Settings for Network Devices
There are two schemes of network settings for operating legitimately within buildings used by the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy. In most cases, either of the two schemes will work as long as one sets up all of the settings self-consistently (i.e., no mix-and-match). We have had a few cases where particular machines seem to behave better with one scheme than the other, and there are some cases where there are definite known reasons to prefer one scheme over the other. Unless you have some particular reason not to do so, just pick one (Scheme 1, preferably) and use it.
| Network setting | Scheme 1 (BPS, but usually OK anywhere) |
Scheme 2 (Giltner & Abrams) |
|---|---|---|
| Subnet mask | 255.248.0.0 | 255.255.255.0 |
| Local subnet(s) | 35.8.0.0 | 35.xx.yy.0 |
| Subnet broadcast address | 35.15.255.255 | 35.xx.yy.255 |
| Gateway (default) router | 35.8.2.3 or 35.xx.yy.1 |
35.xx.yy.1 |
Network devices belonging to P-A in the new Biomedical and Physical Sciences (BPS) Bldg. should be
set up to use "Scheme 1" above.
Network devices belonging to P-A in Giltner Hall should be set up to use "Scheme 2" above,
with
Network devices in Abrams Planetarium should be set up to use "Scheme 2" above,
with
Network devices at the MSU Observatory should be set up to use either "Scheme 1" or "Scheme 2" above,
with
Notes on reserved values of zz:
- zz = 0 is allocated to the subnet itself, and for broadcasts using the older "zero-fill" broadcast address method (which is no longer supported by most networking equipment).
- zz = 1 is allocated to the subnet's gateway router (this is the current MSU standard; other sites may have other policies).
- zz = 254 is allocated for testing (this is the current MSU standard; other sites may have other policies).
- zz = 255 is allocated to broadcasts using the currently standard "ones-fill" broadcast address method.
Other Notes :
- Subnet Broadcast addresses
- We strongly recommend that devices be set to use the "ones-fill" broadcast address instead of the previously used "zeros-fill" broadcast address, unless there is some compelling reason not to. Many newer network devices don't directly support the "zeros-fill" broadcast address, and some may be confused by its use in such a way that excess network traffic may be generated.
| DNS Nameservers | Primary: | 35.8.2.41 or, for Win2K/XP systems in the BPS Bldg., 35.9.68.10 |
| Secondary: | 35.9.68.12, 35.8.2.42 or 35.8.2.43 | |
| WINS server | If you choose to use WINS at all,
MSU P-A: MSU Computer Lab: | |
| NTP Network Time server | ntp.msu.edu (also supports SNTP) | |
| IMAP server for P-A E-mail accounts | mail.pa.msu.edu | |
| SMTP server for P-A E-mail accounts | mail.pa.msu.edu or pilot.msu.edu | |
| NNTP NetNews server | nntp.msu.edu or news.msu.edu | |
| WWW server | www.msu.edu (MSU Home Page) or www.pa.msu.edu (MSU P-A Home Page) | |
For information on setting up the new MSU Mail system (which will be replacing pilot.msu.edu),
check
Maintained by MSU P-A Computing Services.
E-mail inquiries to webmaster@www.pa.msu.edu.
- updated: 2003.06.17 (Tuesday) 10:46:32 EST - by SKB