Computers at OBU | Software at OBU | Network and Internet | IT Services

How do I get to the Internet from my residence hall room?
All students have Ethernet ports in their residence hall rooms. If your computer has an Ethernet card (and most do now), you can connect to the OBU network, using an Ethernet cable which connects directly to the Internet. The process is relatively easy; a detailed guide on setting up your network connection is available, and IT Services staff will be around to help during move-in day.

Is there anything I should do before bringing my computer to campus?

There are 4 main things that you should do before bringing your computer to campus.

• Windows updates
  You should run all Windows updates and make sure your computer is scheduled to check for new updates daily. 
• Windows XP Firewall
  Your Windows XP firewall should be turned on.  This is more than enough and there is no need to invest in other firewall software such as Norton Internet Security, Zone Alarm, etc.  On occasion, 3rd party firewalls have been known to cause problems with logging into OBU's network. 
• Antivirus Software
  Computer Services provides Symantec Antivirus to all OBU students and strongly encourages every student to install it.  As long as you are a student at OBU and your computer is connected to OBU's network you will receive updates automatically. To install, you will need your OBU username and password.  This will be available for new students at the beginning of August.
• Spyware Software
  This is one of the largest growing issues in the computer world today.  More and more computers are being affected by pop-ups, hijacked browsers, computers slowing down to a crawl & changed home pages just to name a few.  We recommend running spyware software on your computer. 

How fast is the Internet connection?
The connection to the Internet in your room is much faster than the typical home Internet connection. Connections to other computers on campus are even faster — up to 100 Megabit connectivity.

Does that mean that I can download as much as I like? Can I set up a server to share MP3s and movies and stuff with the world?
No. The primary purpose of the OBU network is for academic work. If your non-academic activity is slowing down the network for others, you may be removed from the network. By using the OBU network, you are bound by the university's Code of Computing Practices. Also, OBU does not monitor what students send over the Internet or share with the world. But if a copyright owner complains that you are freely sharing their work, your computer will be taken off the network until you remove the copyrighted material.

Does OBU have wireless networking?
All residences, the library, student center and many public areas have wireless access available. Laptops with 802.11b (Wi-Fi) and 802.11g wireless cards will automatically connect to the network without cables.

Can I bring a wireless access point/wireless router for my room?
NO! Your own wireless access point may interfere with the university's wireless access points. And if these devices are not installed correctly you can bring down an entire network. So please leave your wireless access point at home. If you have trouble connecting wirelessly from your room, we will do our best to make sure you can.

Can I connect my Xbox, PS2, or Gramcube to the University's network?
Devices such as PS2s, Xboxes and Gamecubes need to be set up properly before they will work on the University's Residential Network. All devices should be set to use DHCP to get their network address. If you have questions about your device's settings, refer to your manual or call the manufacturer's help desk.

You must register the device accurately to successfully network your device.

Please note: The University offers no support for these devices other than these instructions and a live network connection.

***You will need your OBU username and password to access the links above.  This will be available for new students at the beginning of August.  Similar instructions on how to get your mac address from your game device can be found simply by doing a search on Google.