If you are moving to a new office or building, contacting the computer and communications help desk staff in the Information Technologies and Services Division before moving day can make the transition go more smoothly.

While ITSD staff won't pack boxes or move furniture, they can help make sure your new office has the right network connections, your printers work in the new location, your servers remain reachable, and accurate information about your new whereabouts is posted in the Lab's electronic directory.

For starters, as long as your new workspace has a network connection, it's likely that your computer will automatically be given an IP (Internet Protocol) address once you connect to the network. The IP address is what allows your computer to "talk" with other computers, networks and equipment, including printers.

However, if you are moving a network-attached printer, it is reasonable to assume you will be re-attaching it to the LBNL network (LBLnet) in a different "subnet." When this happens the IP address of the printer will have to change. Most of the printers that are set up for use by Novell and UNIX Distributed Printing customers have "static" addresses and these addresses need to be changed manually when the printers are moved.

"It is best to call the Help Desk anytime a printer is being moved," said Desktop Support Manager Charlie Verboom. "Let us worry about the various changes that have to be made to keep you working when the move is completed."

If you own a server, be aware that it probably also has a static address that needs to be changed to match the new location, Verboom added. "This is another situation that will require someone with the right technical background to help out."

If you have any doubts, please call the ITSD Help Desk staff at x4357 (xHELP).

Something else to consider: When you move, how will people know where you have moved to? ITSD maintains the Lab's electronic directory. To update your location, click on the "Update your directory listing." link and fill out the form.