Device Guides

Device Guides

Using Google Public DNS

Background

From 30/10/2021 to 2/11/2021, the default Domain Name System (DNS) servers of some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) did not properly resolve unimelb.edu.au web addresses. This led to various browser error messages, such as DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_NXDOMAIN.

Issue Fixed
This issue has since been fixed. If you were affected by the issue and changed your device DNS settings, please revert to normal, using our DNS reset guide.

Clearing Cookies & Cache

Background

Browsers store cookies based on your identity and preferences, and build a cache of repeatedly accessed content, like images and scripts. This makes web browsing quicker, but can sometimes cause issues with how pages are displayed, or your ability to access content.

Clearing the cache and deleting cookies will solve many basic issues with websites. However, it will log your browser out of all websites, and working data in online applications (e.g. Google Docs) may be lost if not synced/saved.

To quickly simulate this without logging out of websites, consider trying an Incognito/Private Browsing window first.

Instructions

  1. Click the menu button More and select More tools > Clear browsing data
  2. Select 'All time' at the top
  3. With Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files marked, click Clear data
  1. Choose Safari > Preferences in the menubar, and select Privacy
  2. Click the Manage Website Data... button
  3. Click Remove All at the bottom of the pane
  1. Click the menu button Fx57Menu and select Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac)
  2. Select the Privacy & Security panel
  3. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data…
  4. With Cached Web Content and Cookies and Site Data marked, click Clear
  1. Click the Hub button Fx57Menu and select History
  2. Select Clear history
  3. With Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files marked, click Clear

Incognito/Private Browsing mode

Background

Most browsers feature Incognito or Private Browsing functionality, which allows you to open an isolated session, beginning with a fresh cache and no cookies. Any new cookies and data cached during the session will be cleared when closed, and no browsing history is kept.

If a website works in Incognito/Private Browsing window, but not a regular window, consider clearing the cookies and cache to restore normal functionality.

Instructions

Click the menu button More and select New Incognito Window

Choose File > New Private Window from the menubar

Click the menu button Fx57Menu and select New Private Window

Click the Hub button Fx57Menu and select New InPrivate Window

Gathering network details

Background

Student IT will sometimes request network details in order to assess the configuration on your device, and locate it on our systems, helping us troubleshoot network connectivity.

  • Every device has a Media Access Control (MAC) address, which can uniquely identify it
  • When a device is connected to a network, the router assigns it a local Internet Protocol (IP) address, required to send and receive data to other devices on the network
  • When accessing the internet, a device will use DNS (Domain Name System) servers to translate domains (e.g. unimelb.edu.au) into global IP addresses

Instructions

  1. Click the Start menu, or press the Windows key
  2. Type cmd into the search box, and select Command Prompt or Windows Powershell as it appears
  3. In the window that appears, type ipconfig /all and press Enter
  4. Scroll until your primary network adapter is visible (e.g. Wireless LAN Adapter if using Wi-Fi)
  5. The Physical Address field will display the device's MAC address
  6. The IP address field will display your current IP address
  7. The DNS Servers field will list the DNS servers currently used by the device
  1. Open System Preferences ( > System Preferences) and select the Network pane
  2. Select the interface (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc) that appears at the top of the left-side list (this is your primary network connection)
  3. Click the ‘Advanced...’ button at the bottom right of the pane
  4. The TCP/IP tab will display your current IP address
  5. The Hardware tab will display the device’s MAC address
  6. The DNS tab will list the DNS servers currently used by the device

Resetting DNS

Background

When accessing the internet, a device will use DNS (Domain Name System) servers to translate domains (e.g. unimelb.edu.au) into global Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. These are typically matched to the router's DNS configuration when your device connects to a network, however they can be set manually.

Some DNS servers may be more suitable for your needs than others. Changing your DNS server can help increase web browsing speed, provide extra security, or allow anonymity. Unless you have a reason for using a different DNS server, it is probably best to use the servers automatically provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or network administrator.

Instructions

  1. Click the Start menu, or press the Windows key
  2. Type Control Panel into the search box and open
  3. Select Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings
  4. Find your primary network connection (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc), right-click and select Properties
  5. In the Properties window, select the Networking tab
  6. Locate and select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) in the list and click the 'Properties' button
  7. If not already selected, choose 'Obtain DNS server address automatically' and click OK
  8. Repeat steps 6-7 for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
  9. Click the 'Close' button in Properties and close the Network and Sharing Center window
  1. Open System Preferences ( > System Preferences) and select the Network pane
  2. Select the interface (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc) at the top of the left-side list. This is your primary network connection*
  3. Click the ‘Advanced...’ button at the bottom right of the pane
  4. Select the DNS tab
  5. If the addresses appear greyed-out, they have already been automatically matched to the router’s configuration. If editable, select the addresses and remove them using the Delete key or minus button below the list
  6. Click the 'OK' button, then click the 'Apply' button in the Network pane, and close System Preferences