USING THE SMITH NETWORK
Smith College maintains a campus-wide data network that provides high-speed access to resources both on and off campus. Virtually all parts of the campus, including all residence houses, have network access via wireless or wired connections.
Wireless computing
Other General information
Student information
Questions or comments
Faculty & Staff: For
information about using and maintaining Smith network printers, please see the Printing page.
Wireless Computing
Connecting a Laptop or Other Device to the Smith Wireless Network
Smith provides wireless access points in most locations across campus. This document
describes the available wireless networks and explains how to connect to them.
Connecting a Wireless Peripheral Device to the Smith Network
This document explains which types of wireless devices can be connected to the Smith network and provides further information and instructions.
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Other General Connection Information
Using
a Macintosh to Connect to Your Novell Network DATAVOL
Macintosh users must create a connection to their DATAVOL on the Smith
network in order to access their home directory, dropbox, or shared
drives. This document explains how
to create a DATAVOL icon on your desktop, so you can easily connect to the network anytime.
Smith Software Download Site
Click here to log in to the Smith software download site. Smith students, faculty, and staff can
use this site to download Microsoft Security Essentials and many other useful applications.
Introduction to the Smith Network
A network is a group of computers
connected by electrical signals that are conveyed usually, but not always, over a cable or wire. Smith
uses a Novell Netware network and fiber optic cables to connect the PCs, Macintosh computers, and network
printers on campus to bigger machines called file servers. This document explains basic network terminology
and operations.
Managing Files on the Smith Network
If you keep your computer files on your local hard drive (the C: drive) and floppies, they are not
as safe as they are on the college's network drives. This document explains how to save your files
on the Smith network, thereby ensuring that they are routinely backed up and protected from unauthorized
access.
Backing
Up Your Computer Files
All kinds of technology disasters can damage your computer files or make them inaccessible. But as
long as you routinely "back up"
your files (that is, save up-to-date copies in more than one location), your hard work will
be protected. This document explains how to back up files using your network (H:) drive and/or
portable storage devices such as CD-ROMs, jump drives, or DVDs.
Using Dropboxes to Exchange Files
When staff and faculty need to transfer a file to another employee at Smith, they can send it as
an e-mail attachment (unless it is too large) or they can put it in the other person's dropbox. All
staff and faculty have a personal dropbox on their server.
Choosing and Changing Passwords
Smith's connection to the Internet
provides us all with access to the world, but it also provides hackers with a connection they can use
to try to invade Smith systems. This document explains how to choose secure (non-intuitive) passwords
and change those password periodically, so you can protect your accounts and all the systems on which
you work.
Student Information
Disabling
Peer-to-Peer File-Sharing
Many students are unaware that their computers are sharing copyrighted files. Because
of the functionality built into peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software such as Kazaa
and LimeWire, copyrighted audio and video files on your computer may be available to
others for downloading over the Internet without your knowledge or permission. This
document explains how to disable or remove P2P software.
ResNet Minimum Requirements
ResNet provides students with access to Smith's high-speed campus-wide network and the full
Internet from on-campus residence houses. Before you can connect to ResNet from your room,
your computer must meet the minimum requirements specified in this document.
Questions or Comments
For general network support and troubleshooting, call the User Support Center at 413-585-4487 from 8:00-5:00 Monday through Friday. For information about cable TV in Smith residence houses, click
here.
ITS is continually exploring new ways to further enhance the capabilities of the Smith network.
Student feedback is an important part of this process, so please send your comments and suggestions
to 4ITS@smith.edu.
