Add a Computer to the Network

• An Ethernet wall jack
  Not all Ethernet jacks are active. If you wish, please let us know your jack number in the form below and we will verify that the jack is active.
• An Ethernet cable
  10 feet or less in length. You can obtain a cable from us by stopping by 333 or 332 Morrill Hall. There are currently three different wiring types in use, so please don't use your own cables.
• Knowledge of the Life Sciences and UIUC computing policies
• A locally-assigned IP address for your system

Please read the info below and submit the following form to request a life.illinois.edu IP address for your system. We will then assign an IP address and respond shortly.

Policies

There are restrictions on network use. Policies regarding information security and the use of computers and other devices on the illinois.edu network can be found at https://techservices.illinois.edu/office-cio/information-technology-policies.

UIUC Life Sciences also has the following policies to ensure the overall health of the network:

• Microsoft Windows systems must have up-to-date anti-virus software installed.
• Security patches must be kept up to date.
• Each system must connect directly to a wall jack. Systems may not be used as, or connected to, a router, switch or hub.
• The maximum cable length from wall jack to system is 10 feet. Cables should be as short as is practical for best performance.
• Cables must have a clear path from wall jack to system. For instance, they may not pass through doorways, across ceilings or floors, or come near devices that generate electrical interference.
• IP address assignments will be retired when the system has not been attached to the network for six months.

IP Address

For a computer to communicate on the life.illinois.edu network, a local IP (Internet Protocol) address must be assigned to your system. All modern devices come pre-configured to obtain an address from a server using the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Your system will automatically ask for an address each time it is attached to the life.illinois.edu network and our DHCP server will provide the same address on each occasion. This is called "static addressing via DHCP".

Every Ethernet device is assigned a unique adderess when it is created, and we use this address to associate the life.illinois.edu IP address with your computer.

Security & Backup

Our web page, http://www.life.illinois.edu/help/faq/security.php, gives an overview of steps to secure your computer. Please evaluate these steps as soon as possible.

If you wish, we can backup your computer when it is attached to the life.illinois.edu network. For more information, see http://www.life.illinois.edu/help/backups/.

For Windows:
  1) In the Windows search box at the lower left, type 'cmd'
  2) In the Command Prompt window that appears, type 'ipconfig /all'
      -- Look for "Physical Address. . . . . . . . :" under
         "Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection" usually
         with a Description including numbers "10/100/1000"
         or "Ethernet Adapter" but never "Wireless".
      -- Example of format 00-B4-E5-08-45-23

For macOS 13 or later:
  1) Select Apple (menu) -> System Settings -> Network
  2) In the list of network interfaces,
       select the Ethernet interface.
     Might be called something like USB 10/100/1000 LAN.
     Should show a green dot and "Connected" if an Ethernet connection is active.
  3) Click the Detals button.
  4) In the new sheet that drops down,
       select the Hardware tab 
  5) You should now see MAC Address, which the address we need. 
       Example of format 00:b4:e5:08:45:23

For macOS 12 or earlier:
  1) Select Apple (menu) -> System Preferences,
     select Network
  2) In the list of network interfaces along the left, select Ethernet.
  3) On the right, click the Advanced button.
  4) In the new sheet that drops down, near the top,
        select the Hardware tab 
  5) You should now see MAC Address, which the address we need. 
       Example of format 00:b4:e5:08:45:23

For Linux or Unix:
  -- from a shell prompt type 'ip address' or 'ifconfig -a'

For HP Printers:
  1) Press 'Menu' button so 'Information Menu' is displayed
  2) Press 'Item' button so 'Print Configuration' is shown
  3) Press 'Select' button to print 'JetDirect Configuration Page'
  4) Find "LAN HW ADDRESS:"
      Example of format 00B4E5084523