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On this page:
Getting Ready
Ethernet (Wired) Configuration
Wireless Configuration
Connect via Wireless

Getting Ready

Before you can connect to MITnet, make sure you have what you need to get connected:

• Your MIT Identification card, which provides the ID number you will need to create your primary MITnet account.
• A Kerberos/Athena account, which provides a secure way to log on to many applications and services at MIT.
• A network-compatible computer system with an MIT-supported network card. Check Red Hat's Hardware Compatibility List for a full list of Red Hat's supported cards.
• An Ethernet drop and IP Address and Hostname, if applicable.

Ethernet (Wired) Configuration for Static IP Address or DHCP

There are multiple network configuration methods for your Red Hat Enterprise system. IS&T recommends and supports the graphical network configuration tool.

Note: The instructions below apply to all supported versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Some images may differ slightly due to superficial changes in the interface or user preferences, however all the steps and instructions are the same.

1. For version 5.x, go to: System > Administration > Network in the Red Hat Menu.
   For version 4.x, go to: Applications > System Settings > Network in the Red Hat Menu.
   Result: A Query window may open if you are not logged in as root.
   
   
2. Enter your Root Password.
   Result: The Network Configuration window opens.
   
   
3. If you have only one network card, there will be only one option listed. Double-click on that option. If you have multiple network cards (wireless and wired), choose the wired device to configure first. Under Type it will say Ethernet as in the image above.
   Result: The Ethernet Device window opens:
   
   
   
   For a Static IP Address:
   
   a. Check the radio button Statically set IP addresses.
   b. Complete the configuration fields with the information provided in the table below.
   
   

   Field	Required Setting
   Address:	18.x.y.z (where x,y, and z are numbers)
   Subnet Mask:	255.255.0.0
   Default Gateway Address:	18.x.0.1 (Where x matches the x in your IP address)

   
   It should look something like this:
   
   
   
   c. Click OK.
   
   For DHCP:
   
   a. Click the radio button for Automatically obtain IP address settings with dhcp.
   b. Click the box for Automatically obtain DNS information from provider.
   c. Click OK.
   
   Result: You are back at the Network Configuration window:
   
   
4. For a static IP address only, click the DNS tab.
   Note: DHCP users do not need to complete this step as DNS information is provided automatically via DHCP.
   Result: The Network Configuration window appears:
   
   
5. Enter your hostname, DNS (Domain Name Servers), and DNS search path information as shown above and in the table below. Be very careful when entering this information as entering an incorrect hostname can render your GNOME desktop unusable.
   
   

   Field	Required Setting
   DNS (one number per DNS field)	Primary: 18.71.0.151 Secondary: 18.70.0.160 Tertiary: 18.72.0.3
   DNS Search Path	mit.edu

6. Select File > Save.
   Result: Your settings have been saved and you are ready to use the network. You're done!

Wireless Configuration for DHCP or Static IP Address

Note: The instructions below apply to all supported versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Some images may differ slightly due to superficial changes in the interface or user preferences, however all the steps and instructions are the same.

1. Insert the wireless card into your machine.
   Result: Your computer will beep two times to indicate success.
2. For version 5.x, go to: System > Administration > Network in the Red Hat Menu.
   For version 4.x, go to: Applications > System Settings > Network in the Red Hat Menu.
   Result: A Query window opens:
   
   
3. Enter your Root Password.
   Result: The Network Configuration window opens:
   
   
4. Click on the Hardware tab.
   Result: Confirm that your wireless card is listed:
   
   
5. Click on the Devices tab to return to the Devices window. Then click on the New button.
   Result: The Add a New Device Type window is displayed:
   
   
6. Select Wireless Connection and click the Forward button.
   Result: The Select Wireless Device window is displayed:
   
   
7. Select your wireless device from the list and click Forward.
   Result: The Configure Wireless Connection window is displayed:
   
   
8. Set the Mode to Managed. For Network Name, click the Specified radio button and enter MIT in the text box. Then click Forward.
   Result: The Configure Network Settings window is displayed:
   
   
9. Click Automatically obtain IP address settings with DHCP unless you need to use a static IP address. In that case, click Statically set IP address and fill in the appropriate settings from Step 3 of connect via Ethernet, above.
   Click Forward.
   Result: The Create Ethernet Device window appears to confirm your selections:
   
   
10. Click Apply.
    Result: Your configuration has been saved. You are returned to the Network Device Listing window where your new device is listed in addition to the old one.
11. To use your wireless device:
    •Select the wireless device from the list.
    •Click the Activate button.
    Result: Your wireless device is now the active network device on your workstation.
12. Select File > Close. Save your settings when prompted by clicking Yes.
    Result: Your settings have been saved, your wireless card is active, and the configuration tool has exited cleanly.

Connect Via Wireless

Once you have configured your computer for Ethernet connectivity and configured your wireless card, you must register for DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to take advantage of MITnet's mobile connections on campus.

Faculty and staff must have a valid static MITnet IP address, which you have if you completed the Ethernet connectivity setup. See DHCP Service at MIT for more information and to sign up.