Residence Hall Network Registration

Overview

The network ports provided in the residence halls are protected by a network registration system. The first time you connect your computer to the network you will need to register it. Your registration will stay in effect until the next semester starts, at which point you will need to register your machine(s) again.

Registration Procedure

  1. Ensure that your computer meets the minimum requirements for access, and configure your computer to access the network. You will need to restart (reboot) the computer after you change the configuration. This needs to be done only once.
  2. To begin registration, open a web browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer.
  3. You will be presented with a welcome page which defines the policies associated with using the University of Nevada, Reno network resources. The welcome page also provides a link to read the Standards of Conduct for Using the Computing and Network Resources of the University of Nevada, Reno. You should read this page completely before proceeding!

    WARNING - You are responsible for your account's network activity, and the activity of any other computers that are registered using your account! Do not share your account! Keep your login information as private as you would your ATM PIN number. If you suspect someone is using your login, immediately change your password. For help in changing your password, contact the Help Desk on IT's unified help line (775) 682-5000 (on campus, dial 25000).

    The welcome page looks like the following:

    Network Registration Welcome Screen and Policy Agreement

    If you agree to the policies and terms of access, click the "I Agree" link to continue.

    If you do not wish to accept the policies, you should click "I disagree" and you will exit the registration system. Please note that you will not be allowed to use the University network resources if you do not agree to the policies.
  4. The next page is where you will register your computer using your NetID. As the "Online Helper" box states on that page, your NetID is NOT your Social Security Number nor your Student ID # (also called your R-Number). If you need help establishing your NetID, you should contact the Help Desk.

    The registration screen looks like this:

    Network Registration Screen

    Enter your NetID and password in the boxes, and use the "HW Description" (short for "Hardware Description") drop-down box to select what type of computer you are registering -- Desktop or Laptop, as shown in the following screen.

    Network Registration Hardware Description Box

    When you have filled in all of the necessary information, click the "Apply" button to proceed.
  5. When your registration is successfully processed, a confirmation screen such as the one below will appear instructing you to close your web browser and wait 2 minutes before proceeding. If you are running an older operating system such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, or Mac OS 9 (or earlier), you will need to restart (reboot) your computer before proceeding.

    Network Registration Successful Registration Confirmation

    If you are running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you may see a notification in the lower right portion of your screen (near the clock) that looks like the following:

    Network Registration Notification

    This is normal and is actually the registration system switching your computer into the correct network. The connection will resume within 30 seconds, at which point you will be able to use the network normally.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble registering your computer, the following may be helpful.

  1. Client Already Registered

    Network Registration Error Client Already Registered

    If you see this error, it means that your computer is already registered and does not need to be registered again. Try restarting (rebooting) your computer as this will often correct this problem.
  2. Authentication Failure

    Network Registration Error Authentication Failure

    If you see this error, it means that the information that you typed in the NetID and/or Password boxes on the registration screen were incorrect. Try entering your information again, making sure to spell your NetID and Password correctly (remember, the password is case-sensitive!). If you continue to have trouble authenticating, you should contact the Help Desk for assistance.
  3. Stuck at Registration Screen

    If you have registered your computer and received the confirmation that the registration was successful, you may need to wait up to 5 additional minutes before the registration becomes effective and your computer is switched into the correct network. This can happen during times of heavy network load or if a lot of people are registering at the same time (such as the start of a semester when a lot of students are moving into the residence halls). If, after waiting some additional time, you are still prompted to register, you should restart (reboot) your computer.

    It may also be necessary to clear your browser's cache, as sometimes the browser can get "confused". For help with clearing your browser's cache, contact the Help Desk.