Steam + School Firewall = ?

Endaro

So, originally I tried posting this in the Steam thread on the games portion of G&T, but that thread moves pretty quickly and was soon glazed over. Then I was going to post it in Moe's Tech Tav, but I read that's intended for discussion rather than questions, so I'm hoping you tech savvies out there can help:

So here's a question. I have a pretty capable computer available to me at school, which runs on the schools network. I can download and install steam just fine, but whenever I try to open it and it begins to update, I get the "Unable to load library Steam.dll" error and it quits. According to Steam's website, it has to do with conflicts with the firewall/router, so in this case the school network's firewall.

I can't change anything with the firewall from my com, obviously its run by some guys in a bunker somewhere on campus. Is there any hope for me to get Steam working?

Any help would be appreciated. I don't think I have much of a chance, but it's really the only PC I have available that can play modern games and it would be a shame not to be able to use it for L4D/TF2.

ViolentChemistry

Get an apartment instead of living in the dorms. If that's not an option, you're kind of bound by the university's terms-of-use for their internet.

Sentry

JUst call your IT guys and explain the situation. They will either A) Be able to help or Not be able to or be unwilling to help.

Either way, they are the only ones that can fix this.

Endaro

Figured, was worth a shot. It's a bit complicated. See, technically it's my work computer, for where I am employed on campus. Using it for games and such is fine with my boss, I'm here all the time outside of by working hours. The IT department on the other hand would probably approve less, and possibly others. Also, that is why I cannot take the com with me to some other network.

Was just curious if there was some harmless work around possible from my end.

ViolentChemistry

Endaro wrote: »

Figured, was worth a shot. It's a bit complicated. See, technically it's my work computer, for where I am employed on campus. Using it for games and such is fine with my boss, I'm here all the time outside of by working hours. The IT department on the other hand would probably approve less, and possibly others. Also, that is why I cannot take the com with me to some other network.

Was just curious if there was some harmless work around possible from my end.

I'm confident there are any number of ways of getting around it, but find it incredibly likely that their terms of use disallow most or all of those ways. If you posted the terms of use for your schools network resources we might be able to sift through them and find out.

Endaro

Edit: This is what I can find so far:

Access Approval

Access to and use of the [school name] telecommunications equipment, facilities and networks must be authorized by the appropriate faculty member, computer laboratory director, supervisor or administrator. Students using computer classroom or laboratory facilities will be expected to adhere to the guidelines for student conduct published in the Student Conduct Code. Commercial use of telecommunications equipment or facilities except for the development of course-related materials by faculty or staff is not permitted unless approved in advance by the governing board. Commercial product advertising must also be approved in advance by the governing board. Use of District property including telecommunications resources for political activities as defined by California Education Code Section 7054 is prohibited. (See Definitions.) In the event that these procedures are not followed, the District may initiate disciplinary action including the withdrawal of permission to use District telecommunications resources. An appeal of such disciplinary action would conform to the guidelines relating to student conduct, "Academic Due Process," the "Handbook of Policies Covering Classified Employees in the Bargaining Unit Represented by the CCE/AFT," or the Administrative Team Handbook" as appropriate. While District telecommunication technicians may monitor transmissions for purposes of network traffic administration, it is the District’s policy not to monitor transmissions for content except when required to do so in the normal course of business, in a criminal investigation, in response to a lawfully issued subpoena or valid court order, or when specific written permission to do so is granted by the Superintendent/President. (See Definitions -- "content," "normal course of business.")

User Responsibilities

The individual user is responsible for maintaining the security of any passwords to accounts that are issued. These passwords must be kept confidential by taking care that others do not learn them through carelessness on the part of the authorized user.

The user must not attempt to mislead a potential reader about the origin of a message.

The user must not attempt any malicious act which would threaten the integrity of the District telecommunications equipment, programs, or facilities. Attempts to gain unauthorized access to files, data or programs or to introduce a virus on a District computer or network are to be construed as malicious acts and may result in disciplinary action. The user must respect the privacy of others and the security of the system. The user must obey federal and state laws relating to the communication or receipt of threats, harassment, obscenity or pornography.

VIOLATIONS

All suspected violations of the [school name] Network and Telecommunications User Policy or these procedures shall be reported to the appropriate District director, chairperson or administrator who shall determine what action is necessary in keeping with legal obligation and District policies.

Bolded the seemingly most applicable section. It's all pretty vague.

ViolentChemistry

There's usually a blanket "circumventing network security" prohibition of some sort.

dispatch.o

Wait, you have access to a computer? You don't own this computer?

Is it in a lab?

If it's a school owned computer you're probably just flat fucked and I certainly wouldn't try and fiddle with anything to get around it, TF2 isn't worth it. Get your own computer and move off campus if you want to play games.

If you really want to push it, call your school network center and ask them some semi-anonymous questions. If they say no, the answer you should accept is probably no.