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.

Physics-Astronomy Department Network Settings
for a System with IP Address 35.xx.yy.zz

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. IP addresses will be assigned with xx = 9 and yy in the range from 64 through 71, inclusive.

Network devices belonging to P-A in Giltner Hall should be set up to use "Scheme 2" above, with xx.yy = 8.247.

Network devices in Abrams Planetarium should be set up to use "Scheme 2" above, with xx.yy = 8.153.

Network devices at the MSU Observatory should be set up to use either "Scheme 1" or "Scheme 2" above, with xx.yy = 9.143. (P-A only has the range 35.9.143.<2-50> assigned for the MSU Observatory).

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.

Other useful network settings

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: 35.9.68.81 & 35.9.68.55, or MSU Computer Lab: 35.8.2.25 & 35.8.2.69,
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 http://help.msu.edu/mail/.