Get Connected to UB in 5 Easy Steps

Connecting at UB

Most desktop and laptop computers sold in the past few years already have a network interface built in. All UB residences are equipped with an “Ethernet” network connection for each occupant. Students will need an “Ethernet” network cable to connect their computer to this network connection. Depending on the room and residence type, students may need a cord that is anywhere from 14 feet to 50 feet, however, longer cables provide greater flexibility for room arrangement. It is important that the correct “Ethernet” computer network interface and cable are used, so students with questions or who need assistance should visit the staff at UBMicro who can help with the installation and set up.

Students can also connect to UB’s high-speed network at many campus locations by using a wireless network card in their laptop computer. UB follows what is called the 802.11b Wi-Fi minimum standard, so students need to make sure that their wireless network card is compatible with this system. The staff at UBMicro can help determine if an existing card is compatible, help choose a new wireless card, and can also assist with the card installation. There are over 120 buildings and public sites on-campus where students are able to access the WiFi network and more are being added each semester.

UB has numerous public computer labs that provide computer access to students no matter where you might be on campus. Public sites on the north campus are located in Bell and Fronczak Halls. For students living in one of the North Campus residence halls, you will find sites in both Clinton and the Blake Center in MFAC. There are public sites located in UB Libraries and these are known as Cybraries. On UB’s South Camus, public sites are located in Health Science Library as well as inside the Clement residence hall for students who reside there. For more information, The CIT Public Computing web site (ubit.buffalo.edu/sites) has up-to-date comprehensive information about each location such as what hardware, software and specific services are available there.

In addition to providing students access to computers and the internet, public sites offer plenty of places for students to print out their work. UB’s printing service, iprint@UB provides each student up to 1500 printed sheets per year at no additional cost. Students who need to exceed this page allocation can purchase additional sheets with Campus Cash using your UB card, or with print/copy cards available at print locations.

Students living off-campus can stay connected to the UB network by accessing online resources through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Local cable companies offer high-speed internet through cable modem connections, much like cable TV, and will assist customers in getting the right modem as part of their service agreement. There are also companies that offer high-speed DSL connections that often work through existing phone lines. The availability of cable modem and DSL services varies throughout Western New York, so students should check with their service provider before configuring any computers.