Using your own computer

Laptop User outside the OLUA

The ISS sheet Get yourself online summarises the service for private connections. This is placed in every study bedroom at the start of term, and is also available at ISS Help Desks.

You may also find this website about prerequisites useful ( it's advertised to prospective students before they arrive).

Step 1: Connect to the network

Cable:
Most new users at the start of the year are students in Halls: there is an Ethernet cable connection (docking point) in almost all study-bedrooms in Halls. (There are also a few docking points on campus.)
Simply plug your computer into the docking point with the network cable provided (and please don't take away the cable!).

  • Do not unplug a University computer and try to use that socket.

Wireless:
Wireless users need to connect to the wireless network, magpie. (Access points are shown on the Locations map, but coverage is almost universal on campus.)

  • If you've used wireless before: scan for wireless networks and connect to the network with SSID magpie, with no encryption set (it appears as an "unsecured network" on campus).
  • If you're new to using wireless: see the illustrated guides under "Setup the interface" at www.ncl.ac.uk/iss/netcomms/network/setup/wireless/

Step 2: Go to the Connect website

Having connected your computer, start Internet Explorer (or any other web browser), and then...

Go to http://connect.ncl.ac.uk/

This website displays the information you need, based on which operating system you are using. (For example if you're using a Mac laptop, it will display the advice for Mac users.)

Step 3: Carry out the instructions

The connect page describes three actions:

Problems?

There are a few common, simple problems that new users may experience: it's worth checking through the FAQs at the Connect website before going to queue at the Network Connection Clinic!

If there is still a problem, you may wish to visit ISS's Network Connection Clinic: see Help and Support.

Success?

Having set up your VPN connection, test your connection by going to any external website – Google for example (http://www.google.com/)

When you wish to connect in the future you just need to open the VPN connection that you have set up.

More about the Docking Service; locations

The Connect website, http://connect.ncl.ac.uk/ has many useful links: see the tabs at the top of the web page, in particular Locations which can also be used to find University buildings and ISS Clusters.

RAS: ISS PC services on your own computer

The Remote Access Service, RAS, makes University PC facilities (software, your filestore, internal websites) available on your own computer, wherever you are on the Internet. You do not need a PC to use this service: it works for any kind of computer.