Registration frustration hits JMU

The Information Technology department experienced minor glitches when it began implementing a new roaming Internet Protocol system for JMU network users Oct. 15.

A roaming IP (number that identifies a computer on a network) allows users on the JMU network to connect to the Internet from any other segment of the network.

Students, faculty and staff who use the university's network must register their computers with JMU in order to access the Internet.

All computers in off-campus apartment complexes were supposed to be registered by now, but some problems were encountered that slowed their registration, according to Darlene Quackenbush, director of Information Technology Planning.

Once registration begins for a section of campus, users cannot access the Internet, because they don't have a proper IP address, until they register their computer with JMU, according to Information Technology. Computer registration entails filling out an electronic form in a Web browser, which takes users about five minutes.

This kind of computer registration is new this year to JMU.

According to Quackenbush, JMU network users have requested in the past to be able to use their computers to access the Internet from anywhere on campus. The new roaming IP system is being implemented to make connecting a laptop to JMU's network anywhere a lot easier.

According to Tom Bonadeo, chief technology officer for NTC, the JMU server that handled the registration was unable to service enough people at one time, which slowed down registration. "If the mechanics of registering don't go very well, then you're stuck without an Internet connection. That's why we're doing this one property at a time," Bonadeo said.

The registration process went more smoothly for CRISP and its apartment complexes.

CRISP services about 12 different apartments complexes including Squire Hill, Hunter's Ridge and JM apartments, according to Craig Moore, vice president of operations at CRISP.

"We had a fair amount of phone calls, but it was mainly people not understanding how to register," Moore said.

"The on-campus roll-out has not gone as well as we expected," Quackenbush said. "The limitation of simultaneous connections, speed and network traffic issues slowed the process."

According to Quackenbush, the Help Desk received more calls during the first two days of on-campus registration (Nov. 5 and 6) than during the first two days of fall semester.

Quackenbush said Information Technology will adjust the schedule and possibly even extend the time frame for registration in order to accommodate further complications.

At this stage, most off-campus apartment complexes have successfully registered with JMU, with the exception of the Commons, Pheasant Run, Olde Mill and Fox Hills, according to John Drummond, operations manager for NTC.
According to Drummond, these complexes were not registered because of a time crunch.

Information Technology has several goals for the new registration requirements, according to Quackenbush.

The first goal is to allow for roaming IPs. Until now, students and faculty were not able to move their computers from one end of campus to the other and acquire an Internet connection with ease.

With the new roaming IP system, students and faculty can simply move a laptop from a dorm or office to somewhere across campus and acquire an Internet connection, Quackenbush said.

Information Technology's second goal is to enable JMU to implement new technologies, such as wireless computing, Quackenbush said.

She said that Information Technology also aims to use the new system to enable the university to provide a better security structure. By requiring all of its users to register their computers, Information Technology will be able to ensure that users are who they claim to be. This is important because it will allow JMU to keep track of who a user is each and every time they transact, according to Quackenbush.

She said Information Technology has set up a time-table to follow in getting everyone registered. The window for on-campus registration was Nov. 5 to 13.

Junior Jeff Palazzola said, "I think the new IP system is a wonderful addition to JMU's network."

However, not all students shared Palazzola's sentiments.

Junior Brad Harbin said, "The new IP system did not really affect me. Since all I had to do was fill out a form  on the Internet, I didn't care all that much."
According to Moore, all of CRISP's customers have been successfully registered. "I think the overall end result is providing more flexibility with roaming IPs," Moore said.

Senior Travis White said, "I thought the registration was unnecessary and time consuming, and served no purpose that I know of."

In general, most people involved feel the off-campus registration process has gone well so far. "The off-campus apartment complexes went fairly smoothly," Quackenbush said. "We had several situations where people without legitimate JMU user IDs were using the network, and the apartment complexes then had to offer other ways for those tenants to obtain Internet access."

Information Technology plans to work with the apartment complexes to determine if service can be offered to non-JMU students, but plans have not yet been finalized, Quackenbush said.