Connecting Your Computer to the Network

Why should you connect your computer to the network?

The University operates a wide-area Ethernet network that gives computers connected to it access to a multitude of resources. You can use this network to send and receive many different types of information--to and from almost anywhere in the world.

For example, you can do any of the following:

• send electronic mail (e-mail) messages to colleagues, friends, and family members around the world
• join electronic bulletin board discussions on both professional and personal-interest topics
• send files from your account on a time-sharing computer (e.g., a mainframe) or from your personal computer (PC) to a computer at another location (a "remote" computer), which can be across the room or across the continent
• retrieve files from a remote computer to your account on a time-sharing computer or to your PC
• log in to a remote computer to access resources on that computer (e.g., to retrieve free software or to locate information)
• use a graphical interface browser to explore or "surf" the internet. Simply point and click to view artwork, photographs, maps and video clips, listen to audio "bites", read and download electronic copies of literary work, research papers, or the latest entertainment happenings.

You can use a modem to connect to the network, but its effective speed is hundreds of times slower than Ethernet, and their use ties up a phone line.

It is also possible to connect your computer to the UDel network wirelessly from select locations on campus. Take a look at UnpluggeD, our wireless network web pages for more information.

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Some of the adapters listed above are available from the Computer Department of the University Bookstore, Perkins Student Center. They can be reached at (302) 831-3530. For other makes or models of computer, call or visit the Technology Solutions Center at (302) 831-8895 and speak to a consultant to determine what kind of Ethernet adapter may work in your system.