# Network and time settings > Academium SMS Help › Your school server > For: School Owner, School Admin · Server Edition > Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-network-and-time > Last updated: 2026-10-06 The **Network** tab controls how the server appears on your school network. Most schools never need to change it. If your school has a person who looks after its computers, this tab is for them. > **Note:** **Need a school network set up, or help with this tab?** Contact **Academium Plus** or Academium support for a **free quote**. They can design and install a network for your school, including cabling, switches and Wi-Fi. ## Interfaces A server can have more than one network connection, such as a cable and Wi-Fi. - **Broadcast interfaces**: tick each connection staff can reach the server on. These decide which addresses appear on the Overview tab and in the phone code. Changing them restarts the server. - **★ Set primary**: pins one connection as the server's main address. The others remain as back-up addresses. - **Set static** / **Set all to static IP**: fixes the server's address so it does not change. A server whose address keeps changing is hard for staff to find. On Windows, the tab includes step-by-step instructions for fixing the address in Windows Settings or the Control Panel, including for Windows 8 and 7. ### Being found automatically *(Linux)* **Advertise on the network** lets the Client Edition and other computers find the server by themselves. Leave it on. ## DHCP: schools without a router Normally your router gives each computer its network address. If your school has no network yet, Academium Plus can set one up; contact them or Academium support for a free quote. If your school's computers are connected through a simple network switch **without a router**, the server can hand out addresses instead. 1. Connect all the computers to the same network switch. 2. Give the server the fixed address **192.168.100.1** on the connected adapter. 3. Start the Academium server, then turn on **DHCP Server**. 4. Leave the other computers set to get their address automatically, which is the Windows default. 5. Staff open Academium at the address on the Overview tab. Under **IP Address Pool**, choose the range of addresses handed out. On Linux, stop DHCP to change the range. Changes apply the next time it starts. **Connected devices** lists each computer that has an address. **Fix an address** to give a computer the same one permanently, which is useful when seats are labelled, for example in a computer lab. > **Warning:** Do not turn on DHCP on a network that already has a router. Two devices handing out addresses causes connection problems. ## The school's clock: time server Accurate time matters: attendance dates, receipts and records all depend on it. - **Internet sync** keeps the server's clock right from the internet. On Windows, setting the clock asks for administrator permission; choose **Yes**. - **Set manually** sets the date and time yourself, for a server with no internet. - The **timezone** is fixed to Lagos time (WAT) on every Academium server. The server can also be the **time server** for the school's computers, so every computer agrees on the time. The Client Edition syncs with it automatically every hour. For other Windows computers, the tab shows a command to run once on each one. ## Sharing a computer with a Surepass server If Academium SMS and the **Surepass** server run on the same computer, only one of them hands out addresses and the time. They agree this between themselves, and the tab shows which one is serving the network. - **Windows:** the SMS server always takes over these services when a Surepass server connects. - **Linux:** you can **hand over** the services to the other server. To move them back, hand over from the other server's control panel. No setup is needed. ## With Academium Surepass See [Network and time on the Surepass server](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-network-and-time.md) for the Surepass side, where the Surepass server shows as **Standby Server**. --- Need a server computer, a Windows licence, a school network or a computer lab? **Academium Plus**, from the same company as this product, supplies and sets them up, with a **free quote**: https://my.academium.com.ng/support