sufficient. There are certain physical limitations on how many computers you can connect to the network simultaneously. Read the "Networking" section for more information on this. There's no answer to that question. Both have their advantages, both have their disadvantages. MIT provides support and software (such as e-mail,printing, instant messaging, etc) for both platforms. The Computer Buying Advice can provide advice and demonstrations of systems. For more information, see their web page at http://web.mit.edu/ist/services/hardware/presales.html MIT recommends a laptop as generally more useful for its students. It is mobile and allows you to use it in a variety of contexts, such as classrooms, labs, and study groups. However, depending on your needs or circumstances a desktop may also be a good choice. One thing to keep in mind regardless of your choice is that computers are theft targets. If you purchase a computer, you should invest in a cable or similar lock for it. Additionally, for a nominal fee (currently $10), your laptop can be enrolled the STOP program, sponsored by the Campus Police. For more information, see http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/security/physical.html

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Dorm Networking:
Most dorm rooms at MIT have one (1) RJ-45 Ethernet drop. As dorms are renovated, more drops may be installed. Currently the following dorms have two (2) Ethernet drops per person: Each jack in a room has two ports. One port is for phone service; the other is an Ethernet drop. Do not plug your computer into the phone drop; it can damage your computer. Test each port in the jack with your telephone until you get a dial tone; that will determine which port is for phone service and which is for network service. The jack near the door is the one that will contain phone and Ethernet service. The other jack was probably installed when your room was used as a double room, because of crowding. The other jack probably only has one active port&emdash;the other will be inactive. Submit a request at http://rcc.mit.edu/. An RCC will visit your room, confirm that you need a new jack installed, and will initiate the installation process. Note that this process may take a few days. As of October 2005 there is complete wireless coverage in all of the residence halls at MIT. The wireless standard deployed in the dorms is 802.11b/g. MIT also provides 802.11b/g wireless service in academic buildings. (The campus is gradually being upgraded to 802.11g, and 802.11a is available in select portions of campus.) Please see http://web.mit.edu/network/wireless-locations.html for a list of buildings and locations with wireless coverage. Yes. See http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/network/dhcp.html for more information. We can only give out cables that are 25 feet long. Longer cables cannot safely be used on MITNet, as they exceed the specifications for Ethernet, and can cause data loss not only to you, but to the entire floor for your dorm.

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Multiple Computers:
Yes. There are currently two acceptable methods, although the latter method is deprecated for reasons mentioned below. Using the preferred method, each computer equipped with an 802.11b/g wireless adapter, which are available for both laptop and desktop computers, can connect using the official MIT wireless service in the dorms. The second, deprecated method requires that both computers have Ethernet cards with Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) connectors. Because AUI requires the computer to supply +12V DC constantly, laptops do not support AUI, as it would be a power drain. Additionally, it is difficult to find Ethernet cards with AUI connectors today. For those wishing to use AUI, the RCCs can supply you with an AUI transceiver and necessary cabling, and may help you setup the connections. Your card will have an AUI connector on it if it supports AUI. An AUI connector looks like this. Four (4), if you use a 4-port AUI transceiver. The RCCs have 2- and 4-port AUI transceivers. Note that we will only issue 4 static IP addresses per student. If you live in a dorm room with two Ethernet drops per person, you may connect two machines directly to the wired network. With official MIT wireless service in the dorms, it is possible to connect many machines wirelessly, but we can still only issue 4 static IP addresses per person. No, you can't. The network in the dorms was not designed with such devices in mind. Introducing hubs, switches, routers, or repeaters on the network can cause data loss and potentially bring the entire dorm or floor network down. If a student is found to be using a prohibited device on MITnet, he/she may be subject to disciplinary actions and/or termination of MITnet service. Using such devices is a violation of the MITNet Rules of Use. No. We will only install one drop per MIT student in a room. The dorm network infrastructure can only handle a limited number of Ethernet drops. Even if cost were not an issue, it would not be possible to install additional drops. MIT Information Services and Technology is attempting to upgrade the network infrastructure in the dormitories as the buildings are renovated. This is a long-term project, and we do not have even a tentative schedule for when your dorm will be upgraded. No. DSL and cable modem providers will not install service in MIT dormitories. If you really want to, sure. However, long-distance telephone fees may apply, the connection will be slow, and you will not be able to receive or make telephone calls while online. In addition, many ISPs require unusual network configurations, which may prevent MIT applications such as Eudora, Kerberos, and Zephyr from working properly. Furthermore, your phone line will need to allow outgoing long-distance calls if you use a long-distance number. The RCCs will not be able to provide any support for machines if you choose this method. No. Back-end networks are prohibited on MITNet. They are often configured incorrectly, and wreak havoc on the subnet where they are located. No. That constitutes a back-end network. No. That constitutes a back-end network. MIT provides wireless access in all of the residence halls. If the coverage is spotty, weak or absent you may fill out a requests at http://rcc.mit.edu/, and an RCC will do a site survey to determine and resolve the problem. In order to ensure that all students have access to the wireless network provided by MIT, all access points have been individually configured to maximize coverage and keep interference at a minimum. To keep the interference level low, students are urged not to connect and turn on devices that operate in the 2.4GHz range. This includes private 802.11b/g access points and some cordless phones. IS&T policy states that private access points will be taken off the network if they interfere with the currently deployed wireless network.

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MIT Networking:
Yes. Wireless is available in the Student Center, Kresge Oval (the grassy section in front of the student center), all libraries, all large lecture halls, and most other large classrooms. Most other locations on campus have wireless coverage now. See http://web.mit.edu/network/wireless-locations.html for a list of wireless-enabled locations around campus. Like DHCP on the wired network, wireless will not work until you register your computer for it. See http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/network/dhcp.html for more information. Yes, DHCP is available in most buildings. However, you must register for it before you can use it. Consult http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/network/dhcp.html for more information. No, sorry. There are far too many lab groups, each with their own way of doing things, for us to possibly support them all. Your lab group or department should have a computing support person who can assist you, but the RCCs cannot provide any assistance. Yes, provided VMWare is configured to do bridging. VMware can also operate in NAT mode, which is not allowed on MITnet. Bridging, however, is acceptable, and we will assign you a second IP address if necessary (provided you don't already have 4 other addresses).

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Remote Access:
Yes and no. There are two dial-in modem pools. These offer a terminal-based connection to Athena. (These are NOT like AOL, Earthlink, or any other ISP's dial-in lines. You will not be able to run applications like Netscape, Eudora, or anything else. It will provide you with one terminal window, and that is all - it basically looks identical to the way a telnet/ssh session does on campus.) The numbers are 617-258-7096 (14.4KBps) and 617-258-7000 (9600KBps and below). There is no fee for dialing in, but keep in mind you may be charged for long distance service if you're outside the local area. Check with your phone company if you're unsure.

You must read document AC-15 Dialing into Athena if you wish to use this option.

There is also Tether, which costs money. It provides PPP connectivity and an 18.xxx.yyy.zzz IP address, which allows you to use some MIT-only electronic resources. Tether only has access numbers in the 617 area code. It is NOT a nationwide ISP. For more information on Tether, see http://web.mit.edu/ist/help/tether/ MIT WebMail. http://webmail.mit.edu/. All you need is a browser capable of SSL (most are), and an Internet connection. It looks and feels like other web-based e-mail services such as Hotmail and Yahoo Mail.

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Copyright and File Sharing:
MIT does not prohibit the use of such applications on the network. However, when using such applications, you must abide by the MITnet Rules of Use. Rule 4 ("Don't copy or misuse copyrighted material") is especially applicable in this case. Downloading copyrighted material, for which you have no license, is prohibited and is a violation of the Rules of Use.

Also be aware that peer to peer networks, especially bittorrent, use a very large amount of bandwidth for uploading content. Bandwidth in the residence halls is a limited resource. Please respect those around you by watching and throttling your bandwidth usage. While MIT does not prevent you from doing this. However, again, you must comply with the MITnet Rules of Use. Sharing material for which you do not own the copyright or have a license to share is not only prohibited by MIT, it's also against the law. Nearly all peer-to-peer (P2P) applications have the ability to limit upload and download rates. We recommend you limit your application to use at most 5 KB/s for uploads (transfers from you to someone else) and 10KB/s for downloads (transfers from someone else to you). Please remember that the network is a shared resource, and academic use takes priority over downloading music.

Some P2P applications allow you to specify what kind of connection to the Internet you have. We recommend you specify "Cable" or "DSL". This will ensure that your transfers do not hog the network and render it unusable for other students.

Several applications (notably Kazaa) can function as a "Supernode" or "Ultrapeer". This functionality is enabled by default. When your computer is designated as a "Supernode" it means lots of other computers will try and connect to yours to transfer a file, rather than connecting to another machine. We ask that you disable the "Supernode" feature.

Bittorent's download speeds are proportional to the amount of data you upload. Please be wary of your upload speeds and amounts. Bittorrent is not recommended for use on some older buildings that have not had recent network upgrades. It can quickly saturate the network causing you and your floormates to lose network connectivity.

Finally, we ask that you close down P2P applications when not using them (such as when you go to class). No. However, the RIAA, MPAA, and authorized agents such as Mediaforce do actively scan the P2P networks looking for illegal files. If they find them, they won't hesitate to notify MIT Stopit of the violation. MIT Stopit will contact you to notify you of the violation. It is essential that you respond to their e-mail as soon as possible. If they do not receive a response from you, they will attempt to contact the RCCs (if you're in a dorm) or your House Net Contacts (if you're in an FSILG). If that fails, your network drop will be disabled, so that MIT remains in compliance with the law. If your drop is disabled, you should immediately go to an Athena terminal, check your e-mail for notification from Stopit, and contact them. They are the only ones who can reactivate your drop. The Network group cannot do so, nor can the RCCs. In an FSILG, since drops cannot be deactivated individually, your entire house will be disabled, resulting in lots of angry fellow students.

Be aware that repeated violations of copyright laws (and thus the MITnet Rules of Use) can lead to disciplinary action, including suspension of network privileges for an entire semester or academic year. Please see Stopit's document on Copyright Notice Protocols which explains the actions associated with the first and subsequent offenses.

For more information, see Stopit's policy on copyright infringement notices.

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Network Security:
MIT does not block any ports (with the exception of those used for the Windows Filesharing protocol at MITnet's border routers). We run a fully open network. Any connections are allowed, either inbound or outbound. You should be aware, however that some departments do run private networks, and have firewalls. These networks will only exist in academic buildings. You can check with your departmental computing personnel to find out what the situation is in your department. No. The network is completely open. There are no firewalls or proxy servers. From time to time, often when a new vulnerability is discovered, the Network Security team will scan the campus subnets for vulnerable machines and notify their owners. However, this is not a substitute for good administration skills. You should keep up to date with patches for your operating system. Both Windows and MacOS offer an automated update feature that will check for available patches and offer you the chance to install them. We recommend you make use of this feature to ensure that your patches are up to date. If you run another operating system, such as Linux, NetBSD, Solaris, etc., you should check your vendor's website for instructions on how to receive notification of patches and vulnerabilities. Hardware firewalls (a box that you connect between your computer and the MIT network) are prohibited, since they can cause a number of problems with the operation of the network.

Software firewalls (such as ZoneAlarm, McAfee Personal Firewall, or any others) are allowed, but you should be aware that misconfigured firewalls can cause problems with MIT software such as Kerberos and Zephyr. Be aware that you may not be able to receive full support from the Computing Helpdesk, RCC, or Athena Consulting (OLC) if you are using a software firewall.

Be aware that there are several machines at MIT that may legitimately try to connect to your machine. These are mentioned in the Network Security FAQ, under the heading "Are there any machines at MIT that might legitimately try to connect to my machine?". Please see the Network Security document What to do if you detect or suspect problems. Probably. See the Network Security webpages at http://web.mit.edu/ist/topics/security/

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