Library and Information Services

Bringing Your Computer to Campus

Setting up your connection
Purchasing Hardware or  Software at a discount
Services we do and do not provide

Setting up your computer for Internet access

This document includes information on:

Part I - Making the physical connection, (for everywhere except Tarble Dorm).

  1. Plug in the Ethernet cable to your computer and the wall jack.
  2. Turn on your computer.
  3. If your computer settings are correct, you may start connecting to Internet resources on and off campus.

Part I(b) - Making the physical connection if you live in Tarble Dorm

  1. You will need a balun (small black connector adaptor) and Ethernet cable. You may purchase the cable on or off campus, but you must purchase the balun from the Carthage Computer Center. Prices are: Balun - $25, cables - $1 per foot for 5 ft., 10 ft., and 25 ft. lengths.
  2. Plug your Ethernet cable into the Ethernet card in your computer. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the balun, and plug the balun into the network jack by the phone jack in your room. (The network jack is the large beige box mounted on either the left or right wall of your room about a foot from the floor and 2-3 feet from the window.) If you are using a hub to connect two or more people using one jack, follow the instructions for “Connecting a Hub”.
  3. Turn your computer on if it isn’t already.
  4. If your computer settings are correct, you may start connecting to Internet resources on- and off-campus.

balun1

Part II - Connecting a hub

If you have a hub to connect multiple computers to one network jack, this section discusses how to connect it properly. To connect two computers, you will need the following:

  • One hub
  • One balun
  • Three Ethernet cables (generally two short ones and one long one)

The instructions below are for either a four-port NetGear hub or a five- or eight-port Asante hub, which are sold through the Computer Center. You may use your own hub, but these instructions may not apply exactly on other models of hubs. These instructions do not apply exactly to residents of Swenson Hall or the Johnson suites; in these rooms, baluns are not necessary, but the instructions can be followed by omitting the balun.

Make the connections as follows:

  1. Plug one of the shorter cables (we’ll call it “cable 1”) into the balun (small black adapter)
  2. Plug the balun into the network jack in your wall
  3. Plug the other end of cable 1 into the Uplink port of the hub. If no port is labeled Uplink, then use the highest numbered port (e.g. ports 4, 5, or 8 on four-port, five-port, and eight-port hubs, respectively.)
  4. If there is an Uplink button on your hub, make sure it is pressed in. NetGear hubs have an uplink button, but Asante hubs do not.
  5. Plug the hub’s power adapter into the hub and into an electrical outlet. Lights will likely light up on the hub.
  6. Plug one end of another cable (cable 2) into port 1 on your hub and the other end into the Ethernet card on one of your computers.
  7. Plug one end of the last cable (cable 3) into port 2 on your hub and the other end into the Ethernet card on the other of your computers.
  8. If you have more than two computers, you can plug another cable into port 3 on your hub and into the Ethernet card on a third computer. If you are using an Asante hub, be sure NOT to use the port next to the last one. In other words, do not use port 4 on a five-port hub and do not use port 7 of an eight-port hub; these ports will not work when the last port is used for an uplink.

Diagram of hub wiring:
hub

Part III - Getting a Valid IP Address

When your computer is disconnected from a network jack and reconnected to another one, it may not communicate on the network until the computer is told to get another IP address. That process is called "releasing and renewing" an IP address.

Windows XP/Vista/Win 7
To manually release and renew, follow these steps:

  • click on the Start Menu, and select Run
  • type cmd in the Open box and click OK
  • type ipconfig /release and hit Enter
  • after the IP is reset to 0.0.0.0, type ipconfig /renew and hit Enter. Your computer should then see its correct IP address, beginning with 10. That's it! You are now able to browse the Internet.

Macintosh OS X
Follow these steps:

  • go to the Apple Menu and select System Preferences;
  • click on the Network icon;
  • on the TCP/IP tab, set the Configure drop-down menu to Manual;
  • type random numbers into the IP address field, and click Apply Now;
  • after the IP is reset to those random numbers, reselect Using DHCP from the drop-down menu, and click Apply Now. Your computer should then see its correct IP address, beginning with 10. That's it! You are now able to browse the Internet.


Correct settings to automatically get an IP Address

When your computer is set up correctly, the Carthage network automatically assigns an IP address to you. Follow the directions below to verify your computer’s settings.

Windows XP / Vista/Win 7
To check your settings, follow these steps:

  • Click the Start button and select Control Panel from the Settings menu.
  • Double-click Network Connections, double-click the Local Area Connection icon and then click Properties.
  • Click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click the Properties button.
  • Make sure that Obtain an IP address automatically is checked and also make sure that Obtain DNS Server automatically is checked.
  • Also, click on the Advanced button and click on the WINS tab.
  • Make sure that there are no WINS servers installed, and if there are, remove them one by one by clicking on the server and then clicking the Remove button.
  • Close all windows and reboot if necessary to apply changes..

Mac OS X
To set up the DHCP service, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to Apple menu | System Preferences... | Internet & Networks | Network
  • Select the Show drop down menu and select Built-in Ethernet
  • The TCP/IP tab should be selected.
  • Select the Configure IPv4 drop down menu and select Using DHCP
  • If a 10.x.x.x IP does not appear, click on Renew DHCP Lease until it does.
  • Open up your Internet browser and you should be automatically redirected to the NetReg registration page. If not, call the Carthage InfoDesk at x4357(H-E-L-P).

Part IV - Setting up wireless

When your computer is set up correctly, the Carthage network automatically assign an IP address to you. You must already have a wireless network adaptor inside your computer for these instructions to work. Follow the directions below to verify your computer’s settings. To get the appropriate SSID (Network name) for your residence hall and/or a public area, contact the Hedberg Library Information Desk at 262-551-5950 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting  262-551-5950end_of_the_skype_highlighting or by e-mail to helpdesk@carthage.edu.

Windows XP
To check your settings, follow these steps:

  • Click the Start button and select Control Panel from the Settings menu.
  • Click on Network and Internet Settings.
  • Click on Network Connections.
  • Right click on Wireless Network Connection.
  • Select Properties from the menu.
  • Click on the Wireless Networks tab.
  • Click on the Add button.
  • Type in the Network name(SSID) given to you by the Hedberg Library Information Desk
  • In the Data Encryption box, click the entry for Disabled.
  • Click on the Ok button.

The wireless setting will start working in about 38 seconds as the connection is confirmed.

Macintosh
To check your settings for an AirPort connection, follow these steps:

  • Click the AirPort icon in the menu bar.
  • Select "other" from the menu.
  • Type in the Network name(SSID) given to you by the Hedberg Library Information Desk
  • Click on the Ok button.

The wireless setting will start working in about 38 seconds as the connection is confirmed.

Baluns are NOT needed in Swenson Hall and in the Johnson basement suites.

Purchasing Software

We highly recommend each student purchase MS Office software. Significant discount prices are available through the link below.

Order Microsoft Software On-Line

Purchasing Hardware:  

A variety of computer hardware such as desktopks, laptops, monitors, etc.  can be purchase at a discount through the following link.

Order computers or other accessories

Services not provided to student-owned computers include:



Regular Library Hours

Monday - Thursday
7:30am - 12:00am
Friday
7:30am - 10:00pm
Saturday
7:30am - 6:00pm
Sunday
12:00pm - 12:00am


Spring Break Hours

Fri Mar 16
7:30am - 8:00pm
Sat Mar 17
7:30am - 5:00pm
Sun Mar 18
1:00pm - 10:00pm
Mon Mar 19 - Thur Mar 22
8:00am - 10:00pm
Fri Mar 23
8:00am - 8:00pm
Sat Mar 24
7:30am - 5:00pm
Sun Mar 25
1:00pm - 10:00pm