Configuring Ethernet for DHCP with Windows 2000

WHAT IS DHCP? Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is used to randomly assign IP addresses to computers on the BU network. If you have Ethernet access in a Residence Hall, you must use DHCP.

WHAT DO I NEED? You should review the information at www.bu.edu/resnet. To summarize, you will need the following:

1. A PC with an Ethernet card or Ethernet support built-in.

2. A 10baseT Ethernet cable, available from University Computers, located at 533 Commonwealth Avenue or, at the very beginning of the year, from the ResNet Operations Centers.

STEP 1: INSTALL THE ETHERNET CARD. If an Ethernet card did not come built-in to your PC, you will have to see the Ethernet card manual for instructions on installing it.

STEP 2: CONFIGURE THE ETHERNET CARD FOR WINDOWS. Once the card is physically installed into your computer, Windows should automatically recognize the card.  To see if Windows has recognized your Ethernet card, you can open the Device Manager (Start ® Settings ® Control Panel ® System ® Hardware ® Device Manager) and check to see if your Ethernet card is listed under “Network Adapters”.

STEP 3: CONFIGURE TCP/IP You must configure the TCP/IP protocol to work with your Ethernet card. (You must be logged in as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group in order to complete this procedure.)

1. Open Network and Dial-up Connections (Start ® Settings ® Network and Dial-up Connections).

If an Ethernet card has been installed, Windows will automatically set up an icon for a local area connection that looks like this:

2. Do a right-click on Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.

(Your Ethernet card should appear under the “Connect using:” field as shown above.) 

3.  Click on the Internet Protocol TCP/IP component and click Properties.

4. Choose Obtain an IP address automatically.

5. Choose Obtain DNS server address automatically.

6. Click OK and OK again to back-out and save this configuration

7. Connect your 10BaseT cable from your computer’s Ethernet port to the wall jack in your room.

8. Restart your computer.

9. After your computer restarts, your Ethernet card and the TCP/IP protocol should be properly configured.  You are now able to use Internet software such as Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, Telnet, Netscape, and FTP programs.  There is no need to dial in or connect; the connection automatically comes up when you launch a program that needs it.

10. For more information on configuring an e-mail program, such as Outlook Express, to read BU e-mail, please see the PCSC Web site at www.bu.edu/pcsc/email. You can also read your BU e-mail through the Web at www.bu.edu/webmail.