• My ResNet Control Panel will be unavailable
• The ResNet Bandwidth Monitoring Gadget will not report data use correctly
• The ResNet Registration System will be unavailable
• The ResNet Live Status screens on the ResNet Website and the IS website will be unavailable

The helpdesk connection troubleshooting tools will also be unavailable, so there will be a diminished support capacity for ResNet until about 1pm.

For more information about other services which will be affected by this maintenance work, see the IS website: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/news/2011/diversp17feb.html

We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused for you.

Using a router to connect more than one device to ResNet

If you want to use more than one device with your ResNet connection, and you're in a hall covered by ResNet Wireless, it's probably easiest to use that.  For more information about ResNet Wireless, see the ResNet Wireless pages.

If your hall doesn't have ResNet Wireless, then you'll need to get a "broadband router" if you want to do this.  There are hundreds of models available, not all of them are suitable for use on ResNet. It can be really quite confusing trying to pick one out!

If you're buying it from a shop such as PC World, ask for a router which is suitable for use on Virginmedia Cable Broadband.  If you're buying online, look for phrases such as "cable broadband router" or "ethernet router".  Avoid devices which say "ADSL" or which don't mention the word "router" at all - as they're unlikely to work.

If you've got a router which works on ResNet, or know someone who has - it'd be great if you could mention the model number on this AskIT thread: http://askit.bris.ac.uk/uob/topics/connecting_more_than_one_device_to_resnet_which_routers_work_on_resnet

New email and calendar service: come and see the options

Following feedback from staff and students, the University is planning to replace the current email and calendar systems (Mulberry, Squirrelmail and Oracle Calendar) with a new, integrated email and calendar service.

Information Services are holding an open meeting at 2pm on Wednesday 9th February in the Tyndall Lecture Theatre, Physics Building (on Tyndall Avenue) Representatives from Microsoft and Google will be there demonstrating "Google Apps for Education" and "Microsoft Live@Edu."

Everyone is welcome, there is no need to book in advance. For more information, please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/new-email

Free antivirus software!

Has your antivirus software run out? It's essential to have anti-virus to protect your computer, but normally when you buy antivirus software it expires and stops updating after 12 months.

Luckily there is no need to pay for antivirus software. Microsoft Security Essentials is a good anti-virus package, and even better it's free! Download a copy from http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

ResNet bandwidth widgets revisited

Most students don't need to worry about how much they upload and download on ResNet, as the weekly usage allowances in ResNet Standard & Max cover most people easily. We do have some very heavy users - if that sounds like you try the ResNet bandwidth widgets.

When we first mentioned them back in October, there were one or two problems with the Windows version.  If you tried it back then but couldn't get it to work - have another go!

We've got official widgets for the Windows sidebar, OS X dashboard, and the web. We've also got a public API and some great widgets contributed by students, including apps for Android phones and iOS devices (iPhone/iPad/iPod touch)

Go to toys.resnet.bris.ac.uk to try them out.

Update 09:50 - We believe this has been a problem since about midnight but has now been resolved.  The problem was with the primary authentication server but for some (currently unknown) reason the secondary server did not take over authentications.  This will be investigated further.