FAQ

In 2015, UBC IT introduced network updates to the student residences. The updates ensure fair usage of resources and provide increased security for computers on residence. The one-IP-address-per-person policy is now being actively enforced which means that only one device per room (except in the case of shared rooms) will be able to connect to the internet through a public IP address at any given time.

A public IP address is an IP address given to a device from the ResNet public network, allowing the device to directly connect to the Internet. This is in contrast with a private IP address that you might get from a router. A private IP address is for local use only and is not able to communicate directly with the Internet. Traffic must pass through a router which provides a translation or mapping between private and public IP addresses facilitating Internet communications.

The updates are being made in order to ensure that the limited supply of IP addresses available on ResNet is not exhausted. Without a free IP address, a computer or device is unable to connect online. No changes are being made to the ResNet usage policy. However, technological changes have been designed to ensure service stability and fairness for all student residents. For details on the policy, please see Section 9 of the ResNet Policy Service Agreement.

Changes were introduced to Vanier and St. John's residences over the December 2014/January 2015 break. The remaining residences are being updated summer 2015

Possibly, but for the majority of students there will be no noticeable change. Students who are connecting multiple computers through a switch or a router in bridged mode will find that they are only able to get a connection on one of those computers at a time. The vast majority of students who are using routers will not experience any problems, but some may if their router has been set up differently from standard.

In order to ensure service stability and fairness, there is no supported way to connect multiple devices to ResNet at one time. Routers may provide the ability to connect multiple devices, however, this is not supported or endorsed by UBC IT and any issues with network stability due to the use of a misconfigured router could result in the port being shut down.

For the most part. The only difference is that your IP address on every device will be local to the router you've set up instead of a public IP address. The vast majority of activities like web browsing, email, social media sites, etc. are not affected but some specialized applications that do require a public IP address may have some problems. Please note that UBC IT does not support routers or any applications that would require such a configuration.

No. Rooms with multiple occupants will be allotted additional IP addresses to accommodate. Note that there will only be one IP address available per occupant though, so the same restrictions will apply.

In order to ensure fairness, we are not able to grant additional IP addresses to individual rooms. If your device absolutely needs a public IP address, it will have to be plugged in directly to ResNet without a router.

First, try unplugging any switches or hubs from the wall and try plugging your computer directly into the internet port. With the exception of shared rooms, rooms with switches/hubs are the most likely to be affected by these changes – you'll need to consider whether to purchase a router if you need more devices connected – however, UBC IT does not endorse or support routers or their configuration.

If you have a router and it is not able to get an IP address, you may want to reset it to factory default configuration in case there was a configuration issue. If you do this, make sure your router is not in bridged mode and you re-secure your wireless networks with a password to prevent unauthorised use. If you're unsure of how to do this, you will need to contact the manufacturer for assistance in configuring your router.

UBC IT does not prevent students from setting up routers in their rooms. However, this practice is discouraged because it is possible that a misconfigured or faulty router may cause service disruptions for fellow residents.

Please note that UBC IT reserves the right to disable and/or remove any devices that are disruptive to or interfere with the operations and delivery of IT services in order to ensure services remain available for everyone.

If you set up a wireless router on your ResNet connection, you are broadcasting the network out to the physical area around you. If you do not properly secure the connection, anyone in the area could connect and use your Internet. You are responsible for all traffic that passes through your port, so if you decide to set up a router you must ensure the connection is password protected. The other risk is that your port could be shut down if the router malfunctions or is acting in a way that is causing problems for other users on ResNet – if a network problem is detected coming from your room, you won't be given any notice before the port is shut down.

Since UBC IT does not endorse or support routers, we cannot provide any specific advice on how to set up your router to make it safer. But we can offer the following guidelines:

• Stay away from purchasing low-priced/unknown-brand routers (some, but not all, have been identified as causing network problems on ResNet)
• When plugging in the Ethernet cable from the wall into the router, never plug into the numbered ports – always plug into the Internet/WAN port (some may have a picture of a globe)
• Ensure your wireless network is secured using WPA2 Personal and that it has a strong password
• Do not include "UBC" in the name of your network (SSID)
• Change the default administrator password for your device. Note that this is different from the WPA or user authentication password.

If you're unsure of how to do any of the above, we recommend that you find someone who may be technically proficient to help set it up, or contact the manufacturer. Remember, UBC IT does not support routers and we will not be able to assist you if any problems arise.

Try unplugging your router and plugging it back in. If that fails, you will want to plug your computer directly into the wall (with no router) to make sure the port itself is working. If the port is working then the problem lies with the router's configuration and you will need to consult with the manufacturer of your router or someone who is familiar with networking.