Help Desk

Information Technology

Setting up a macOS computer at Reed

These are instructions are for setting up computers that run macOS. If you get stuck at any point contact CUS (x7525) for help.


Connecting to the Internet and Reed's Network

Accessing the Internet while on campus should be as easy as turning on your computer and plugging into an ethernet port or getting on Reed's wireless network (ReedXenia or Reed1x). Below are some further tips to make sure you have no problems configuring your internet connection.

Using an Ethernet connection

Wired ethernet connections are available in most dorms on campus. Devices on the wired network must be registered by their MAC address once a year using our device-specific registration tool. For further instructions, and to register your device, go to: apps.reed.edu/netreg

Devices registered on the wired network must be reregistered every year. IT staff will send an email notification with your registered device information. To continue using your devices on the network, go to: apps.reed.edu/netreg and click the Renew button for each device. Use the Delete key to remove the device and its information from our system.

Using the wireless network

Your computer most likely also has a built-in wireless card to connect to one of Reed's wireless networks (ReedXenia or Reed1x). If you are connected to a good wireless network, you will see the airport status as a striped fan-shape button on the menu bar wirelessyes on the top right of your screen. If you see a blank fan-shape button instead wirelessno, it means your airport is turned off. To turn the airport on, click on the airport status button and select "Turn Wi-Fi On" from the menu. If your computer does not automatically select a network after this, click on the airport status button on your menu bar again and select Reed1x or ReedXenia from the menu.
If no airport status button shows up on the menu bar, go to System Preferences and click on Network. If an airport is installed correctly on your computer, you will see a tab called Wi-Fi. Double-click on it and check the option to Show Airport Status in the menu bar. For more information about the campus-wide wireless internet network, see the wireless network page.

 

Registering Your Computer on the Reed Network

The first time you try to access any webpage using ReedXenia, your web browser may take you to the Reed Network Registration page where you must register your computer. Please make sure to register using your Reed network username and password and not as a guest, or you will have limited access to the network. If you connect through Reed1x or via a wired connection, you won't be prompted to register.

 

Accessing Reed Printers

You can also print to Reed printers which are located in the IRC, Library, Academic Buildings and Dormitories once you are on the network. Go to our printing page to learn more about printing and billing at Reed, and go to our printing from macOS page to install these printers on your computer.

 

A Word About Security

These are a few things that may be critical to insuring the safety of your machine and your data.

  1. Back up your data.
  2. Keep your operating system and software up to date.
  3. Do not share files, folders or services on the network unless you absolutely must. If you do, turn on as little access for others as possible.
  4. On your computer, do not create additional accounts that you do not use. Password protect all the accounts that you do use.
  5. If you are Reed faculty, student or staff, you should have some form of anti-virus software installed on your machine.

Please go to our security page for more tips and instructions

 

Other macOS Basics

Here are some more articles that include basic information about how to use the macOS operating system: