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    Question about networking in college

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by phil6232, Jun 9, 2007.

  1. phil6232

    phil6232 Newbie

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    I am sorry if this is a really stupid question, but I want to make sure I get everything right before I head off this fall.

    The laptop that I'm purchasing comes with an 802.11 a/g card, but I'm not sure if this is everything I need to connect to the network. The college website says I will need an ethernet card (10/100 megabit) and an ethernet (10BaseT) cable as well as communications software.

    I want to know if I need to purchase any of the items (ethernet card, cable, software) or anything else to connect to a network, or if the Wi-Fi card that comes with the notebook will be sufficient to connect to the network.
     
    phil6232, Jun 9, 2007
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  2. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    That's a wireless card - you need a built in NIC. Check the specs on your laptop - I'd be very surprised if it didn't have a 10/100 NIC. You don't need communication software - XP/Vista has networking built-in. You can buy a LAN cable at nearly any store.
     
    kegobeer, Jun 9, 2007
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  3. phil6232

    phil6232 Newbie

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    So I need to purchase the cable then, correct? I just checked my laptop's specs and it does have the 10/100/1000 GB Ethernet network interface adapter. Again, sorry if this is stupid, but does this mean that the wireless card doesn't connect to the network since I will be using the cable directly?

    Edit: Nevermind, I figured it out. Thanks for all your help.
     
    phil6232, Jun 9, 2007
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  4. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    The Cat5e cable is for the wired 10/100BaseT. I think some of the class rooms have wireless. So you will use both but not at the same time.
     
    blue68f100, Jun 9, 2007
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