Urbana University requires all residential students to register their computer’s MAC address with Computer and Network Services before accessing the data network from their rooms.

On a local area network (LAN) or other network, a MAC (Media Access Control) address is the unique hardware number that was integrated into each network adapter during its creation. Registering your MAC address with CNS is comparable to registering your license plate number with Campus Safety. You must register this information with the university so that we can ensure that every computer that accesses the Urbana University data network belongs to a member of the Urbana University community. Choose the appropriate Windows operating system below for instructions. If you are using a Mac OS, please email Computing & Network Services for instructions.

Instructions for Finding MAC Address on a Windows ME Computer

1. Go to the command prompt by clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt.

2. When you are at the command prompt, type “ipconfig /all.”  Press enter.  Windows will list the network adapters installed on your computer, with the address information for each adapter.

3. You should be able to find the MAC (or physical) address for your network adapter (Ethernet adapter) under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, Physical Address. The MAC address is listed under the heading “Physical Address,” and consists of a twelve-digit hexadecimal number, separated by dashes; for example: A1-B2-C3-D4-76. The number will be composed of numbers and letters, in any combination.

4. [Register] - Please type this information, along with your name, and your computer's operating system (Windows ME), into the form on the following page.

Instructions for Finding a MAC Address on a Windows 2000 Professional Computer

1. Go to the command prompt or MS-DOS prompt, by clicking Start, Programs, or Accessories, Command Prompt.

2. When you the command prompt window opens, type “ipconfig /all.”  Press Enter.  Windows will list the network adapters installed on your computer, with address information for each adapter.

3. You should be able to find the MAC (or physical) address for your network adapter (Ethernet adapter) under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, Physical Address. The MAC address is listed under the heading “Physical Address,” and consists of a twelve-digit hexadecimal (combination of letters and numbers) number, separated by dashes; for example: A1-B2-C3-D4-76.

4. [Register] - Please type this information, along with your name, and your computer's operating system (Windows 2000 Professional) into the form on the following page.

Instructions for Finding MAC Address on Windows XP Home or Professional Computer

1. Go to the command prompt or MS-DOS prompt, usually located by clicking Start, All Programs, Accessories, Command Prompt.

2. When you are at the command prompt, type “ipconfig /all.” Press Enter. Windows will list the network adapters installed on your computer, with the address information for each adapter.

3. You should be able to find the MAC (or physical) address for your network adapter (Ethernetadapter) under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, Physical Address. The MAC address is listed under the heading “Physical Address,” and consists of a twelve-digit hexadecimal number, separated by dashes; for example: A1-B2-C3-D4-76. The number will be composed of numbers and letters, in any combination.

4. [Register] - Please type this information, along with your name, and your computer's operating system (Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home) into the form on the following page.