Documentation for connecting
PC laptops to network via Ethernet and Modem

The following document contains information on how to connect your PC laptop to the network at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The Tools

Each PC laptop has been equipped with a Xircom RealPort Cardbus Ethernet 10/100+Modem 56. This device serves as your modem and Ethernet adapter. This is a PCMCIA "PC Card", which is plugged into the laptop's PCMCIA slots located on the right-hand side of the laptop. The front of the Xircom card looks like this:

Each laptop kit has also been equipped with a black RJ45 Ethernet patch cable, and a gray RJ11 telephone cord.

Ethernet

This procedure is for an on-campus connection to the University's network via Ethernet. In order to connect to the University's Ethernet network, you will need to find an available Ethernet connection. Here are the locations available to laptop students:

Classrooms Connections

Public Connections

On campus students will be able to use the connections in their dormitory rooms, but the room connections must be registered.

You can register on the web at: http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/resnet/register.html

To get online, you simply need to plug one end of the black RJ45 Ethernet patch cable into an available Ethernet port in one of the specified areas. Then, plug the other end of the cable into your Xircom card. The patch cable will only fit into the 10/100 Ethernet port on the Xircom card, located closest to the back of the laptop. The cable should fit easily into the 10/100 Ethernet port. Do not force the cable into the other ports, as you may damage the device. Once you have completed this, turn on the PC.

When Windows loads, the PC should be assigned an IP address, which will allow you to be on the network. This, in turn, will allow you to use Web, E-mail, and other ITSS services.

The Modem

This procedure will allow an off-campus user to connect to the University's network via modem. The first thing you need is access to an analog telephone line. DO NOT plug your modem cable into a digital phone line or it will damage your modem. Almost all of the phones on campus are digital, except for those in residential housing rooms, which are analog.

Once you have a phone line, plug one end of the gray RJ11 telephone cord into the telephone port in the wall. Then, plug the other end into the middle port of the Xircom card. Turn on the PC. Once Windows is loaded, you will notice a shortcut on the desktop called "Shortcut to UMD Modem Pool." Double-click the icon. This will open a Dial-Up Networking connection dialog window. Enter your University username and password, and press the connect button. This will establish a dial-up connection to the University's network. If you have any problems connecting with your laptop, please call the ITSS Help Desk at 726-8847.

Brief Note on Printing

Printing on campus is done through Uniprint, which is a pay per print system. When printing, you will be asked for a job name. Enter your job name as something unique that you will easily be able to identify. You can then go to any Uniprint station and release your print job. Uniprint stations can be found in any Web or Full Access Lab.

Printing in all labs costs 7 cents per page for 8.5" x 11" (letter size pages black and white printouts. Color printing costs $1.00 for 8.5" x 11" and $2.00 for 11" x 17" printouts. To pay for printing, you can use your UCard. You can add value to your UCard at a machine in the Library (near the circulation desk) or in the Kirby Plaza 165 web lab. If you do not have a UCard, you can also purchase a reusable "guest" card from these machines. Once you have added value to your card, you can use the card reader and print station at each Lab printer to retrieve your printouts. Detailed instructions will be posted by each printer.