Windows network setup
Last revision October 28, 2013
Computers running Microsoft Windows 95, 98, SE, ME, NT, or 2000 may not be directly connected to the Earth Sciences network. All of these older versions of Windows contain serious security holes that will never be fixed because Microsoft has ceased supporting them. Windows XP will also be banned beginning in April, 2014, when Microsoft ceases support for it. Either upgrade old Windows versions to at least Windows 7, or consult with the School network administrator about purchasing an inexpensive hardware firewall to isolate the older Windows computer and protect it from hackers.
TCP/IP
TCP/IP is the network protocol used on the Internet for web, email, sftp, and other services. It is the only supported networking protocol on campus.
Use the instructions provided on the Essential Stanford Software website by the central Information Technology Services (ITS) group on campus to configure your Windows computer for the campus network.
After confirming that you have the right configuration, use the campus network self-registration system to actually register your computer to work on the campus network.
Windows networking
Windows uses the concept of "domains" and "workgroups" to organize computers and servers, particularly when browsing for file and print servers. A domain provides a central authentication method that gives you access to multiple systems or services. A workgroup is an informal grouping of computers that do not share a central authentication, but are likely managed by the same people.
Stanford has created a single Windows domain named "WIN" (alternate name "stanford.edu") for general campus use that allows you to login to computers and servers with your SUNet ID and password. Servers such as the School of Earth Sciences file server, sesfs, are joined to this domain. Windows PCs in computer clusters and Stanford-owned individual workstations maintained by the CRC workstation consultants or by the ERE department are generally joined to the domain as well. Logging into a domain computer with your SUNet ID then gives you access to servers without any need for additional logins.
Personally-owned computers may not be joined to the Stanford domain. Instead, they will appear in a workgroup when browsing. The default workgroup is simply named "WORKGROUP". It can be changed by right-clicking on My Computer, selecting Properties and then selecting the Computer Name tab.