If you are living on campus and want to connect to the residential network (ResNet), make sure you have the following items for your computer:
An Ethernet card
A computer needs an Ethernet card or NIC to be able to connect to the Internet. The card should be auto-sensing 10/100 Base-T and have an RJ-45 connection (this may be the same as what you already have hooked up to your cable modem or DSL at home). Almost all computers already have one installed. If your computer does not have an Ethernet card, most major electronics retailers carry them.
An Ethernet cable
A Category (or CAT)-5, 5E, or -6 twisted-pair Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connections that is 15 to 20 feet long* (but not longer than 20 feet) is required. These cables should be available at any electronics or computer store.
*The reason for this length is that there are two Ethernet jacks in each room (one for each occupant), and both of the jacks are in the same spot in the room. Typically, one desk is a lot closer to the connections than the other, so one resident usually ends up having to “snake” some cable around furniture or corners to connect it to the computer.