Wired ethernet

For when you want pure speed and are willing to fill in forms and plug into a wall.

Basics

To use the departmental wired network you will need a ethernet adaptor (usually built in) and a CAT5 or better cable to connect to an active network socket.

Your computer must be registered using this form. You'll need to know its MAC or hardware address, here are some instructions.

All sockets are listed here [Raven, cam only], with details about whether they're active or not. Wiring changes to make ports active can be requested on the same site.

The University has rules for what can be connected. In brief, devices must be secure and it must be possible to find out who is using a machine at a given time. This typically means using a separate username and password for each user.

Details

The public network

DNS suffix: .gen.cam.ac.uk
IP addresses: 131.111.46.1-255
CIDR: 131.111.46.0/24

Internet Access: Bi-directional with restrictions[camonly]
CUDN Access: Bi-directional with restrictions[camonly]
Departmental access: Bi-directional with no restrictions

The private network

DNS suffix: .gen.private.cam.ac.uk
IP addresses: 172.29.13.1-255, 172.29.16.1-255 (main dept) and 172.28.17.1-255 (EGL)
CIDR: 172.29.13.0/24 172.29.16.0/24 (main dept) and 172.28.17.0/24 (EGL)

Internet Access: Outgoing only, with restrictions[camonly]
CUDN Access: Bi-directional with restrictions[camonly]
Departmental access: Bi-directional with no restrictions

The SBS Bioinformatics network

DNS suffix: .bio.cam.ac.uk
IP addresses: 131.111.146.1-128 (Craik Marshall Building)

Internet Access: Bi-directional with restrictions[camonly]
CUDN Access: Bi-directional with restrictions[camonly]
Departmental access: Bi-directional with no restrictions

The DEPT network

The DEPT network is a special case. It's only visible by computers using the Genetics DNS servers (172.29.13.212 & 172.29.13.203) and it provides alternative names for computers. Their access rights depend on which of the networks above they also belong to. It exists as DNS is a way to provide information about where a computer should look for more than just other computers. In this case, computers can look up which server is responsible for password checking. In addition the servers for the DEPT network are in 172.29.13.208/29 which is less restricted.

Wiring

Most rooms in the building have numbered network sockets. The numbers correspond with another sockets in a cabinet nearby. Some sockets in the cabinet will be connected to network switches which talk to computers and other departmental network switches. The main departmental network switch talks to the Cambridge University Data Network (CUDN) and hence the internet.
Wiring is colour coded. Blue indicates a telephone capable socket, green is for wireless transceivers, red is for EMBS's building management, purple is for printers and other colours are for general use.

Network socket status for some regions of the building is visible on this page. If the area of the building you're in is not included you should just try it. If it doesn't work (and you have already registered and used the computer elsewhere) send a mail, including room and the network socket you wish to use.