Home > Engage > Policies > ResNet Rules & Policy

ResNet Rules & Policy

Trinity College ResNet Rules (Information Kit)
Trinity College ResNet Policy
University of Toronto Appropriate Use of Information and Communication Technology

 


TRINITY COLLEGE RESNET RULES

ResNet Information Kit:
1. What ResNet is:

The Trinity College ResNet is a 100 Megabit to 1 Gigabit local area network operating in the Trinity College Residence and St. Hilda’s College Residence buildings. It is connected to U of T’s fibre-optic backbone for Internet access.

The ResNet exists primarily for academic needs. It is, however, accepted that non-academic uses can coexist on ResNet. Our concern is simply that ResNet works well for its intended purpose. The rules and policies outlined in this document are designed to achieve this goal while permitting legal, non-disruptive activities which can safely coexist with it.

2. Prerequisites for ResNet access:

All ResNet users are required to protect their computers against viruses or other activity that can impair network performance. Computers without a functional virus scanner are not allowed on the network. Unprotected computers can become infected within seconds of being on the ResNet! The use of adware removers and a firewall is also recommended. Infected computers might not be allowed back onto ResNet without an in-person check by a ResNet administrator as a necessary means of preventing the proliferation of infections on the network. It is your responsibility to make sure that your virus scanner is up to date.

If you agreed to the ResNet terms and conditions on your Residence Application, proceed with the “online registration procedure” outlined in the ResNet Essentials. ResNet jacks are activated by default unless the occupant has not confirmed ResNet policy agreement upon move-in, or has been disconnected for an administrative reason. Your ResNet jack will be de-activated if you have not agreed to the ResNet terms and conditions.

3. Traffic quota:

Trinity College reserves the right to disconnect any user if their traffic is deemed disruptive to other users. We disconnect our users whenever U of T Network Operations notify us that any of our residents is causing a network disruption or is using the network in appropriately. See https://www.provost.utoronto.ca/planning-policy/information-communication-technology-appropriate-use/ for more information on U of T internet traffic policy.

Please note that ResNet activities such as file-sharing movies can impair the speed of the network for other ResNet users. Moreover, sharing copyrighted material is illegal and may invoke litigation against you. File-sharing or torrent apps typically enable indefinite seeding of the file you are downloading, so even if you are only downloading one file, your computer may upload several times that file’s size in data during and long after the download. Thus it is easy to upload a lot of traffic without realizing it, and it is the uploading of files that tends to incur copyright violation investigations against our students. Please disable (or at least minimize) your seeding accordingly.

While we do not attempt to police file-sharing, the U of T does implement traffic-shaping protocols which limit the volume of traffic involved in file-sharing. (The restrictions are usually reduced between midnight and 8 AM.) Some specific file-sharing programs may be blocked if it is determined that they pose a security threat (e.g., if they leave vulnerable ports open) or if they pose a severe traffic congestion issue.

Excessive use of available bandwidth does affect your network neighbours, causes network hardware crashes, and invokes the attention of U of T Computing and Networking Services. Due to the administrative overhead required to handle transgressors (and the potentially disruptive effects of their activities), no excuse can be accepted (e.g., “My friend installed something on my computer and didn’t tell me….“). How your own computer affects other users is entirely your own responsibility.

4. Disconnection procedure:

The University of Toronto may automatically disable your wired or wireless access to ResNet. They will normally send an email to your U of T email address explaining any need to do so. Reasons vary from problematic connection sharing to excessive traffic to copyright violations to virus infection, etc. If you receive such an email, it should contain a link to submit a ticket to the U of T Help Desk for assistance. If you lose access and are sure that your networked device is working properly, then you may Open a ticket for assistance by browsing https://uthrprod.service-now.com/infocomm from a different location in residence or elsewhere on campus.

5. Sharing your ResNet connection in residence is banned:

U of T Network Security Policy states that “Departments must take steps to prohibit unauthorized access point installations by their users” and that “Departments must ensure that all access to wireless and wired docking area connectivity is controlled by an authentication system…” that “…can be traced to an identifiable end user“.

Student-installed wireless access points or routers occupy wifi channels even when the student uses little or no bandwidth. This prevents others from using those channels and severely reduces the bandwidth available for U of T wifi access points to share optimally among all students. Routine checks for rogue wireless access points may result in automatic disconnection.

University of Toronto Appropriate Use of Information and Communication Technology states that “Access to ICT resources at the University of Toronto may only be provided by the personnel who are responsible for those systems. A person who has been given such access does not, in general, have the authority to extend that privilege to anyone else.” This means that Trinity College administrators are not authorized to allow you to share your ResNet connection with ANYONE, in any way.  Your Residence Application affirmation that you agree to these ResNet usage terms means that YOU are LEGALLY responsible for both the quantity and CONTENT of ALL the traffic that traverses your ResNet connection. 

An additional reason for Trinity to prevent sharing via wireless transmitting equipment is that they have been unacceptably used in the past to restore ResNet access to students who have been disconnected for violations of ResNet Policy (and sometimes even resumed their disruptive activity as soon as they were wirelessly enabled by a neighbour to regain access to the network). Trinity deals sternly with those who circumvent their ResNet disconnections and also with those who assist them (expulsions have occurred).

6. UTORcwn wireless networks at Trinity:

UTOR Campus Wireless Network (UTORcwn) access points provide wifi access in all common areas of the College as well as to all residence rooms, the Gerald Larkin building and John W. Graham Library.

UTORcwn provides two SSIDs in your list of available wifi networks at Trinity: “U of T” and “eduroam”. “Eduroam” is a worldwide network intended for students visiting temporarily from other universities. You may be able to use it if you visit another participating University.

U of T SSID: The “U of T” network requires a valid UTORid for access. UTORids are provided in advance during U of T admissions procedures. However, new UTORids are only activated when you receive your activation key and activate online. Before you can access the U of T wifi network, you will need to register your UTORid by using the VERIFY TOOL (at https://www.utorid.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/utorid/verify.pl), even if your UTORid is working for other services. There may be a short delay between verifying and being able to access U of T. See http://help.ic.utoronto.ca/content/20/704/en/wireless-access.html for a step-by-step guide to connect your computer.

Please note that the person responsible for violations is the one whose UTORid was used to register the device. Hence it is not recommended that you share your device or provide your UTORid to register someone else’s device.

ALL support for the UTORcwn wireless networks is provided by the U of T Information Commons Helpdesk and Helpline (416-978-HELP). Trinity College IT staff are not tasked with providing support for the wireless networks.

7. Outgoing mail server requirements:

UTmail+ is the student email and calendar service at the University of Toronto. The service is powered by Microsoft 365 and supports integrated email, calendaring, contacts, task lists, and Office 365 apps.

UTmail+ lets you use a web browser to access your mailbox, from any computer that has an internet connection, by logging on to mail.utoronto.ca. You can also access UTmail+ through email clients like Outlook, or mobile devices like cell phones and tablets. UTmail+ users also have the option of signing up for Microsoft OneDrive, which provides 15 GB of free online storage.

Please see http://help.ic.utoronto.ca/solution_id_1754.html for details on getting and configuring UTmail+.

Those who use commercial email accounts (such as Rogers email) and an email client program (as opposed to webmail) must obtain their outgoing mail server settings from their email provider (e.g., Rogers).

 

ResNet access and getting help
For activation procedures please read ResNet Essentials. To troubleshoot problems, please read the ResNet Assistance Request Procedures and Form. If you have already read all the information but still have trouble, please follow the instructions on the ResNet Assistance Request Form for how to report your problem.


TRINITY COLLEGE RESNET POLICY

1.  ResNet users shall obey all University of Toronto rules on “Appropriate use of Information and Communication Technology.”

Comment: These rules are subject to change without notice.

Penalty: Varying penalties (warnings to expulsion).

2.  Internet server software restrictions for ResNet.

Comment: Internet server software is any software that allows your computer to be accessed from outside the ResNet i.e. the Internet, including: HTTP (web), FTP, telnet, DNS, DHCP/BOOTP, SMTP/POP/IMAP, Remote Access servers, and any other software that automatically shares or collects data to or from your computing device. All such traffic must not be excessive — see section “3. Traffic Quota” above for elaboration. This rule exists simply to prevent disruption or compromise of service to other users on the shared ResNet service. All file sharing software (such as Bit Torrent) is further restricted to exclude unauthorized transmission of ANY copyrighted data. Security measures are in place to prevent some server software from working, and periodic checks will be made on suspect computers. Running a disruptive server (such as a busy web server as part of a commercial enterprise) may result in extended termination of your ResNet access and doing so unknowingly or by accident is not accepted as an excuse for lenience!

Penalty: Extended disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity

3.  No illegal or hate materials shall be disseminated from a ResNet port.

Comment: For example, no child pornography, hate literature of any type, death threats, etc.

Penalty: Extended Disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity

4.  No unsolicited commercial email (Spam) shall be sent from a ResNet port.

Comment: Spam is an annoyance to everyone.

Penalty: Disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity

5.  No ResNet port shall be used to attempt to gain illegal access to any other computer system.

Comment: i.e. no hacking. This includes connecting to an outside computer and hacking from there. You are responsible as long as your connection is anywhere in a chain of systems used for hacking.

Penalty: Extended disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity. 

6.  No ResNet port shall be used to attempt to obtain sensitive information without the knowledge of all parties involved.

Comment: This means no attempts to “sniff packets on the network for passwords, personal email, etc.

Penalty: Extended disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity

7.  No ResNet port shall be used to attempt to make malicious attacks on any computer systems.

Comment: No denial-of-service attacks (Teardrop), Ping of Death, SATAN attacks, etc.

Penalty: Extended disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity

8.  No ResNet port hardware (data jack, sticker, wire, screw, clip, molding, conduit, access hatch, hub, or hub closet) may be opened, removed, relocated or damaged in any way. The only permitted use of this hardware is the connection and disconnection of a patch cable from a data jack to a network card or hub.

Comment: Tampering is vandalism. Repairs are very costly, and you are responsible for your port.

Penalty: Repair bill & fine against your residence/academic account. Extended disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity

9.  Devices connected to ResNet must be both virus-free and adequately protected against virus infection.

Comment: Computers with no virus scanner are virtually guaranteed to become infected. Infected computers are not allowed on the network because they may infect other network devices. We recommend Microsoft Windows Defender for all Windows computers (free) or ClamXav (also free) for Mac computers running OS X.

Penalty: for causing a disruption on ResNet by using a computer without a virus scanner installed: Minimum 1-week disconnection.

10.  Only the IP number assigned by a ResNet DHCP server may be used by your computer(i.e., you are not permitted to set a fixed or static IP number on your computer in residence).

Comment: All ResNet ports get automatically assigned IP numbers by ResNet DHCP servers. Using a fixed IP number will cause conflicts with other ResNet users and will prevent network access for them. This is a serious inconvenience for those affected.

Penalty: Minimum 1-week disconnection, depending on severity.

11.  Giving others access to your ResNet service is banned (by allowing physical plug-in or by wireless access).

Comment: See section 4 of this ResNet Kit.

Penalty: Disconnection, varying penalties depending on severity


U OF T APPROPRIATE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

Students are also bound by The University of Toronto Appropriate Use of Information and Communication Technology – please review this policy and view the list of reference documents pertaining to this policy.