Internet Access at Murdoch

Internet Access for Students
Internet Access for Staff
Internet Access Charges

Internet Access for Students

All students have a user account automatically generated for their use on the University's Network. A user account provides a student with an email address and access to the Internet. When students use the Internet, requests are passed to Murdoch's Proxy Cache Server and only if a file is not already held in the cache is the request passed beyond the Murdoch University Network.

Student Internet Quota

The University manages Internet access for students by means of the Student Internet Quota. This Quota has three components:

General Quota: Allocated to each student.; Intented to cover the cost of communicating with the University and carrying out administrative tasks.
Academic Quota: Allocated to each student.; Intended to cover course-related Internet access costs.; Based on Student Load and uses a formula based on the number of units a student is enrolled in, the number of credit points of each unit enrolled, and a per point quota rate applied to each unit.
Student Purchased Quota: Required for Internet use over and above the general and academic quota allocation.

Students will find that from the beginning of each Semester, their Quota account will automatically be credited by their Division. The General Quota will be allocated as a lump sum at the start of the Semester, whilst the Academic Quota will be provided incrementally over the duration of each Unit enrolled. Distribution of the Quota will be carried out weekly (in advance) in equal increments.

Once this quota allocation has been exhausted, students will need to purchase Quota for Internet usage and to extend modem connection time. To do this, the University Student Card is used to transfer money (credit) into the Internet Traffic and Modem Time Quota System using a swipe card reader located in the libraries at the South Street and Rockingham campuses. Students may also add credit by paying at the cashier at Murdoch, Rockingham or Peel Campus. For students unable to visit the campuses other arrangements are made.

For more information about the Internet Traffic and Modem Time Quota System, refer to:

NOTE: Any queries re Quota allocated by Divisions and Schools should be addressed to administration staff in Divisional Offices.

Free Internet Access

Please note that whilst using the Internet via the University's Network, students have free access to:

email, both domestic and international - (when using a Murdoch Email Server)
PARNet, and therefore to Western Australian public university sites

Undergraduate Students
Postgraduate Students
Residents of Student Village

Undergraduate Students

Facilities for accessing the University Network include:

The following are available to assist students using IT at Murdoch:

Education & Training (Library)
- LITE (Library and Information Technology Exercises)
- Information Skills - Classes and Programs
- Online Tutorials & User Guides
IT Service Desk

Other Facilities For Students Accessing the Internet:

In addition to Computing Laboratories, other facilities for students who wish to access the Internet are available in the Library and at Student Village.

For further details regarding Internet access, students should check with the administration staff in Divisions or Schools, or contact them by phone or email.

IT Service Desk:

Students experiencing problems with Internet access may contact the IT Service Desk on (08) 9360 2000.

Postgraduate Students

As is the case for undergraduate students at Murdoch, postgraduates will automatically have a user account generated for them. However, postgraduate students are also eligible for user accounts on other host computers provided that their application for an account is approved by their Division. This approval is required as any network or modem costs incurred will be charged against their Division. A Division may charge the costs to an individual student's research account. In some Divisions and Schools of Study, postgraduates are provided with user accounts on computers located in the Division or School. Facilities for accessing the University Network vary across campus.

Postgraduates may access the University Network via modem. They may use their user account to access the modem pool used by students, or, if they have been authorised, they may use the modem pool used by staff. The Communications Systems section in the Office of Information Technology Services provides more details on modem access. An application form is available for Postgraduate Students as well as for postgraduate students who are also members of staff.

Postgraduates who use the Student Network will have the standard service offered, whilst postgraduates using an Exchaneg email account, or an account on a Division or School-based computer may have the same service offered to staff, or they may be restricted in what network services they may use. Postgraduate students should check with their respective Divisional office for more information on any restrictions that may apply to their Internet access.

NOTE: Postgraduate students who choose to NOT use the account that has been automatically generated, should take care to login to MyInfo (using Murdoch Username and Murdoch Password) and register their preferred e-mail address, so that messages sent to their email account on the Student Mail Server are forwarded to their preferred email address.

For problems with login and passwords on Division or School host computers, students should contact their IT Liaison Officer.

Training

The Library offers postgraduate students formal training sessions.

Home Pages

Postgraduate students, who have been authorised, may maintain a Personal Home Page on the Murdoch Staff Web Server (wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au).

Residents of Student Village

A computer laboratory connected to the University Network is available to residents of Student Village. Access to these computers is restricted in the same manner as that used in the General Computing Laboratories.

Students wishing to have Internet access beyond their Quota allocation, should use the Internet Traffic and Modem Time Quota System to add credit.

NOTE: All network ports in students' room are subject to restrictions.

Internet Access for Staff

Internet access for staff is provided via the Murdoch University Network. Staff may access this network from computers in their offices, via modem from home, or via Internet connections from another site. For assistance in installing software and connecting to the Internet, staff are advised to contact the IT Service Desk.

Staff are not restricted in what network services (email, telnet, ftp, news) they may use, nor in the software they choose to use to connect to the Internet. The Office of Information Technology Services will recommend software and advise on problems with modem access. More information about using modems is available from Dialup Software (Communication Systems), as well as information about Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Staff may make use of Webmail facility available via the Exchange Email Server and for login use their Murdoch Username and Murdoch Password.

New staff need to complete the Email Application Form for an email account.

For problems with login to Division, School or Office host computers, staff should contact their IT Liaison Officer.

Training

The Library offers formal training sessions and links to online tutorials.

Home Pages

Staff may maintain a Personal Home Page on the Murdoch Staff Web Server (wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au).

Internet Access Charges

Charges for network traffic at Murdoch University are met partly from central funding and partly by devolving costs to Divisions and Offices.

Staff

Internet Traffic

Individual staff are not currently charged for their use of the Internet. However, accounting procedures are used so that the cost of all Internet traffic generated can be associated with the relevant Division, School or Office with details down to the individual port to which a computer is attached. Usage statistics are maintained for the network traffic of Divisions, Schools and Offices.

Staff should be aware that use of the Internet is not free and that network traffic will generate charges that will be devolved to your Division, School or Office. So please make use of Murdoch's Proxy Cache Server to assist in keeping the cost of network traffic down.

Modem Access

All staff are charged at a standard rate for every hour that they are connected to a Murdoch University modem. University account codes are charged weekly for staff usage. Staff have a choice of two rates. Modem users will need a valid username and password. An Online Application Form is available.

For more information on modem access for staff, refer to Modem Dialup Phone Details.

Further details on the Modem Connection Charges are provided by the Communications Systems, section of the Office of Information Technology Services.

Students

Internet Traffic

For all currently enrolled students Internet access is charged for. However, as indicated above, students are allocated Quota via the Internet Traffic and Modem Time Quota System, but may also purchase additional Quota for Internet access.

Modem Access

Students using the Murdoch University Modem Pool will be able to use the Internet Traffic and Modem Time Quota System to purchase extended modem connection time.