DNS/DHCP Maintenance

Our DNS/DHCP tables are maintained by scripts from our network database.
Please see: How to Add a Computer to the PHAS Network.

Switch/Comm. Room Maintenance

Since our network switch upgrade (Fall 2006), we shouldn't need to go into the comm. rooms. We can use the Transmogrifier to assign ports to Vlans.

The Transmogrifier:

This is the web interface to the UBC circuit and switch databases. All of the detailed information as to which piece of cable goes where and which switch port it is connected to are kept here. We can access information on all 3 network in Hennings/Hebb as well as the Ampel (Brimacombe) and Chem/Phys networks. The first thing you will usually want to do in the Transmogrifier is select which network you are interested in from the Home Page.

There are actually two databases:

The Switch Database, [Show Database Settings] button, contains detailed information about each switch port. If you hit the [Show Database and Switch Settings] button it will even go out and poll the switches for information (warning, restrict your list of switches or this could take a long time). We are responsible for maintaining the Info, Location and Contact fields ([Change Settings Page] button).
The Circuit Database is where (hopefully) all the circuits installed at UBC are entered by the installers. The only time we need to do anything with this database is when we move a port from one network to the other or connect up a new port in Hennings/Hebb. We can't see this database at all for the Brimacombe and Chem/Physics Bldgs.

A complete help manual on the Transmogrifier is outside the ambitions of this document. Assuming that you will just give Mary Ann a detailed description of any network changes you make and ask her to enter it in the Trans ... the most likely reason you will want to consult the Trans is to find out which network a given outlet is on. To do this:

if you have the circuit# or outlet label you can use the "Show ONLY the single port or outlet" feature on the Home Page, otherwise ...
from the Home Page select your best guess as a network and click [Show Database Settings]
the resulting list will be sorted by Bldg. and Room#
if you don't see what you're looking for, try another network
you might want to limit your activities to a particular switch, so note the "check all" and "uncheck all" links and the checkboxes by the switch names
also worthy of note is the [Show Address] button - this will show you the ip addresses currently using each port of a switch

Ampel Vlans:
The switches in the Brimacombe Bldg. are configured to manage several Vlans, of which "PHYSICS" is one. We are designated as Network Managers and are the only non-NMC staff that can move ports from one Vlan to another via the Transmogrifier. Sometimes we get requests from the Network Observers (IT types in other departments) to do just that. If you get a request for an ip address in the ampel.ubc.ca domain just forward it to nmc@ubc.ca.

Chem/Phys Vlans:
The switches in the Chem/Physics Bldg. are also configured for Vlans, however we are merely Network Observers, so can request Vlan changes from