New Student Information
As an incoming student, you probably have questions regarding the Internet connection in the residence halls, as well as the services provided by ResTek. This information will help to answer some of the questions you might have. If you have a question that is not answered below, please contact us.
Select a section to skip to it:
About ResTek
Computer recommendations
Getting connected (includes checklist of what to bring)
The residential network
About ResTek
What is ResTek? (more)
Residential Technology Services (ResTek) is a program of the Office of University Residences at Western Washington University. The ResTek program provides education and support to students living on campus in their use of technology. The ResTek staff is composed of WWU students who have been trained to assist residents with their technology needs. There is also a professional staff member who serves as the ResTek Coordinator.
What services does ResTek provide?
- High-speed internet access in all residence halls
- Year-round support from peer consultants by phone, email, and in-room visits
- Printable step-by-step instruction sheets for a variety of computer tasks
- The ResTek website that is full of helpful information
- Tech Chat boards to communicate with ResTek staff and other residents about technology
What is the difference between the academic and residential networks?
The academic network is the Internet connection that is available in academic buildings, including classrooms and computer labs on campus. This also includes a wireless network available in various parts of campus. The academic network is maintained by Academic Technology User Services (ATUS). ATUS also maintains your MyWestern account, Blackboard courses, and Novell log-ins. More information about ATUS is available at http://www.wwu.edu/atus. If you need assistance with the academic network, you should contact the student staff members at the ATUS Help Desk, by phone (360-650-3333) or email (helpdesk@wwu.edu).
The residential network is the Internet connection that is available in all the residence halls. The residential network is maintained by professional staff members, and is funded by a portion of your room and board fees. If you need assistance with the residential network, you should contact us.
How much does ResTek charge for Internet?
The Internet connection in the residence halls is part of the room and board rates. There are no additional fees for using the network.
Computer recommendations
What kind of hardware do you recommend?
We have a detailed system requirements page that highlights the hardware we feel is necessary. Western students can get a discount on hardware from Apple, Dell, or Gateway through the AS Bookstore.
Do I need to bring a computer?
The choice to bring a computer to campus can only be made by you. The majority of students living in the residence halls bring a computer to campus, and uses computers for recreational use, as well as for academic purposes. Keep in mind that there are computers located in or near each residence hall community, as well as in academic labs on campus that are available for your use. Again, the choice to bring a computer is a personal one.
What kind of computer do I need?
The type of computer you bring to campus should be based on how often you use your computer, what you use it for, and how long you want to use it. If you want a computer that will last you throughout your college career, you may want to purchase one with more up-to-date components. We have a list of system requirements that we recommend your computer has.
Do you recommend a laptop or a desktop?
This is a personal choice. If you are debating between the two, here are some things to consider:
- Desktops tend to be easier to upgrade and repair failing components
- There is a 2-hour laptop check-out program for free available on campus
- Most students at Western don’t bring computers to class
- Laptops tend to be more expensive than desktops
Do you recommend Windows or Mac computers?
We support both Windows and Mac operating systems, so you should use which ever you are more comfortable with. If you are going into a graphic design or similar major, you may want to check with what the department recommends. Western is a predominantly Windows campus, but students who choose Mac do not have a problem using their computers.
Should I bring a printer?
This is up to you. All computer labs in the residence halls and in the academic buildings are connected to printers that are stocked with paper. If you can plan ahead to print out your assignments, you may not need to bring a printer. The academic technology fee that you pay allows you to print out 500 pages per quarter using the campus printers.
What software do I need?
You will need an up-to-date virus scanner in order to connect to the residential network, with the exception of Macs. It is best to ensure that a virus scanner is installed on your computer prior to your arriving at WWU. Anti-virus software is available at no cost to students who are employed on campus by contacting the ATUS Help Desk at x3333.
* Note that there may be old ResTek print materials still sitting around that were printed at a time when we were able to offer a free virus scanner to on-campus students. While you may have information which says a free virus scanner will be available, Western can no longer supply one.
Where can I buy computer accessories in Bellingham?
The AS Bookstore on campus has very good prices on disks, CDs, cables, software and more! We also keep a list Bellingham computer vendors who sell products, or are able to assist you if your computer needs assistance beyond what ResTek supports.
How can I protect my computer from theft?
If you are concerned about the security of your computer, we recommend the Kensington lock that can be found at most luggage stores. More information about the Kensington lock can be found on the Kensington website.
Getting connected
What do I need to connect my computer?
There are only a few things you need to get connected.
System requirements (more)
To use the network, your computer must have an up-to-date virus scanner. If you use Windows, your computer must also have the latest Critical Security Updates from Microsoft, including Service Pack 2.
Network registration (more)
ResTek requires that all students register their names with their computers on the network. This helps us to contact students if there is a problem with their computer, such as an abuse of the network resources, or if their computer has a virus. The network registration process can take as little as 5 minutes. Keep in mind that ResTek does not monitor details of a student’s activity on the Internet.
What type of connection will I have?
All residence halls are wired for an Ethernet connection. For the 2007-2008 academic year, we will have a 100 Mbps connection.
Wireless access (more)
Wireless access is not available in the residence halls, except in the following central locations:
- Higginson Fishbowl Lounge
- Ridgeway Commons Main Lounge
- Ridgeway Commons Dining Area (Highland side)
- Ridgeway Gamma Main Lounge
- Ridgeway Kappa Main Lounge
- Mathes Main Lounge
- Edens North Main Lounge
- Buchanan Towers Main Floor
- Birnam Wood Community Building
- Nash Main Lounge
- Beta Main Lounge
- Buchanan Towers 3rd Floor Lounge
- Fairhaven Main Lounge
Student may bring their own wireless routers to create a wireless network in their room, but we strongly encourage they ask ResTek for help. Setting up a router incorrectly can cause problems on the network. Using a wireless router holds students responsible for all traffic that goes through their wireless router, so we advise them to take proper steps to secure their network. The ResTek staff is always ready and available to help for proper set-up and security when using a wireless router on our network.
There is wireless access available in academic areas of campus, provided by ATUS. Maps and more information about the WWU Wireless connection are available here.
The residential network
ResTek has several automated tools in place to help manage the network. We do not monitor content, only the amount of traffic you are generating on your computer.
ResTek has something called packet shaper that allows certain web programs and services to have priority over other services. Programs like instant messaging, and online gaming take up very little resources, so they are given a higher priority than programs that slow down the Internet connection, such as file-sharing. More information about bandwidth prioritization on our network can be found here: Bandwidth prioritization.
File sharing
The act of file sharing is legal, so we do not block file sharing from our network. However, most file sharing involves copyrighted material, and unauthorized transfer of copyrighted material is illegal. Also, because file sharing is so bandwidth-hungry, it is given the lowest prioritization on the network. This means file sharing programs are given the smallest allocation of bandwidth, and it takes a very long time for downloads or uploads to complete.
Copyright violations
Because ResTek does not monitor the content on your computer, we do not know if you are sharing copyrighted files on your computer. However, large universities like Western are often monitored by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and we frequently get notices that students on our network are sharing copyrighted files without permission. This is a serious crime, and can have serious consequences. When we receive these reports, violators are temporarily suspended from the network. The incident is entered into the Housing Conduct System and students must meet with their Resident Director to resolve the matter. For more information, see File sharing and copyright.
Proxy
We have a wonderful thing called the proxy and we highly recommend you use it if you want to improve your internet speed. The proxy is a computer that sits between your computer and the Internet. When you try to go to a webpage, the proxy checks if it has a copy of it, and if it does, it gives you the copy without you needing to download it, which allows you to obtain the information faster. More information about the proxy is located here
Viruses
Because our network has thousands of computers connected to it, the likelihood of getting a virus is much greater than on your home network. If your computer is infected with a virus, ResTek will quarantine your computer. This means your computer is temporarily suspended from the Internet until the virus is removed. We will then provide you with the steps and support you need to remove the virus from your computer, and prevent further virus infections. More information about viruses is available here as well as ResTek staff members to answer any questions you may have.