PCSC
Boston University
 

Configuring your Mac to use the Campus Network


These instructions explain how to set up your Macintosh to use the Boston University Campus Network with a dynamic Ethernet connection (DHCP).

What you need:

  • a Mac running Mac OS X, or else OS 8.1 or greater
  • a 10baseT Ethernet cable
  • access to an active Ethernet port

Mac OS X instructions

  1. Connect your computer's Ethernet port to an active Ethernet wall jack, using a 10BaseT Ethernet cable.
  2. Open System Preferences by clicking on the icon in the dock, or by going to your Apple menu and choosing System Preferences....
  3. Once you are in System Preferences, click on the Network button.
  4. In Network, go to the Show: menu and select Built-in Ethernet.
  5. Enter the following information on the TCP/IP tab:
    * Set Configure: to Using DHCP
    * Set Domain Name Servers to
    128.197.253.183
    128.197.253.120
    * Set Search domains: to bu.edu
  6. Your TCP/IP window should now look like this:
  7. Click Apply Now.
  8. You have configured your Mac for BU Ethernet! You should now be able to start and use your network applications.*

* Note: If you are in a residence hall and this is the first time you are using your computer to connect to the campus Ethernet this year, you now need to open a Web browser (Safari, Firefox, any browser you like...) and then follow the prompts to NetReg your computer.

If you have any problems with your network connection, please refer to the Troubleshooting section of this document.

Mac OS 8 and 9 instructions

You must be running at least OS 8.1.

  1. Connect your computer's Ethernet port to an active Ethernet wall jack, using a 10BaseT Ethernet cable.
  2. Go to the Apple menu and choose Control Panels, and then choose TCP/IP.
  3. Set Connect via: to Ethernet
  4. If you find yourself unable to change settings, go to the Edit menu, then select User Mode. Choose Administration, and do not set a password. Click the padlock next to any field to unlock it and change its setting.
  5. Set Configure: to Using DHCP Server
  6. Set the Name server addr: to
    128.197.253.183
    128.197.253.120
  7. Set the Additional Search domains: to bu.edu
  8. Your TCP/IP window should now look like this:
  9. Now go to the File menu and choose Close.
  10. When prompted to save changes to the configuration, click on the Save button.

You have configured your Mac for BU Ethernet! You should now be able to start and use your network applications.*

* Note: if you are in a residence hall and this is the first time you are connecting your computer to campus Ethernet this year, you will need to open a Web browser and and then follow the prompts to NetReg your computer.

Troubleshooting

If you have followed these instructions, but still cannot get Internet access from your Macintosh, please review the following:

  • Ensure that the Ethernet cable is connected securely to both your Macintosh and to the Ethernet jack on your wall.
  • Go back through the steps in this handout and make sure that your settings are correct.
  • Restart your Macintosh
  • See if your roommate or co-worker has an Ethernet cable that you can try -- sometimes an Ethernet cable can fail.
  • See if your roommate or co-worker can let you try connecting your Macintosh to their wall jack -- very rarely, a jack will be inactive.

If you have tried all the above suggestions and still cannot get connected, please call the IT Help Center at 617 353-7272.

If you call for help, please be sure that you are near your computer. The consultant that you speak to will need you to be able to answer questions about your software and try possible solutions.

MS / CS