Now, in order to make the change to roaming ethernet, Harvard is upgrading to a switch system, because of concerns that roaming ethernet would compromise the safety and reliability of a hub system.

Under a switch system, the network directs data so that it goes only to its intended user.

Davis, who is also a Crimson editor, said that HASCS has been hesitant to undertake substantial changes to the network until just the right moment presented itself.

"There is, of course, a risk that things will not go well," Davis said. "This change will be as large a change to the FAS network as has occurred in the eight or so years it's been around."

The upgrade will mean that users running Windows 3.1, or older versions of Mac OS, will no longer be able to connect to the FAS network.

Additionally, students remaining over the summer will not be able to host web pages on their computers--although Davis said that further software upgrades should allow for this capability by the time students return in the fall.

In order to take advantage of the change, students will need to re-run HASCS's net-connect utility.