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> Hello network admin,
>         I am wondering what is happening with wireless networking on campus.   I
> have ask the computer center consultants and they had no info.   I have a
> new portable that came with wireless built in. I noticed that there is a
> wireless router from OMERAD that it can connect to.     Am I allowed to use
> this connection and what are the access procedures?
>       On a related note,   I have noticed that sometimes when using DHCP
> that I get connected to an off campus DHCP server and am assigned an
> incorrect DHCP ip address.   If I do a ipconfig /release  and renew,  it
> will correct itself but not always on the first try.   Is there a way to
> force DHCP to connect to our DHCP server 35.8.2.22 ?   I have set the
> default gate way to 35.8.2.3  I am running Win XP pro with all the latest
> updates.  Is there anything else that will affect this or cause this problem?

There are no centrally-supported wireless facilities on campus, so any you
find would belong to a specific department or individual.  There have been
a number of discussions about wireless in the Network Communications
Committee and elsewhere, but no funding for any centralized wireless.  There
are some pockets of public wireless that are beginning to materialize, such
as at the Main Library.

As for DHCP, if you get an incorrect IP address (not starting with 35), then
there is likely to be a "rogue" DHCP server within your building.  Often, this
is caused by an incorrectly-configured Wireless unit, or some type of router
(e.g. a cable/DSL router, incorrectly wired or configured).  The best way to
force DHCP to the correct server is to find and eliminate the incorrectly-
configured system.

The approach that I recommend for finding a rogue DHCP server is to make a
note of your DHCP settings, in particular the DHCP server address.  Try to
ping that address, and then do "arp -a", and see if the Ethernet address
shows up.  If so, the Ethernet address can be used to locate the device
within the building.  You can call in a network trouble report (call 353-4602),
and pass on the relevant details, and we can assist in locating the errant
device.


Doug Nelson                     [log in to unmask]
Network Manager                 Ph: (517) 353-2980
Computer Laboratory             http://www.msu.edu/~nelson/
Michigan State University