Software Download for Computer Networking Classes

BRCC subscribes to the Microsoft Academic Alliance.  Through the Academic Alliance, students are allowed to download and install software on their personal computers for the purpose of completing course assignments.  Each software product is licensed by the student.  Students do not have to remove the software at the conclusion of the semester; however, these products may not be used for personal gain.  In addition, the products that students download are not eligible for product upgrades in the future. 

FAQs

1. How do I get my account?

When you are enrolled in a qualifying class, your name will be loaded into the MSDN database.  This occurs during the second week of the semester.  When your account is created, you will be notified through your VCCS student email.

2. What are my options for getting the software?

• All products are available for download. 
• Some products (Microsoft Visual Studio.NET, Microsoft Visio, and Microsoft Windows XP) are available to through a media purchase program.  If you opt to purchase the media, please be aware that you are dealing with e-academy on the financial aspect of the purchase and not Blue Ridge Community College.)

3. How do I download the software?

Complete instructions can be found at: Downloading Software from MSDNAA.pdf

4. Can I download the software at home?

Download times will be shown on the screen for each product.  However, if you have a 56kb modem, a download may take 24 hours.  Students can download the software in the BRCC computer labs in about 15 minutes and burn a CD with the software to install at home. 

5. How do I burn a CD?

Microsoft Academic Alliance Software will unpack into one of two formats:

• Some software is simply a directory of files.  You simply need to move all of these files onto the CD.  You can use the Microsoft facility for creating CDs or you can use Nero which is installed in the computer lab.  Directions for creating a CD with Nero can be found here.
• Some products (especially operating systems) will come as an ISO CD image.  If you look at your downloaded files, there will only be a very large single file.  You must use the process to make a CD from an image found here.  If you simply copy the ISO file onto a CD you will not be able to install the product at home.

6. How long will my account be available?

Accounts are created during the second week of each semester and deleted at the conclusion of each semester.  If you take another IT course next semester, you will be re-added at that time.

7. I lost my email with the URL of the site.  Where do I go?

http://msdn05.e-academy.com/elms/Storefront/Home.aspx?campus=brcc_ist