IT Provision at Murray Edwards College

Bringing your computer to College? You'll need:

• Your computer and power cables (suitable for use in the UK)
• Operating system software, in case you need to reinstall your computer
• MS Office software (if you use it), in case you need to reinstall
• External hard drive (if you have one) to back up your files

You won't need:

• A wired or wireless router
• To buy new antivirus or Internet security software - we supply antivirus software, and will ask you to uninstall any that you already have

Once you get to College:

• Collect your computer installation instructions from your pigeon hole
• Collect your user id, Hermes (email), Raven (authentication) and PWF (public computer) passwords
• Forward your personal email account, e.g. Gmail, to your Hermes email account (instructions available here)

Computing at Murray Edwards College - an Overview

If you wanted to use the Internet from home you would normally need:

• An Internet Service Provider (ISP), such as BT or Virgin, to provide a link to the network
• Generally, they would also provide you with a router which would allow your computer, and any others in your home, to access the network
• After installing antivirus software, and making sure the patches on your computer are up-to-date, you are ready to 'surf the net'

At Murray Edwards:

• Our ISP is JANET (Joint Academic Network), an organisation that provides super-fast network access to a range of educational organisations across the UK, and links across the globe
• You don't need a router - we do that centrally.  All you need is a network cable (which we can sell you): one end is plugged into your computer and the other into the socket in your College bedroom (there is no wireless access in the College bedrooms on the main site)
• You will still need antivirus software, but again, we provide that, so don't buy any before you arrive as we will ask you to uninstall it
• All students in network-accessible College-owned accommodation have unlimited wired and wireless network access (subject to acceptable use)
• Wireless access is available in the College public areas, such as the walkway, in the bar, JCR, MCR (graduates only), and the Library.  Some of our hostels have both wired and wireless internet in bedrooms