Host Database Field: CONNECTION-MEDIA

[This document describes a field in the Princeton University Host Database. You may also view descriptions of other fields.]

You must specify CONNECTION-MEDIA to describe the kind of physical connection that is used to attach the device to campus network.

Most devices are physically attached to the OIT network (e.g. OIT Ethernet Service, OIT Wireless Service). In these cases, the correct value to specify is obvious.

Some devices instead are physically attached to a network (e.g. Ethernet, Wireless, or something else) belonging to someone else (a department, organization, or personally-owned). That network in turn is attached to the OIT network. In that case, the correct value to specify is not necessarily the obvious choice. The intent is that this field contain the media OIT sees your device using, so the correct value to specify is the media used for the "last hop" connecting the non-OIT network to the OIT network. That will practically always be Ethernet.

The Web form used to add or change a Host Database entry only contains a single CONNECTION-MEDIA field, even though a Host Database entry may have multiple physical interfaces. The CONNECTION-MEDIA field in the form applies to the Host Database entry's first network interface. If the Host Database entry has additional network interfaces, the database assumes they all use the same media as the first interface. (This is due to a limitation in the Host Database.) The value you specify may be overriden by the database on a per-interface basis, as the database knows that any interface assigned an IP address on the wirelessnet subnet is one you intend to use with OIT Wireless Service, so the database will mark that interface media as being Wireless.

Values include:

• Ethernet: Specify this if your device is attached to OIT Ethernet Service.

  If your device is attached to a non-OIT network service (regardless of whether this attachment is Ethernet, Wireless, or something else), and that non-OIT network service is in turn connected to OIT Ethernet Service, then specify Ethernet.
   
  

• Wireless: For devices attached via OIT Wireless Service.

  If your device is wireless but attaches to a non-OIT wireless service, and that non-OIT wireless service is in turn connected to OIT Ethernet Service, then specify Ethernet, not Wireless. (When your device's traffic first arrives on OIT network equipment, it's arriving via Ethernet.)
   
  

• ISDN: For devices attached via ISDN, a special kind of high-speed dialup service from the telephone company. Rarely used at Princeton.
   
  
• DSL: For devices attached via DSL,, ADSL, or any other flavor of xDSL. This is a kind of high-speed dialup services from the telephone company. Rarely used at Princeton.
   
  
• Remote-Async: For devices attached via an asynchronous connection; e.g. via a modem. Used internally by OIT for entries corresponding to Remote Access Personal IP Addresses. Also used by some departments which provide similar remote access services. Unless you are a department running a remote access server, do not specify this CONNECTION-MEDIA.

• No-Media: This is used for some entries which need to be in the Host Database but have no actual physical attachment to the campus network. Do not specify this CONNECTION-MEDIA unless you are specifically instructed to do so by OIT.