With the completion of the fiber optic cable roll out, the entire Yamasa campus is now covered by wireless LAN, in addition to access via ethernet techology in the computer labs, most of the classrooms, and the library. All of Yamasa's accommodation options are also connected to the internet via fiber optic links.

1) Student Housing:

As of October 2005, all of the student housing now has internet access.

Student Village: In the Student Village every room has a 10/100MBs outlet (the "shared by 2" rooms in the village have 2, along with separate power outlets for each desk) that can be used to connect portable or desktop computers, the lounges in the Student Village also have outlets, and Yamasa also provides PCs for free untimed student use in one of the two lounges. The ground floor of the student village (lounges, kitchens, common rooms) is also covered by the village wireless network.

Studio Apartments: Yamasa Villa 1,Yamasa Villa 2, Yamasa Villa 3 & 4, Residences K, U, Yamamoto House and Hane accommodation have 10/100MBs outlets in every room. Residence L apartments have internet access (also fiber optic) provided via a separate wireless connection.

2) On Campus:

Labs:

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There are four labs, two of which can be used by students for personal use, the other two are for CALL seminars. In the Yamasa II building's computer laboratory on the 4th floor there are several 10/100MBs connections available for portable computers in addition to the desktop computers provided by Yamasa. In the Aoi Hall computer laboratory there are several 10/100MBs connections available for portable computers in addition to the desktop computers provided by Yamasa. All of Yamasa's desktop computers for student use are currently PCs. If you prefer to use a Mac, please bring your own computer.

Classrooms:

In all Aoi Hall classrooms, and the distance learning theater, and in the ground floor classrooms of the Yamasa II building there is one 10/100MBs connection available for portable computers in each classroom.

Wireless:

The Yamasa Institute campus is now completely covered with broadband wireless LAN (a, b/g). The wireless network covers all floors of the Yamasa II building and Aoi Hall, as well as the parking areas, coffee shop and bar.

Notes:

If you are used to connecting to the internet via a modem you may want to consider using ethernet during your stay at Yamasa, for the following reasons:

1) The ethernet connection on campus is already provided at no cost, therefore you are not required to sign up with a Japanese service provider for dial-in service.
2) There are no telephone jacks that would allow you to use a modem on the campus or in the accommodation, with the exception of one public telephone located in the entrance lobby of the Yamasa II building and one public phone located outside Yamasa Villa 3 and 4.
3) You do not require a new user ID and password - you simply continue to use your e-mail account at home.

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To connect a computer to the internet via ethernet requires an ethernet adapter (ethernet card) and cable. Some students using computers with the Windows 95 or Windows 98 operating system have experienced difficulties getting ethernet cards to work that were bought in Japan. The reasons were apparent incompatibilities between English or German Windows and the Japanese ethernet driver software that came with the cards. If you use a Windows OS computer which does not already have an ethernet card and the required driver software installed, we recommend that you purchase and install such a card in your home country.

Most importantly, whether your computer comes with a card pre-installed or whether you install it yourself before coming to Japan, we recommend that you test the functionality of the card by connecting your computer to an ethernet network. If you are using a cable modem at home then you already know that your ethernet card works because cable modems work like ethernet on the user side. Otherwise, a suitable place to perform such a test would be a computer store, computer service center, internet service provider's office, or university.

Note: when using Yamasa's ethernet connection, some of the settings in your internet software and ethernet driver (e.g., the "smtp server", "gateway", and "name server" addresses) will need to be changed. Yamasa can supply you with an internet setup information sheet on request. Your original settings can be easily restored before you leave Japan.

And since you are still reading...

Enhancing the security of your computer in a few simple steps (and all for free!)

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Internet threats include: