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Troubleshooting Dorm Network Connections

If you have already been through the steps in the Getting Connected Guide but your residence hall networking connection is still not working, here are some steps to try before you call the Office of Information Technology (OIT) Help Desk.

1. Try connecting your computer's Ethernet cable to another data jack (if one is available).
   1. Did the connection start working?
      • If yes, the first data jack has a problem. Please contact the Resident Life Information Services Unit on (301) 314-DATA
      • If no, proceed to Step 2
2. Try connecting your computer to your original data jack using a different Ethernet cable to see if the connection is working.
   1. If yes, the original Ethernet cable is bad.
   2. If no, is there a flashing green or yellow light on your computer near the computer's Ethernet port?
      • Look for a very small green or yellow LED light near the computer's Ethernet port.
      • If the light is there, check to see if it is lit.
      • If the light is there but is completely dark, contact your computer's manufacturer.
3. If the LED light is lit, or is flashing, use these instructions to check the IP address that your computer is using to communicate.
   1. Is the address all zeroes, blank, or does it begin with 169.254?
      * If yes, re-check your network settings
      * If no, then contact the OIT Help Desk
   2. Does the address begin with 129.2 or 128.8? If so, contact the OIT Help Desk.
   3. Does the address begin with 192.168? If so, contact the OIT Help Desk.
   4. Does the address begin with 10? If so, the computer is not registered on the Residence Hall Network. Please use the registration system http://register.net.umd.edu to register your connection.