The Computing Services Centre (CSC) manages the wired network infrastructure with thousands of core, distribution and access network switches.  Wired connections are available on campus, in remote offices, and in student residence halls.

The advantages of wired connection is that it provides stabler and higher speed access to the Internet as compared with wireless connection, which is crucial for applications that demand high bandwidth and stability.  For all endpoint devices, the de facto standard is 1Gbps line speed.  The network supports also multigigabit ethernet ports on need basis.  All devices connecting to the wired network must be registered via the Service Portal.  Devices not registered will be blocked from accessing the network as soon as they are discovered. 

IP Address Registration

The IP address of every computer connected to the CTNET must be properly registered using an authorised Network Address and a registered network card. If not, these computers will be considered as illegal and be blocked from accessing the campus network as soon as they are discovered. In order to avoid interruption due to blocking arising from the "unregistered" status, the registration information regarding the network connection of each computer must be checked and if necessary, updated every now and then. 

If discrepancies are found, the registration record in the network database must be amended by the Departmental Network Administrator (DNA) as some privileged data of the registration record are protected and can only be updated by the DNA concerned.  Please ask your DNA to update the registration via the Service Portal. 

As users are fully accountable for the activities they conduct on the network from their PCs, and the MAC addresses and IP addresses assumed by these PCs are serving as the identity of their respective users, in order to prevent unauthorised uses of these addresses, users are therefore reminded of the following:

• Do not lend your network card, IP address, or PC for use by others.
• Timely inform the CSC, through your DNA, of the following situations:
  • When any registered network card is retired or disposed
  • When any registered IP address is no longer in use
  • When any registered network card or IP address is relocated to another machine or will be used by another user
  • When a PC is relocated to a different room or a different network point
• Requests for reserved IP addresses for non-existed or yet-to-be-delivered computers will normally not be entertained.
• Unless with prior approval of the CSC, requests for IP addresses for use on workstations or network equipment not owned by the University normally will not be entertained.
• Any user who uses unauthorized IP address or forges other user's IP address is a serious offense and may be subject to disciplinary action.