This is the first in an occasional series of newsletters sent to ResNet subscribers. Please read on for useful tips about ResNet and other IT services at Bristol, including free TV channels on your computer.

My ResNet - look after your ResNet connection

With My ResNet you can move your subscription to another room, connect a different computer, track your usage, turn on the Freewire TV service, and check how long your subscription lasts.

Go to My ResNet http://www.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/myresnet/ to try it.

Freewire - Free digital TV to your room

Freewire provides digital TV over ResNet to your computer. Included are all the BBC channels, Channel 4, E4, Film4 and many more. It is free of charge, but you do need a TV licence to use it. For more information see

TV on ResNet http://www.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/tv/

NB: If you receive a message 'channel off air' on all channels, make sure you have turned on the TV signal to your room using My ResNet http://www.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/myresnet/

My Bristol - the University portal

New this year is the University student portal. You can access webmail, tutor announcements, your Blackboard courses, StudentInfo, your library account, registration details, Students' Union info and more.

See My Bristol http://www.bristol.ac.uk/portal

Change your initial password

All new students are given an initial password as part of registration. If you haven’t already done so, you need to change your password to something only you know. If you don’t change your password your account will be locked. You can change your password before or after your account is locked - but it’s a good idea to do so beforehand.

Go to Change UOB domain password https://wwws.cse.bris.ac.uk/cgi-bin/uob-passwd.pl

Best wishes,

The ResNet team.

This is the final newsletter of the academic year sent to all ResNet subscribers. You can also read this on the web at www.bristolresnet.net

Win a PlayStation Portable

The ResNet survey is your opportunity to say what you think about ResNet over the last year and give us ideas for improvements. Everyone completing the survey also enters the prize draw - top prize is a PlayStation Portable, and there are also 8 lots of £10 print credits to win.

Please go to http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/is/resnet07 - thanks!

ResNet over the summer vacation

Many people will be moving out of their rooms at the end of June. If you are staying in residence and haven't already paid for the summer vacation period you will need to do so. You can check your current subscription by going to http://manage.resnet.bris.ac.uk For more about ResNet over the summer please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/slink/93rq

Internet access in private accommodation

If you are moving out into private student accommodation you may want to arrange your own broadband Internet access (ResNet is only available in university residences). We have a guide to help you choose which might help: see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/slink/gjtg

Best wishes,

the ResNet team.

This is part of the occasional series of newsletters sent to all ResNet subscribers. In this edition: Peak usage limits increasing to 5GB per week; ‘Second Chance’ System; Jobs with ResNet

Peak usage limits increasing to 5GB per week

We are pleased to announce that from Monday 21st May 2007 the weekly peak-time usage allowance is to be increased to 5GB.

It has always been our intention to let ResNet subscribers use any spare capacity. We are confident that we have enough spare network capacity at the busiest time of day (6pm to midnight) to allow this increase.

We are constantly reviewing the peak and off-peak usage so that the best possible quality of service is maintained for the often conflicting needs of ResNet subscribers.

For more information on the peak-time system see

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/slink/dr8r

‘Second Chance’ System

We are developing a ‘Second Chance’ system that can be used once per term to allow restricted subscribers back onto the ‘normal’ network. An announcement will be made on our blog when the system is in place. If you are moved to the restricted network, and the ‘second chance’ system is in place, then the email we send you will contain information on how to use it.

Jobs with ResNet

There are still a few days to apply for a number of technical and non-technical positions available for full-time work this summer vacation and part-time work from Freshers’ week onwards.

To apply, please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/slink/ktui

The closing date is 10am, Monday May 21st.

Best wishes,

The ResNet Team.

Update 2007-06-19: Comments are now closed as there have been no genuine comments submitted recently, only spam. If you want to comment on this article, please contact the ResNet Helpdesk.

This is part of the occasional series of newsletters sent to all ResNet subscribers. In this edition: apply for a job with ResNet; iTunes Music Store and more now working; update on ResNet traffic levels.

Jobs with ResNet this summer and autumn

Each year a large number of students join the team to run ResNet. A job with ResNet offers competitive pay and excellent experience while working with and helping other Bristol students. The student staff are an absolutely essential part of the team with helps make ResNet both a successful service and an enjoyable place to work.

We have a number of technical and non-technical positions available for full-time work this summer vacation and part-time work from Freshers week onwards.

To apply, please see our vacancies. For more information, call in to the ResNet help desk for a chat.

The closing date is 10am, Monday May 21st 2007.

iTunes Music Store and more now working

We've been able to upgrade the ResNet network so that it is no longer necessary to use our webcaches. We've done this as there are some popular applications which didn't work with the webcaches. One example of this is iTunes Music Store, which is now working fine on ResNet.

If there is anything else which you previously tried but didn’t work on ResNet, please try it again - you might well find it is working for you now.

See configuring applications for more info.

Update on ResNet traffic levels

With the new fair usage policy we've seen congestion on ResNet drop significantly, in particular during the peak evening period. This means that sensitive applications like gaming and telephony are now working much better.

We've had a lot of helpful comments on fair usage, both for and against, thanks for all of these. One of the most common comments was that the on-peak allowance should be higher. We're reviewing it, and hope to be able to raise it soon.

This is part of the occasional series of newsletters sent to all ResNet subscribers. In this edition: as the Easter vacation starts information about two useful services when away from the University.

New Squirrelmail webmail

New webmail software, called SquirrelMail, was made available at the start of January, and is now being used by approximately 2000 users every day. It has a more modern look and greater functionality than the old webmail, Silkymail, and reactions from users have been very positive.

To use SquirrelMail, go to https://webmail.bris.ac.uk

You can also use Mulberry or other methods to read your email. See accessing your email remotely for details.

New offsite proxy

When away from the University over the vacation you can still access electronic library resources and other restricted materials that are usually only available within the University network. To do this use the new offsite proxy. This is much easier to use than the authenticated proxy service we had before.

For information on the offsite proxy and other resources useful when working remotely see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/offsite

If you take a computer from ResNet and then connect it to the Internet somewhere else you may find that it is already set up to use the offsite proxy (because we also use the same system as an onsite proxy on ResNet). You might notice this as a prompt to log on that pops up when you visit the Bristol website. You can simply enter your standard UoB username and password to carry on; however if you prefer to get rid of this permanently see how to set your computer to stop using the University web proxy.

Warning about upgrading to Vista

If you buy a new computer with Windows Vista you can now connect it to ResNet. To do this use the normal in-room registration system http://register.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/ and follow the instructions.

Do not run the ResNet security CD on Vista! Doing so can cause serious problems. Instead use the in-room registration system. This will give you a new version of our McAfee AntiVirus which is Vista compatible.

If you are thinking of installing Vista on your current computer - don't! It will cause old systems to run incredibly slowly and some of your existing hardware and software will break. It is best to wait for several months for problems to be fixed - or the easiest option is to wait until you are ready to buy a brand new computer.

For more info on Vista see the ResNet blog at http://www.bristolresnet.net

New wireless hotspots in halls

Wireless hotspots are now available in many of the halls of residence. They've been installed in central areas such as bars, libraries & study rooms. Hotspots are working now in Badock, Durdham, Hiatt Baker, Manor and University Hall. Hotspots for Churchill, Clifton Hill House & Goldney are also on the way.

Hotspots are free to use for all members of the University (you don't need a ResNet subscription). Each hotspot only covers a limited area though - they don't provide wireless in your own room.

For precise locations and connection instructions see http://www.wireless.bristol.ac.uk

Win an iPod video for your views on IT services

The University is conducting a survey of all students to get your views on IT services and facilities. What would you like us to do and how could we do it better?

There is a prize draw for all completed surveys - the top prize is an iPod video worth £180, and other prizes of iPod shuffles and print/copier credits are also up for grabs. If you prefer not to enter the draw the survey is completely anonymous.

Your feedback is essential to help us provide the IT services that students need and want to use. Please got to http://www.bristol.ac.uk/student-itsurvey to let us know.

Accessing your email when away from the University

If you are going home for the Christmas vacation you can still access your email and other computing facilities, from anywhere with an Internet connection. For email, use webmail http://webmail.bris.ac.uk or Mulberry both of which are available within and outside the University. For other services, such as electronic library resources, see remote access to University resources http://www.bristol.ac.uk/offsite

ResNet help desk over the vacation

The ResNet help desk will be open over the vacation but with reduced opening hours. Latest hours will be available on the voicemail message on 89001, or on the ResNet blog http://www.bristolresnet.net. The help desk will be closed completely for the period between Christmas and New Year, when the rest of the University is also closed.

Moving rooms or getting a new computer?

Remember even when the ResNet help desk is closed you can still use Manage My ResNet http://manage.resnet.bris.ac.uk to transfer your connection to another room, connect a new computer, or other common tasks.

Higher usage allowance over Christmas

From Monday December 18th to Sunday January 7th we are increasing the fair usage allowance from 10GB a week to 40GB a week. We are able to do this as demand on ResNet over the vacation is lower.

Best wishes and Happy Christmas from everyone at ResNet.

View your network usage

We have added a Check my network usage page to Manage My ResNet http://manage.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/ . If you are concerned that your ResNet traffic usage may push you over the ResNet fair usage policy, have a look. It seems very fashionable to have Beta software and Check my network usage certainly is (beta not fashionable) . We are in the process of enhancing it but for now it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Discounted laptops for students

Are you thinking of buying a new computer at Christmas? We have selected a range of Toshiba laptops we think are suitable and good value for students. These are available from our supplier at the same discount that the University gets. Most importantly you get a three year warranty with the laptop - this gives you peace of mind if anything goes wrong, and is normally an expensive extra from most suppliers.

See StudentStore http://www.studentstore.co.uk/bristol/

Preview of new University student portal

An online survey and test of "MyBristol", the new University Portal, will open in January. The survey feedback will be used to further improve the Portal, which will be released for the autumn term 2007.
If you would like to test the portal and give your feedback to improve it, please send an email to majordomo@bristol.ac.uk with the following body text (no subject required):

subscribe portal-test-student

and you'll receive details when it is open for testing. For more info see the Portal Project Website http://www.bristol.ac.uk/ips-projects/portal/student

Just one item in this ResNet newsletter. It won’t affect 95% of people on ResNet, but we want to make sure everyone knows what is happening. We also want to get your views on the changes.

We are introducing a new fair usage policy for ResNet. This specifies the total amount you can upload or download per week on your ResNet connection. We are setting this at 10 Gigabytes of data transferred a week. This will only affect a small number of the very heaviest ResNet users (less than 5% of people on ResNet)

We are doing this to help us provide the best service we can to everyone. At the moment 5% of people on ResNet use as much of our Internet traffic as the other 95% of people put together. This puts a strain on the limited capacity of our Internet link. Bringing this traffic under control a little will improve the performance for all. It should particularly improve the connection for people using Skype, other Internet telephony systems, and online gamers, as these are all time sensitive and suffer most if there is congestion.

Please don’t worry about this. Remember that most people aren’t affected by it. In any week if you are one of the heavier users and go over the limit, you will receive an email to let you know this, so you have a chance to reduce your usage the following week.

If you want to read the details, see the fair usage policy
If you would like to give your views, please email us or post comments on our ResNet blog www.bristolresnet.net . We would welcome thoughts from people both for and against, and suggestions for changes. Please read the details of the the fair usage policy first as many questions are answered in there.
As well as the fair usage policy, we are (as always) taking other steps to improve ResNet performance. Over the summer we put in gigabit connections to all the large halls, and upgraded the raw connection speed to each room. Over the next few months we are trialling a new bandwidth management system, and we have plans to increase the total capacity of our Internet link.

Best wishes,

Nick Skelton, ResNet Manager, & the ResNet team.

Update 27-11-2006 @ 16:15: We are working on a page that you can access from Manage my ResNet. We hope to have this up and running in a basic, but informative, way in the next couple of days. You don't have to worry about your usage too much this week as you will get a warning email on Monday 4th December giving you a week to reduce your usage - we will have your usage statistics pages in place before then.

Update 20-02-2007 : Comments are now closed as there have been no genuine comments submitted since December, only spam. If you want to comment on this article, please email the ResNet Helpdesk

This email is being sent to all ResNet subscribers with tips and advice to get the most out of your connection. You can also read it on the ResNet blog - http://www.bristolresnet.net

FLUFF - transferring large files

Ever need to send a large file to someone else within or outside the University? If the file is too large you can't send it by email. Instant messaging is another option, but it can be slow. We recommend using FLUFF, the Facility For the Upload of Large Files. Using Fluff it is easy to send files up to 100MB in size to anyone else, or to large groups of people. See Fluff http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fluff/ to try it out.

Your personal information on the Internet

People work, play, shop, date and arrange their social life on the net. We don't often think about the long-term implications. What tracks do you leave behind? How much information about you is available out there? Would you want a future employer to see your Facebook entry?

For some advice on personal information on the Internet, see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/computing/advice/homeusers/security/personalsafety.html

Backing up your data

Imagine spilling a pint of beer over your laptop, perhaps destroying the hard disk in the process. What would you do if your 10,000 word dissertation was due in the following day, or you lost your entire collection of digital photos? There is no need for this to happen. Make backup copies of your data to keep it safe. Backing up is easy to do. You can store backup copies on a USB pen drive, an external hard disk, on recordable CDs/DVDs, or elsewhere on the network/Internet.
For more advice on backups, see Backing up your data http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/computing/advice/homeusers/security/backups.html
Regards,

The ResNet team.