September 22, 1995: Volume 35, Number 2

Students hook up to RESNET

"Students can't seem to get hooked up fast enough," Diane Keller of OCS says about ResNet, the new ethernet service that makes the Internet available to every student in a campus residence hall.

ResNet, short for "residence hall network," is based on ethernet, which provides direct access to the Internet.

ResNet replaces the residence hall network installed in 1986. That system, which was failing, allowed Internet access only by logging into another system, a relatively slow process. ResNet allows students direct access to the Internet without logging into the College's system, said David Cossey, director of OCS.

There are 1,400 ResNet connections, or, in industry jargon, "one per pillow."

In 1986, Union was among the first colleges in the country to install data connections in each residence hall room. This fall, the College is among the first in the country to provide students with direct Internet access.

Students can get a ResNet connection by calling OCS at ext. 2659 and setting up an appointment. Student computers must meet minimum configuration requirements, and they must have a ResNet card or cable, which are available at the bookstore. Depending on the computer, the card or cable could cost between $50 and $300, but generally they run less than $100. OCS is installing the ResNet cards and providing the Internet applications software at no charge.

If a student does not have a personal computer, it doesn't mean they will be "locked out," said Keller, director of academic computing in OCS. All OCS computer labs have access to the Internet.

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