Information Services

What is DNS?

DNS stands for "domain name service". In essence, it is a directory of names that point to services on the local network or the Internet. Computers communicate with each other over the Internet via IP addresses (e.g. 128.193.4.20). DNS provides human-friendly names for these IP addresses. For example: the DNS name www.oregonstate.edu points to the IP address 128.193.4.112.

What is DHCP?

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an Internet protocol for automating the configuration of computers on a network. DHCP can be used to automatically assign IP addresses, to deliver TCP/IP stack configuration parameters such as the subnet mask and default router, and to provide other configuration information such as the addresses for DNS servers.

Registering Your Computer on the OSU Network

Most OSU network registration is done via Maintain, an open source application developed at OSU. For general help with Maintain, network registration, or activating your ONID account, please contact the OSU Computer Helpdesk.

• Departmental Computer Administrators (DCAs)
  DCAs have access to Maintain to register network devices for use on departmental networks. If you are a DCA and need access to Maintain, please contact Network Engineering (net@oregonstate.edu).
• Employees
  Employees needing a device registered should contact their DCA. Employees may also register their own wireless devices by logging into Maintain with their ONID account.
• Students Using Wireless
  You may register your own wireless devices by logging into Maintain with your ONID account. For help, see Helpdocs: Wireless Registration.
• Students in the Residence Halls
  Directions for registering your computer on the Residence Hall Network (ResNet) are here: Helpdocs:ResNet.