How do I connect multiple devices in my room?
Boston University residence halls are provided with one Ethernet connection per resident. However, many people bring more than one Ethernet device to school: more than one computer, or a computer plus an XBox (or other game machine), or VoIP phone, or other similar device.
Some facts to work with:
- You will only ever have one Ethernet port assigned to you in your room, so you have to make that work.
- Routers and wireless access points are not allowed in BU residence halls (they can interfere with network access for other residents).
- Any device connected to the BU network must be registered on the network before it will be able to reach the Internet at large.
TWO STEPS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR DEVICES WORK
1. Connect the devices
A. You can make your devices take turns, unplugging and replugging as needed. If you use one device far more often than the others, this may work fine for you.
- or -
B. You can hook up multiple devices by using a hub or switch that you purchase or bring with you. Do not use a router or any wireless access point; these are prohibited in BU residences.
| What is the difference between a
hub, a switch, and a router? A router is too independent to cooperate well with the BU network, and so routers are banned in the residence halls. A router uses "Network Address Translation" (NAT) and does not work properly on the BU Residential Network; in fact, a router can bring network access for entire floors to a screeching halt. Instead, you want a "switch" or a "hub" -- different variations on the same theme, with the key point that they do not do their own network address translation. Good news: hubs and switches are less expensive than routers. |
2. Register each device on the network
In order for you to connect to the Internet with all your devices, each device in turn must be registered to you on the BU network. You generally need to do this once a year, when you first arrive on campus. Computers should use standard NetReg, and devices such as Xboxes or VoIP phones use manual registration.
