Topic: Xbox Live On College Campus (Read 111 times)

andrew4540 · « **on:** August 07, 2006, 10:28:00 PM »

I'm not sure if this is the right forum to post this is, so feel free to move it.

I just bought an xbox 360, and set up an xbox live account. I have less than 1 month before I go to college, and I had planned on using xbox live while at college. Well i just found out that my college has blocked xbox live, and the PS2 online thing. They said its to keep the network fast. My question is....is there somehow i can get around this? is there someway i can fool it, either by running it through my computer or something? I read some where about using a router to send the xbox live packets to another router outside the network, on a port that isn't blocked. And then that router forwards the packets to the correct port. I'm just assuming thats how they have blocked xbox live. by blocking the ports it operates on. Any ideas...suggestions....just let me know....

blame canada · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2006, 09:18:00 AM »

You could run network > computer > xbox. Just set everything in the xbox live settings to "automatic". Then, go to network connections. Right click on the connection that is plugged into the internet, not your xbox. Then, right click and go to "properties". Go to the "advance" tab, and check the two boxes there (which have something to do with sharing its connection). There ya go, now plug your xbox (with a CROSSOVER cable) to an empty ethernet jack in your computer, and you should be able to connect to live.

andrew4540 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2006, 12:54:00 AM »

hmmm, well i'm going to have a laptop in college, and i already have it. I only have 1 ethernet jack in my computer, and i dont know of a way to add any. I have a dell, and its stupid and put an "expresscard" slot in, and i didn't see any ethernet cards on ebay for that.

blame canada · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2006, 08:58:00 AM »

Well if your college has a wireless network (which they probably do) then buy a wireless card (if your laptop doesnt have it built in all ready) and run it wireless card > computer > xbox . Follow the same method I told you in my first post, except enable "sharing" on the wireless connection.

andrew4540 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2006, 09:35:00 AM »

Wont that be kinda slow? xbox live on 802.11b (i think thats what my college has)

blame canada · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2006, 10:34:00 AM »

not slow, but you will get "drops" in connetion, ie: for a few seconds, your connection will be pretty bad, but this wont happen constantly.

andrew4540 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 10, 2006, 06:37:00 PM »

Would it be more reliable to use the wireless-G network?

blame canada · « **Reply #7 on:** August 10, 2006, 08:46:00 PM »

TheMZA · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2006, 12:41:00 PM »

Huh, thats pretty bizarre. I'm actually a Systems/Network Admin at a University, and banning ANY legitimate service is considered a HUGE "no-no".

Those work arounds won't work if they're using a packet shaper or any other device that is blocking traffic based on its signature.

Most likely they're using a packet shaper at the edge of their network. The way it works is traffic gets priority based on its signature. In my case, web traffic, aka web browsing gets the highest priority. At worst, you may get pushed to the bottom in terms of bandwidth if you're "unclassified", which usually means encrypted P2P.

Any packetshaper worth its salt should be able to distinguish gaming. We allow it with medium priority since typically, online games don't have tremendous bandwidth needs.

Honestly though, that policy sounds like BS. Its counter to the vast majority of college campuses if thats true.

andrew4540 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2006, 08:45:00 AM »

ok, well now i'm actually here, and the wireless isn't up yet so i cant even try that mentioned solution. So whats going on is that in order to be able to go onto the network, you must first setup your computer. You have to register and tell the network the physical address of your computer and stuff like that. Then you have to signup with "resnet" which makes you login once every 24 hours when you use the Internet. We signin with university ID and pass. Once you login, the network scans your computer to make sure its eligible to be on the network. It confirms that you have Norton installed, and like 5 other things. The reason they dont allow gaming on the network is because they say they want to keep it fast. This university is the 3rd best research institute in the world....bull crap..thats what it sounds to me..

TheMZA · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2006, 04:06:00 PM »

Huh, sounds like they're using Netreg or an appliance that would do the same thing.
Even still, those types of programs/devices are flexible enough to allow game consoles, etc.

As for making your network "faster", yeah...they're feeding you a line of total BS. The admins there are either very foolish, or extremely paranoid. I'm not going to get into the details of network engineering, but really, a univeristy has no excuse to block that kind of legitimate traffic. The reason they have you login to the network is to cut down on potential problems like an arp storm or propogating network virus. But then again, thats why they have IDS/IPS's, and subnetted campuses. Sigh...I feel for you. There'd be a riot here if we did something like that.

I suppose theres some trickery you could use to get past your University's security, but I really think that would put you at serious risk for losing your network connection altogether if your campus is that strict. If you don't mind saying, which school is this? This is the first time I've heard of a major college doing something like that.

Do they have a lot of restrictions? How do they deal with students that bring routers with them that allow NAT, or are they outright banned? They MUST make exceptions for students with Linux boxes or Macs. The netreg should be able to determine OS as well and base its "access criteria" on the OS.

The only thing I can think of that might work without setting off too many flags would be to use your PC as a network bridge for the 360. BUT, theres the potential that if you mess things up and create a network loop, your port will shut itself down before you can cause an outage. If the admins weren't smart enough to create traps for that...well, you might take out your floor or building's network connections while the loop exists.

andrew4540 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2006, 04:25:00 PM »

I go to the University of Minnesota. We are not allowed to bring routers i do not beleive. At least wireless ones for sure. you cant have unauthorized WAPs extending the Universitys network they say...

# What must I do to play my XBox, PS2, etc. over the ResNet? (back)

In order for your game console to function over the ResNet, it must meet four requirements:

* A physical address, (also called a MAC address or hardware address,) which must be registered for DHCP access
* A web browser
* DHCP enabled
* Must accept cookies

Aside from what is written in this page, the University does not guarantee technical support for game consoles over the ResNet. Though we can try to help over the phone, you are ultimately responsible for all setup and configuration of game consoles.

I just read that...which contradicts what i've been told..but does my 360 meet thos requirements?

TheMZA · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2006, 07:06:00 PM »

If thats the case, then you can probably get away with using a router from any old office store or computer store. I assume you want to be able to use both your PC and 360 without too much hassle, so thats the simplest solution as long as they don't bar the use of routers.

Instead of the MAC address of your PC, you'd need to register the address of the router though. I really don't recommend wireless in a dorm. I don't know what your buildings are like, but generally I would shy from using a wireless router in such densely populated buildings.

Hope that helps!

This post has been edited by TheMZA: Sep 10 2006, 02:08 AM

sidewinder33 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2006, 07:52:00 AM »

Well since you're not allowed to use a router, try a port switcher. it just extends the # of ports you can use. Your 360 kinda meets hose reqs, I do believe that it is DHCP enabled and it has a mac address. Maybe you should just try to register it with them. They could have their network setup to block any MAC address that isn't on their approved list. You might be able to fool them into thinking its just another PC, maybe not its worth a try its not like they are gong to kick you out for trying to use a console.

This post has been edited by sidewinder33: Sep 10 2006, 02:53 PM

andrew4540 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2006, 10:46:00 AM »

well does my 360 have a web browser? lol. I have a linksys wireless router..could i just go in and turn the wireless off in the settings? Then it would just be a regular router...would that work?

Author Topic: Xbox Live On College Campus (Read 111 times)