Information for Parents
- What kind of connections are in the residence halls?
The residence halls are directly connected to the Eastern infrastructure by Ethernet. There are two connections in each room, except in Brockton Apartments. Students should being a 25' CAT 5 Ethernet cable to connect. All residence halls, except Brockton, are also wireless. We also highly recommend a surge protector (NOT a power strip) for their electronic devices in the residence halls.
If the student is bringing a TV, don't forget to pack the coaxial cable. And if they are bringing a wireless telephone to use the jack provided in their room, we recommend a 900MHz phone that won't interfere with the network the way 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz cordless phones will.
Also, students are NOT allowed to have routers, wired or wirless or Apple Airports, in their rooms because they interfere with the network too.
- What do students need to get connected in the residence halls?
Your student will need a computer that meets our minimum requirements: (1) Microsoft Windows XP SP3, Microsoft Vista SP1, or Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard; (2) a working Ethernet adapter; and (3) a CAT 5 Ethernet cable. (Wireless requirements) They will also need to install EKU's version of Symantec antivirus and our network login client, Cisco Clean Access. Both of these programs are available free of charge once your student moves to campus.
- What kind of computer does my student need? Laptop or Desktop? What about software?
The answer to these questions depends on the student's needs and academic major. Start by checking with the specific college or department to find out what kind of computer and software they recommend for their incoming students. ResNet Recommendation/Requirements
- Should I buy an antivirus program for my student's computer?
No. Don't waste your money! EKU supplies all Eastern students with an antivirus program. This program is mandatory for connecting to the campus network. If your student's computer already has an antivirus program (including security suites that include firewalls, antispyware, etc.) installed, go ahead and remove it before coming to campus. This is because if EKU's Symantec is installed on a computer that already has an antivirus program installed, it will have conflicts and mess the computer up until one of them is removed.
The reason students must use EKU's software is because we push free updates to them while they're connected to the network. This helps keep their computer safe, the network safe, and everyone else connected to the network safe.
- What is my student's email address?
Each student receives an email account which is their Ekey username and password. The Ekey username, combined with @eku.edu, is the student's email address. These email addresses are randomly generated so you will need to check with your student regarding their specific information.
Another important task for your student is to change their default password immediately! Their new password should be at least 8 alphanumeric characters long and not contain words or personal information.
- Can my student have a home page?
Yes. Each student has a 1GB network storage space where they can store files, including a website.
- What kinds of computer support is available at Eastern for my student?
ResNet will assist your student with their technology questions. We offer drop-off, walk-in, and telephone support.
- What kinds of technology training is available for my student?
ResNet offers technology training classes to Eastern students. We will also provide one-on-one service, free of charge. They just need to contact our office for more information.
