Information Technology Services - Computing, Networking and Storage
print this page   email this page

Connecting to USCNet - Windows XP

USCNet, USC's high-speed network, provides users with connectivity in academic and office buildings. Only faculty and staff may register computers (hosts) for use with USCNet.

What You'll Need Before Connecting
To gain access to USCNet, you'll need the following:

  • USC username and password
  • Ethernet card installed in your computer. This card provides the jack used to plug the cable into the computer. If your computer does not have an Ethernet card installed, refer to your Ethernet card's installation instructions before proceeding.
  • RJ45 network cable

Determining Your MAC Address/Physical Address
Registering Your MAC Address/Physical Address
Configuring Your Network Connection
Getting Help

Determining Your MAC Address/Physical Address
You must register the Media Access Control (MAC) address/physical address of your Ethernet card before you will be able to use USCNet. Every Ethernet card has a unique number assigned when it is manufactured.

Follow the steps below to determine your MAC address/physical address:

  1. From the Start menu, select Run.
  2. In the Run window, type command. Click OK.
    Result: A Command Prompt window will appear (see Figure 1).
  3. Type ipconfig /all. Hit Enter.
    Result: Your MAC address/physical address is listed as the physical address. For example:
    Physical address: 00-B0-E8-F7-AC-32
  4. Write this number down. You will need it to register.

Some computers may have more than one Ethernet card/adapter, usually a wireless as well as a wired Ethernet card. If this is the case, use the MAC address/physical address listed under the Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection (not wireless).

Registering Your MAC Address/Physical Address
You can register your MAC address/physical address online using the Static Host Registration page or Dynamic Host Registration page. If you are uncertain whether you want to register your computer statically or dynamically, please contact the ITS Customer Support Center.

Configuring Your Network Connection
Follow the steps below to complete the setup:

  1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel then Network Connections.
  2. Right-click Local Area Connection and click Properties. If you have not yet correctly configured your Ethernet card, you will not see a Local Area Connection icon.
    Result: The Local Area Connection Properties window appears (see Figure 1).
  3. Make sure that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is the only item checked.

    xp_advancedWINS
    Figure 1: Local Area Connection Properties Window

  4. If Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is not listed, you will need to install it.
    • Click Install.
    • From the Select Network Component Type window, click Protocol then Add.
    • Under Network Protocol, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Then click OK
  5. Highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
  6. Be sure that both Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically are checked.
  7. From the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window, click the Advanced button.
  8. Click the DNS tab. Make sure that Register this connection's addresses in DNS is unchecked.
  9. Click the WINS tab (see Figure 2). Verify that Enable LMHOSTS lookup is not checked, and that nothing is specified in the WINS addresses box.
  10. Make sure that Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP is selected.

    xp_advancedWINS
    Figure 2: WINS Tab

  11. Click OK to close the Advanced TCP/IP Settings window.
  12. Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window.
  13. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, click the Advanced tab (see Figure 3).
  14. Make sure the first checkbox, Protect my computer and network by limiting of preventing access to this computer from the Internet, is checked.
  15. Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties window.

    xp_advanced.jpg
    Figure 3: Advanced Tab

You can now plug your computer into an Ethernet jack. Test your connection by opening up an Internet-based application (such as a web browser or an email client). If you have tried to connect before the machine was properly registered, you should unplug your machine from the jack for a few minutes, restart your machine, and try connecting again.

Getting Help
To get help with your USCNet Connection, contact the Customer Support Center at (213)740-5555 or consult@usc.edu.



Last updated: Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 11:48AM PDT