University of Waterloo on-campus internet restrictions?

[joseph2625]

Just out of curiosity, what authentication method is used at UW? Is it web based? (user id&password through web browser)
Is it VPN? Proxy?
Is it possible to connect to internet servers using the port other than 80?( IRC for example)
Is peer to peer connection allowed? (say.. for gaming)

[Euphoracle]

P2P is, apparently, "heavily discouraged" and the first notice of such connections will be "immediately disconnected." However, I've heard of people running bit torrent on resnet so idk what's actually going on... lol. I was wondering all the same things, though.

[DemonWasp]

Normal authentication is done through a web interface (UWID and password); unauthenticated access will be forwarded to the appropriate login page. After a successful login, the page should forward to your intended target. If you are running Windows (any version) you will have to download a special executable to verify that you are running adequate security software (firewall + virus scanner) before they'll let you connect; this does not apply to any other OS.

Additionally, there may be some shenanigans required to get the ethernet drops in residence working. I don't know because I've never stayed in res.

Access through ports other than 80 is permitted in at least some cases (I'm able to use SSH and SVN to my home server just fine), but I don't know about the other way: outside->within UW.

Bittorrent and other file-sharing applications that reach outside the university are heavily discouraged, as the number of connections they generate can be overwhelming. This also applies to certain games (mostly those where they connect to a large number of servers to provide a server listing). Plenty of people play WoW though, so I suspect you're okay with things like that. For file-sharing, there is a DC++ ring operating within the residences that's like a LAN-speed bittorrent.

There is a rolling bandwidth cap on residence rooms, but that only counts for bandwidth going to the outside, not within UW itself.

[Brightguy]

DemonWasp @ Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:14 am wrote:

Normal authentication is done through a web interface (UWID and password); unauthenticated access will be forwarded to the appropriate login page. After a successful login, the page should forward to your intended target. If you are running Windows (any version) you will have to download a special executable to verify that you are running adequate security software (firewall + virus scanner) before they'll let you connect; this does not apply to any other OS.

Though that's for UW Wireless, not ResNet. In residence you just need to hook up your computer with an Ethernet cable (you can sign one out at the ResNet office if you need one) and wait about an hour for ResNet to record your Ethernet address, after which your Internet should work normally. I don't think people outside can connect to your computer unless you initiate the connection. Also, I seem to recall them disabling ping and traceroute for some reason.