Dear New and Returning Smith Students:
This webpage contains important information about Cisco Clean Access, Smith's new computer-registration software for on-campus students.
All computers in student residence houses must complete the Clean Access registration process in order to gain access to the Smith Residence Network (ResNet) and the Internet.
In addition to registering your computer on the Smith network,
Clean Access also scans Windows computers to
ensure that all required Windows software is
installed. Required software includes critical Windows updates
and up-to-date McAfee or Norton anti-virus software.
You will not be granted access to ResNet if any of these required elements are missing. However, you will be given an opportunity to install any missing pieces and try again.
To make your computer registration go quickly and smoothly, we strongly urge you to complete the following 5 steps BEFORE you come to campus if at all possible.
If
you wait until you get to Smith, you will be required to
install all mandatory software as part of the computer registration
process.
Please note that all the software described in these steps is provided FREE to
Smith students, faculty, and staff.
1. Windows users: Install all critical Windows updates. (REQUIRED)
Microsoft releases a new critical update whenever it discovers a hole in Windows that a virus could exploit. Installing these updates is absolutely essential for keeping your computer secure.
To check for and install Windows updates:
- Open an Internet Explorer window.
- Click on the Tools menu and select Windows Update.
- When the Update page opens, click on the Scan for updates link.
- If the scan identifies any missing critical updates, install them right away.
If you ever receive a message from your computer saying
that new Windows updates are available, please install all
critical ones as soon as you can. We will be regularly
re-scanning Windows computers during the semester to
ensure that all current critical updates are installed.
Windows XP users: Note that Service Pack 2 (SP2) is now a critical Windows update. If you have not already installed SP2, please allow up to 2 hours for the installation to complete.
2. Install virus-protection software.
(RECOMMENDED for Macintosh, REQUIRED for Windows)
Destructive viruses are still rampant on the Internet, so
we regularly scan the campus network for virus activity.
If your computer is found to be transmitting viruses, you
may lose your network connectivity until your computer is
virus-free.
To help address this problem, Smith provides free virus-protection
software to protect your computer and the Smith network
from virus infections.
MACINTOSH users: We recommend installing McAfee
Virex for Macintosh, which is available to all Smith
students at no cost. Installation instructions
are provided below.
WINDOWS users: Clean Access requires that
you have an up-to-date version of either McAfee
VirusScan for Windows or Norton
AntiVirus installed on your computer.
McAfee
VirusScan is
available to all Smith students at no cost. We strongly
recommend installing this virus-protection software
on your computer before you come to Smith.
Note 1: Do NOT install
McAfee VirusScan if you currently have Norton AntiVirus
or any other virus-protection software installed on your computer.
If you decide to switch to McAfee, be sure to un-install
your other virus-protection software first.
Note 2: We do not provide
technical support or free automatic virus definition
updates for any Windows virus-protection software
except McAfee VirusScan. If you want these benefits,
we strongly recommend switching to VirusScan.
We
will be regularly re-scanning Windows computers to
ensure that your anti-virus software and virus definitions
are up to date.
To download and install the appropriate McAfee virus-protection
software for your computer:
- Click on the following link to open the Smith Software page in a separate window: www.smith.edu/its/smithsoftware
- On the Login page, enter your GroupWise username and password.
Returning students: Use your current GroupWise username and password.
New students: Your GroupWise username is typically the first letter of your first name, plus the first seven letters of your last name. (For example, Anne Robinson's username would be "arobinso".) There are some exceptions to this rule because of duplicate names and initials. If you try the standard format and it doesn't work, call the User Support Center at 413-585-4487 for assistance.
Your initial GroupWise password is the first 8 digits of your 9-digit Smith ID number.
- On the Software Downloads page, follow the instructions for installing the appropriate version of McAfee for your computer.
3. Windows users: Install software
to remove adware, spyware, and parasiteware. (RECOMMENDED)
Adware, spyware, and parasiteware can dramatically slow your computer's performance and interfere with your Internet access. To get rid of them:
- Download AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy from the Smith Software page.
- Open each program, check for updates, then run the program.
These two programs detect and remove the adware and parasiteware that has made its way onto your computer. We recommend running them at least once a week.
4. Windows users: Install the GroupWise desktop client for email. (RECOMMENDED)
GroupWise is the official email system used at Smith. All official Smith College email is sent to your GroupWise address, and students are responsible for regularly checking their GroupWise email for official college correspondence.
You can access your GroupWise account on the Web using GroupWise WebAccess, but the GroupWise desktop client gives you faster access to your messages and provides some functions that are either unavailable in GroupWise WebAccess or more cumbersome to use.
- If you have high-speed Internet access at home: You can install the GroupWise desktop client anytime.
- If you don't have high-speed Internet access at home, but will be living on-campus or will have high-speed Internet access in your off-campus housing: We recommend waiting until you get to Northampton to install the GroupWise desktop client.
- If you don't have high speed Internet access at home and will not in Northampton: Please continue using GroupWise WebAccess to access your GroupWise email.
To install the GroupWise desktop client, go to the Smith Software page, click on the GroupWise Desktop Client link, and follow the instructions on the page.
Note that it takes less time to download the English-only version of GroupWise, but a multi-language version is also available for those who want it.
5. All users: Set up your computer's power-saver options to save electricity and reduce CO2 emissions. (RECOMMENDED)
- On the Smith Software page, click on the link for Energy Star.
- Windows users: Run the EZ Wizard program.
- Macintosh users: Follow the easy instructions for your operating system.
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION
- If you will be living in a Smith residence house, remember to bring your Ethernet cable with you to Smith. If you don't have an Ethernet cable, you can buy one in advance or purchase it at the Smith Computer Store for $10.00.
You will receive instructions for connecting to the Internet in your room when you pick up your room keys.
- Keep in mind that ITS no longer repairs computers that were not purchased through the Smith Computer Store. If your computer is giving you problems now, we strongly suggest that you have it serviced before you come to Smith. For more information, see our Computer Repair page.
- If your computer has a wireless card, learn about wireless computing at Smith. The following page lists the wireless locations on campus and explains the connection requirements: http://www.smith.edu/its/tara/smith_network/wireless.html
Please note that students are not permitted to set up wireless access points in Smith residence houses. For more information, see the Smith College wireless policy.
- You may need additional software, such as PDF and multimedia file readers, to access course materials in Blackboard and other web-based systems. Links to the download sites for many of these programs are provided on the Smith Software page.
- For hours and information about the Student Computer Centers, click on the Computer Center News tab at the top of this page.
Questions? Contact User Support.
If you have any questions about these instructions or any other aspect of technology at Smith:
- Call the User Support Center (USC) at 413-585-4487, or
- Send email to 4its@smith.edu, or
- Visit us in Stoddard 23 during our regular hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Note that our additional open hours over the Labor Day weekend will be posted soon on the USC information page. |
