Making one Ethernet socket into lots??

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 14:51

My university offers one Ethernet socket in my room, once connected to the socket i have a program called Cisco NAC that the university has set up which requests a network username and password to access the internet.

I wanted to know what product would be recommended to make the ethernet socket into multiple sockets, and/or make my connection wireless allowing me to use my xbox and laptop at the same time.

Due to the NAC and the username and password, the uni has requested my MAC address of the xbox console, i guess to allow it access as an xbox cannot download the NAC client, and i would like to know if that would still work with an adapter for wired and wireless connections.

My preference would be to have my xbox connected via an ethernet port, and my laptop on a wireless connection.

Thanks,

Dan

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:00

tom_e said:
a wireless router plugged into the single port would give you extra ports and wireless, just give them the routers MAC ID, but don't tell them or let them see what you're doing as some get a bit arsey about it.

I thought that might be what i need to get, why is it i need to tell them the MAC ID? and my uni tech guys seem to be pretty relaxed and helpful, so far...

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:04

So it seem whatever i do, i'll have to provide the MAC ID of the router to allow me to use the router with the network. I guess i didn't think it would involve as many issues as this, i thought the router would just channel the connection from the socket and so if i was on wifi on my laptop, it would be like directly connecting to the socket itself and i'd have to input the network information on the NAC from there..

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:07

Stelly said:
Probably need to add it to some kind of white list so that the Cisco NAC does not request the UN and PW for that device...

I doubt that they would allow wireless routers as it would negate the NAC purpose.

Stelly

thanks for clearing that up at least, man i can't wait until next year when i'll move into my own place with some uni mates and can just setup a network like the one i have at home.

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:12

Orcvader said:
Which university is it? Each one has a different IT policy, I know for University of Sussex they allow a wireless router to be connected to the ethernet port, as long as it has it's own MAC address and DHCP server.

University of Salford, i hadn't checked any policies but they don't state that they allow modems the in the internet setup guide. However, allowing xbox's to connect by providing the MAC address suggests they either allow routers for multiple connections or that they want me to just switch the ethernet cable between the laptop and xbox and only use on at once which is a little sour..

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:13

Stelly said:
nope... its the facing Ethernet port to the Uni network that would have to provide the username and password...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation

Stelly

I'm guessing there would be no way to set up the router to enter the username and password. Going a bit deep there i guess haha

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:25

Stelly said:
You could ask them if you could have a wired only router with 5 ports, but you would be taking full responsibility for whatever happens on that NIC. I think that they would say no though :\

Stelly

I think they'd likely say no aswell, the NAC itself is pretty strict i needed the technicians to help because it didn't like my norton antivirus.

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 15:30

Orcvader said:
http://www.its.salford.ac.uk/security/netsecpolicy.pdf

It's quite confusing. I'm assuming section 5.4 will be the one to apply to this case, but I'm not 100% sure on this if it allows you to use your own wireless router. Best to talk to someone in the IT department that understands the IT policy a bit more.

Does 5.3 not apply to the situation?

Network devices are defined as active equipment required to connect and operate the
University’s data network. Examples are switches, routers, firewalls and wireless access
points. Only ISD and University approved data communications contractors are permitted to
install such devices which will be solely managed by ISD. These devices will be located in ISD
data cabinets. No other equipment will be housed within these cabinets

irving1994 · 12 Sep 2013 at 16:04

Orcvader said:
I thought so too at first, but it seems to be talking about the switches, routers, etc that the University uses themselves for their network.

On the other hand... I do know some people that did ignore this by using their own router with their computer's MAC address cloned to it, and then renamed the wireless to "someone's phone" to make it look like it's phone tethering or disable wireless completely just to avoid getting caught...

Backtracking a little, would a totally wired router that has no wireless functionality walk into the same issues?

irving1994 · 13 Sep 2013 at 20:19

Rainmaker said:
Why worry about routers and switches? Unless I'm missing something the OP can simply connect his usual device running the Cisco NAC software, and run a wifi hotspot off that PC (easy under Linux, even easier under Windows) to share the connection with unlimited wifi devices in his room while showing only a single machine IP to the network. No router, or expensive kit, required. Just an onboard ethernet card or mobo jack, and a £5 wifi dongle. (Edit: In fact he mentions a laptop which will have ethernet and wireless N built in anyway).

If the OP would rather have ethernet connections as stated (for the X-Box) he could add a second ethernet card to a desktop PC, and use it as a router. Else, just put it on wifi and suck it up. Better than no connection at all if the uni refuse to allow a router.

Your right, and that was going to be my last resort i guess my only issue is i've always thought a connection via wifi is weaker than a wired connection, call me a connection freak but i hate lag haha

irving1994 · 14 Sep 2013 at 19:20

DRZ said:
Ubuntu box running as a router = sorted.

Source: I went to Uni there and had several servers running in my bedroom

Watch out though, the head of the network team is an active member here

I've never used ubuntu before so would need a guide of some sort to set myself up, also wouldn't that mean i need another pc to do this?

thanks for the heads up as well, i'm at home at the moment so won't use the network to check this thread while at uni