Network
Oberlin’s network connects all the authenticated computers on campus to the internet and to each other. It is maintained and operated by CIT’s Networking, Operations, and Systems (NOS) group.
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[edit] History
From NOS:
In 1990, the Center launched the present Campus network system with the installation of fiber optic cable from the Center to the King Building (48 fibers). As each subsequent summer's network installation was completed, the buildings affected were integrated into the growing system. With the completion of the 1997 summer projects, all administrative and academic buildings, and residential halls and co-ops were connected to the Campus network, with over 5000 active nodes at that time. There are over 100 miles of multi-mode fiber optic cable installed together with over 50 miles of mono-mode fiber optic cable. By the end of the Summer, 2001, the replacement of the shared hubs and older switches was completed, the campus now offers full 10/100 switched capability to the desktop. Wireless network coverage (802.11b/g, some a) is being added as time and funding permits, although wireless speeds are slower than wired connections. Access to the Internet is facilitated by bandwidth shaping and is controlled by a Packetlogic device from Procera.
[edit] Function
Primarily, the network connects Oberlin College on campus computers to the internet.
The network also connects these computers to each other, which can be used for a variety of uses including filesharing over Direct Connect or other protocols, LAN gaming, and LAN messaging protocols (such as Apple’s iChat/Bonjour). It also connects computers to network printers.
Being behind an Oberlin IP can be used to confirm that someone is a faculty, student, or staff member at Oberlin College for a variety of purposes. Here are a few:
- OhioLINK’s are accessible only from campus IPs (or with a name and library barcode number).
- Google Scholar can tell that network IPs are on a college campus and provide appropriate resource links.
- Oberlin Confessional only allowed campus IPs or valid email addresses to post comments. Later it required them to view the website at all.
(If one is off-campus, this can still be done with VPN.)
[edit] Technical Details
The network’s IP range is 132.162.0.0 - 132.162.255.255. Its service provider is OARnet.
