RedRover Registration

Note: These instructions are for RedRover and RedRover-Secure. If you are a visitor to the universiy and you don't have a Cornell NetID, you can only use the guest Wi-Fi network.

• Register a laptop
• Register a handheld device
• Why RedRover needs your NetID
• Why RedRover needs your Wi-Fi card's hardware address
• More technical information for the curious...

1. If you have any open network connections (such as wired Ethernet or modem), close them and remove your Ethernet or modem card or cable.
2. Turn your laptop on and open a web browser, such as Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer.
3. Your browser will automatically be directed to the RedRover registration page . If it's not, go to http://wireless-reg.cit.cornell.edu.
4. Read and accept the RedRover terms.
5. Wait a few seconds while RedRover verifies your NetID and obtains the hardware address of your Wi-Fi card.
6. Verify that your NetID and Wi-Fi card hardware information are correct. If the information is correct, click Register; if it is incorrect, consult the Contact Center (HelpDesk) at 255-8990 or helpdesk@cornell.edu.
7. Wait up to a minute while RedRover finalizes your registration.
8. After your registration is confirmed, restart your computer.

You can now connect to the network via RedRover.

Register a handheld device

1. Go to http://dnsdb.cit.cornell.edu/dnsdb-cgi/wireless_device.cgi
2. Enter the hardware address (sometimes called MAC address) for the Wi-Fi card you intend to use with your handheld device and click Register.
3. Read and accept the RedRover terms.
4. Wait a few seconds while RedRover verifies your NetID.
5. Verify that your NetID and Wi-Fi card hardware information are correct. If the information is correct, click Register; if it is incorrect, consult the Contact Center (HelpDesk) at 255-8990 or helpdesk@cornell.edu.
6. Wait up to a minute while RedRover finalizes your registration.
7. After your registration is confirmed, wait 2 minutes before you attempt to use RedRover.

You can now connect to the network via RedRover.

Why RedRover needs your NetID

Cornell University Policy 5.7 (Network Registry) requires registration of all devices connected to the network. That process involves gathering the unique identifier (MAC address) for your laptop or PDA, as well as your Cornell NetID.

Guests of the university can use the guest Wi-Fi network instead.

Why RedRover needs your Wi-Fi card's hardware address

A hardware address is similar to a serial number; it is encoded on your card by the card manufacturer and is used to uniquely identify your card.

RedRover gathers your hardware address so you don't have to register your computer every time you use RedRover. If you have a laptop that has a removable card, and you use the same card in another laptop, you will not need to re-register; RedRover will look at the hardware address of the card and recognize that you have already registered. Similarly, if you use different card or laptop that has not been on the RedRover network before, you will be prompted to register. You can register with more than one card.

For students, the hardware address is also used to track RedRover usage totals for network usage-based billing (NUBB).

More technical information for the curious...

To connect to RedRover or the Cornell wired (Ethernet) network, your computer or handheld device needs an IP address. RedRover uses a system called DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) to assign your card an IP address when you connect.

DHCP "leases" the IP address to your card for 2 hours; if you are connected to RedRover for more than two hours, your lease is automatically renewed.

Your RedRover registration is valid for 1 year. When it is about to expire, you will receive an e-mail message asking you to reregister if you want to continue using RedRover.