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Northern Illinois University

Everything Technology Handbook

Configuring Your Computer for E-Mail/Internet Access

You may use NIU as your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for no additional charge. Please note that additional connection charges may be applied by the local phone carrier.

Instructions for dial-up connections to NIU are located at: go.et.niu.edu/dialup

Students living in the residence halls should contact the ResTech Helpdesk at 753-6267 for assistance. Be sure to get a copy of the ResTech Connections CD at your hall front desk, the ResTech Helpdesk, or in a ResTech lab. The CD has detailed instructions to help you get online.

Students living off-campus should contact the ITS Helpdesk at: helpdesk@niu.edu or (815) 753-8100 for assistance.

General Student Information

  • Northern Illinois University provides each student with 100 megabytes (MB) of network storage space for files and web page hosting
  • Student network drives are not backed up by ITS. You are responsible for backing up your own data and e-mail
    • Each student is allocated 50 MB of e-mail storage space on the e-mail server
      • If you fill your allocated e-mail storage space, new e-mail will not be received. The sender may not receive notice of failure to deliver
      • NIU student e-mail is the official channel of communication between the university and the student. See the “Official Correspondence and Notifications” section for more information
    • The Z-ID is user-specific and does not change while you remain at Northern Illinois University

    Student Web Pages

    You can host web pages on your network drive by creating a “www” folder and placing the appropriate documents into the folder. There are two methods for creating the “www” folder:

    • In ITS and ResTech computer labs
      • Select Start
      • Select Utilities
      • Select Create Your Public Web Directory
    • From the Internet go to: www.students.niu.edu/provisioning then see “Computing Tools” section for details on activating your personal web space