When an unregistered device is first plugged in and turned on, it will have only limited network connectivity to the Registration server – enough for the registration process to take place. As the client opens a web browser on the device, they will be automatically redirected to a registration server web interface to enable the client to register on a form (requires MacID). Following registration, once the computer is rebooted, it will have normal network access thereafter.
Expandable List
- Plug your computer into a network data jack using an Ethernet patch cable.
- Ensure the cable is connected to the Data jack which will be black and/or be labelled with a “D” for Data
- Start the device up
- If this is a computer or laptop please ensure that it is set up to ‘Obtain an IP address automatically’
- Open a web browser (such as Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer) and a Netreg registration page will appear
- From the registration page, log in with your MacID and password and respond to the information and prompts for acknowledgement (if you encounter any problems, there is a link on the registration page to assistance information)
- Reboot your computer following successful completion of the Netreg process, and you will be able to access campus and Internet sites normally.
- Note: In some cases the registration process may take anywhere from 10 minutes – 24 hours
If a student wants to establish a wired connection to devices that do not have a web interface such as the following:
- Gaming devices such as a PlayStation, XBOX, Nintendo Switch, etc.
- Printers
- Home Assistive Devices such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc.
Students are still required to register it first.
In order to register the device, please do the following:
- Determine the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the network interface in your device (refer to the FAQ’s on how to determine the MAC Address)
- Using a computer with a web browser, go to: https://macservicedesk.mcmaster.ca/plugins/servlet/desk/portal/742/create/4574?requestGroup=1409
- Enter your MacID
- Select Request type Wired
- Enter your device type, your device’s MAC Address and Residence building, and room number into the form
- The device will be registered 3 days after successful entry, and you should receive an email when the device is registered
In order to connect to the Reznet-WiFi, your device must support WPA2-Enterprise security. Most computers, operating systems, and many devices are supported. You should always attempt to first connect to the Reznet-WiFi network or the attempt to connect to the wired network through the NetReg service (refer above for instructions), but if you have a device that does not support WPA2-Enterprise, McMaster provides a separate un-broadcasted network which allows the unsupported devices to connect to wirelessly. If you need to access this network with an unsupported device, please contact UTS.
Check out our Reznet-IoT page for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
McMaster students living in Residence
Only in McMaster Residence.
UTS does not support personal routers in residence or anywhere else on campus. Personal routers are strongly discouraged as they can pose to be a security risk.