If you have a static IP address set, or your computer is not set to accept the IP address assigned by the engineering network, you may need to follow these instructions to allow your machine to use DHCP and accept assigned IP addresses to use the engineering networks.

*NOTE: Microsoft and DECS are no longer supporting Windows XP. For more information regarding the end of XP support, visit the End of XP Support page. If you are still running Windows XP, please contact the DECS Support Office (353-8891, support@egr.msu.edu) for options.*

Follow the instructions for the appropriate operating system:

Windows XP

  1. Click the Start button, and select the Control Panel.
    Windows Start menu with Control Panel highlighted in blue
  2. In the Control Panel window, choose the Network Connections icon.
    Control Panel window displaying system configuration icons including Network Connections
  3. In the Network Connections window, right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties.
    Network Connections window with Local Area Connection right-click context menu showing Properties option
  4. In the Local Area Connection Properties window, click the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) option and select Properties.
    Local Area Connection Properties General tab with Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) highlighted in blue in the network components list
  5. In the TCP/IP Properties window, click the option Obtain an IP address automatically.
    Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties showing 'Obtain an IP address automatically' radio button selected in the IP configuration section
  6. Click the Advanced button. In the Advanced TCP/IP Settings window, remove any Default gateway entries.
    Advanced TCP/IP Settings IP Settings tab showing 'DHCP Enabled' status in the IP addresses section
  7. Click the DNS tab, remove any DNS server address and DNS Suffix entries. Make sure the option Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes is selected. 
    Advanced TCP/IP Settings DNS tab with 'Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes' radio button selected
  8. Click the WINS tab, remove any WINS address entries.
     Advanced TCP/IP Settings WINS tab showing WINS addresses field and NetBIOS settings options
  9. Click Ok and follow the on-screen instructions to restart the computer.

Macintosh OS X

*Note that you may have to type in the system administrator password to make modifications to the system preferences.

  1. Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner and select System Preferences.
  2. Click on the Network icon found either on the top row of the screen or from the Internet & Networking area of system preferences.
    macOS System Preferences showing Network icon in the Internet & Networking category section
  3. Select the device that you want to configure and click Configure. This will bring up the configuration page for the device. 
    macOS Network preferences with Airport selected showing connection status and Configure button
  4. Click on the tab labeled tcp/ip which will bring up the tcp/ip configuration.
    macOS Network TCP/IP tab showing Configure IPv4 set to Manually with IP settings displayed
  5. From the drop down menu located next to "configure IPv4" select Using DHCP. 
    macOS Network TCP/IP tab with Configure IPv4 dropdown menu open and 'Using DHCP' option highlighted in blue
  6. Click Apply Now. You have now configured the chosen interface for DHCP.