Please, never give anyone your passwords, whether via email, phone, or in person. Even OSU support staff will not ask you for your password. Each year, roughly 40 OSU user accounts are hacked because a person gave someone else their password.

On a related note, do not show login information to anyone and keep any passwords you write down in a safe place. Do not slap a sticky note onto your computer monitor with your password, as that is manifestly unsafe.

It is your responsibility to read and understand OSU IT policies, including those related to security, and we thank you in advance for taking the time to do this.

If at any point you run into problems with your work technologies or with the account and device setup encountered in this guide, contact your IT consultant (also known as a Department Computer Administrator, or DCA). A consultant can orient you to your department's IT processes, provide you with email settings, help resolve hardware or software problems, and provide security consulting.

If you have an ONID account (more on that in a moment), you can look up your DCA on the Network Engineering website. Alternately, you can ask your supervisor or call the OSU Computer Helpdesk at 541-737-3474 and ask them to help you identify your DCA.

Helpdocs

Yet another good help resource is the OSU Helpdocs website. There you will find hundreds of FAQs, setup guides, and technology tips. It's particularly handy for quick help, how-tos, and late night queries.

OSU Network Identification (ONID) is a universal computer account for all OSU students and employees. Your ONID gives you access to the myOSU portal, Blackboard, InterLibrary Loan, and many other online services and networks.

Have you already created an ONID account?

Here's how you create an ONID account.

1. Go to onid.oregonstate.edu (link opens in new window).
2. Click on the "Sign Up For ONID" link in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Enter your OSU ID number (the 9 digit number you were assigned by OSU), your birthdate, and your first and last name.
4. Click Submit.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Be sure to write down your new ONID username and password, and do not share it with anyone!

At the end of this process, you will have your final ONID account login information. Remember that your ONID login gives you access to a large number of campus systems, so keep your login info secure. Don't give your password to anyone!

Need more help?

Should you run into problems or if you need more detailed instructions, please visit the ONID Sign-Up Instructions web page. If you continue to experience issues after reviewing those instructions, you may call the OSU Computer Helpdesk for assistance at 541-737-3474.

Most faculty and staff will have an Exchange account, which includes an @oregonstate.edu email address. There are several differences between your Exchange account and your ONID account.

• You will probably use your Exchange account, rather than your ONID account, as your primary account to send and receive email.
• When you access Exchange resources, you will be asked for a username and a password. These are not the same as for your ONID account.
• Whereas the OSU Computer Helpdesk provides support for your ONID account, your department employs separate staff to support your Exchange account.

Do you have an Exchange account?

Before you try to set up any device, you need the following information and settings to configure your Exchange clients:

• Your Exchange username (not the same as your email address)
• Your initial password (which you will change)
• Your email address
• The domain you work in
• The preferred email client your department wants you to use

Remember that your IT consultant can provide you with this information. And if you run into problems getting connected, have your IT consultant help you out.

Configure Exchange on Your OSU Computer

A variety of clients are available for Mac and Windows computers. The preferred client will usually be provided by your department.

Configure Exchange on Your Mobile Device(s)

Naturally, you may also configure Exchange on your personal or department-provided mobile device(s).

• Android OS
• iPhone/iPad
• Blackberry

Exchange Webmail

Exchange Webmail can be accessed at exmail.oregonstate.edu. At the login screen, enter your domain\username combination and your password. Ask your IT Consultant for additional help if needed.

OSU_Secure enables data encrypted internet connections on campus. The general settings used for the OSU_Secure network are:

• SSID: OSU_Secure
• Security: WPA2 Enterprise
• EAP Method: PEAP (PEAPv0/EAP-MSCHAPv2)
• Key Type: AES (or automatic)
• Phase2 Type: MSCHAPv2
• Username: ONID Username
• Password: ONID Password

More detailed instructions for your device and operating system, should you need them, are available at the OSU_Secure help document.

1. Get the default voice mailbox password from your department telephone coordinator.
2. Dial 7-7111.
3. Login with the default password and press the pound key.
4. A tutorial will play and prompt you to:
   • Change your password. Your password must be between 5-15 digits, cannot start with a zero, cannot be your phone number, cannot be repetitive (e.g.-77777), and cannot be consecutive numbers (e.g.-123456).
   • Record your name
   • Record a personal greeting
   • Record a 'please hold' prompt (optional)
5. Please allow at least 10 minutes before accessing your mailbox again to allow setup to complete.

Your department telephone coordinator should also give you an Authorization Code or Calling Card for long distance calls.

Information Services provides an array of resources that help you teach, network, and connect. Below are just a few of these resources. A more complete list is in the above panel of IS services.

• Technology Across the Curriculum provides in-person consulting, online tutorials, and webinars on a variety of instructional subjects, from Blackboard to pedagogy to using social and immersive media.
• Classroom Technologies provides specially-equipped Enhanced Classrooms and state-of-the-art instructional technology. The unit works with faculty and students to test, evaluate and integrate new classroom applications and promotes an enriched learning environment at OSU.
• Video cameras, still cameras, laptops, and other multimedia equipment can be checked out by faculty from Student Multimedia Services for use in or out of the classroom.
• Professional Development Courses cover an array of IS-related topics from Web Programming to administrative applications such as Banner and Data Warehouse. Professional Development Courses are also available for non-IS topics such as Benefits and Manager Training.
• IS Training is your central resource for training opportunities in Drupal, Banner, Administrative Data Systems, and more.
• Helpdocs houses a large and growing number of technical help documents about OSU-specific technology.

And again, don't forget that the OSU Computer Helpdesk and your IT support (DCA) are there to help you throughout your time at Oregon State.

Please, never give anyone your passwords, whether via email, phone, or in person. Even OSU support staff will not ask you for your password. Each year, roughly 40 OSU user accounts are hacked because a person gave someone else their password.

On a related note, do not show login information to anyone and keep any passwords you write down in a safe place. Do not slap a sticky note onto your computer monitor with your password, as that is manifestly unsafe.

When using wireless networks, use a secure connection, even if you're just connecting to Facebook. Later in this guide, we'll show you how to connect to OSU_Secure when on campus.

It is your responsibility to read and understand OSU IT policies, including those related to security and the acceptable use of the university's computing resources.

OSU Network Identification (ONID) is a universal computer account for all OSU students and employees.

Your ONID gives you access to Blackboard, computer labs, InterLibrary Loan, and many other online services and networks. You also get an ONID email account, and instructors typically communicate with students via ONID email.

Have you already created an ONID account?

Here's how you create an ONID account.

1. Go to onid.oregonstate.edu (link opens in new window).
2. Click on the "Sign Up For ONID" link in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Enter your OSU ID number (the 9 digit number you were assigned by OSU), your birthdate, and your first and last name.
4. Click Submit.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Be sure to write down your new ONID username and password, and do not share it with anyone!

At the end of this process, you will have your final ONID account login information. Remember that your ONID login gives you access to a large number of campus systems, so keep your login info secure. Don't give your password to anyone!

Need more help?

Should you run into problems or if you need more detailed instructions, please visit the ONID Sign-Up Instructions web page. If you continue to experience issues after reviewing those instructions, you may call the OSU Computer Helpdesk for assistance at 541-737-3474.

One of the things you can do with your ONID account is connect to Blackboard, which is used for most (but not all) classes offered at OSU.

Blackboard is OSU's Learning Management System (LMS). It can be a virtual classroom, or it can augment the in-person classroom experience. Blackboard allows instructors to administer tests and quizzes, post grades and lecture notes, and host discussion boards. Through Blackboard, students are able to contact their instructors and classmates, keep a calendar, and maintain an address book.

You will login to Blackboard at my.oregonstate.edu with your ONID username and password. Remember that a username is not the same thing as an email address. So if your ONID email address is doej@onid.oregonstate.edu, then your ONID username is just doej.

If you have questions about using Blackboard, or specific problems, please see our Blackboard helpdoc.

Most instructors require that you communicate via your ONID email rather than through a private messaging system. OSU has a webmail client that provides basic funtions for webmail accounts, sending and receiving email, account settings, etc.

Using the Webmail Client

As with Blackboard, you will need to log in using your ONID username and password. Remember to just use your ONID username and not your full email address.

Login to webmail at https://webmail.oregonstate.edu/imp/login.php

Using an Email Client

If you would prefer to use an email client such as Outlook, Thunderbird or Mac Mail, please access the ONID email client configuration helpdoc for guidance.

OSU has a variety of wireless networks depending on the audience and their need. Generally, we recommend that students use the OSU_Secure network when on campus.

Hardware Information

Information Services advises students purchasing laptops and tablets to purchase a device with a dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) wireless adapter so that they are able to access the network at the higher speed 5 GHz band.

• All Macintosh computers and iPads ship with a 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz dual-band adapter for high-speed access.
• Although many Windows laptops ship with dual-band adapters, not all do, and it is often not obvious what kind of adapter is included. Look for adapters that might be described as:
  • 802.11abgn
  • 802.11a/n (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz)
  • 802.11n (5 GHz)
  • Dual-band
• Many smartphones are only capable of accessing the 2.4 GHz band.

Please consult the OSU Computer Helpdesk if you have questions about purchasing or upgrading equipment that lets you access the high-speed network.

Register, Then Connect

To connect to an OSU wireless network, the device should first be registered to Maintain (link opens in new window). Maintain is a network management software that registers users onto the wireless network on campus. Then you'll be ready to connect.

If you live in a dorm on campus, you'll be able to use the ResNet wireless network (in addition to the wired ResNet network). And all persons who have an ONID account may access the OSU_Secure wireless network throughout campus.

OSU_Secure

OSU_Secure is an option for those on campus who require data encryption while accessing the Internet. It uses a 48-bit initialization vector and a 128-bit encryption key and utilizes Temporary Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) to achieve security.

We strongly recommend that you connect to the Internet using a secure connection, even if you just plan to hang out on Facebook for a bit.

Wireless Connection Setup

For complete instructions, please see the OSU_Secure helpdoc (scroll down the page for the list of supported operating systems and links to specific setup instructions).

Oregon State University urges students to have a laptop powerful enough for the computational requirements necessary for coursework and a successful learning experience. These are not requirements. These recommendations are a baseline and do not replace recommendations (or requirements) made by specific colleges.

Please note that if you are purchasing a new lower-cost laptop, or if you have an existing laptop, you may wish to upgrade the hardware to meet these recommendations. Please consult the OSU Computer Helpdesk if you have questions about purchasing equipment or upgrading an existing laptop.

• Processor: 2 Ghz (Intel Core i5 or i7 / AMD A8 or AMD A10 APU)
• RAM: 4 GB
• Hard drive: 7200 RPM or Solid State
• Wireless adapter: 5 Ghz-capable, often labeled as 802.11a/n, 802.11abgn, or dual-band
• Battery: 9 cell battery for 8-12 hours of battery life
• Display: 1366 x 768 minimum; design-heavy coursework can require 1920 x 1080
• Warranty: Three year warranty is recommended

Thoughts on Mobile Devices

While tablets and smartphones are not currently integral in most learning environments, their use in learning is increasing daily. They are also integral to student life. They are not, however, typically a suitable replacement for a traditional computer or laptop. If you do purchase a mobile device, a device with good battery life and support for 5 GHz wireless will enhance your experience at OSU.

Outside of the classroom, Information Services provides many computing and multimedia resources for students. Most of these resources can be accessed at no charge, as they are funded in part or in whole by the Technology Resource Fund (TRF).

Equipment Checkout

Video cameras, still cameras, laptops, and other multimedia equipment can be checked out from Student Multimedia Services. Equipment is checked out on a first-come, first-served basis and is only available to currently enrolled students for course- or research-related work. The SMS checkout desk is located in the Valley Library. Check out the SMS website for details.

Printing Services

Professional and large-format printing is available from Student Multimedia Services, located in the Valley Library. Services include thesis printing and poster printing with lamination. Some printing services are free, while others are provided at low cost.

Standard printing is available from a variety of locations on campus. Charges cover ink, paper and printer maintenance costs. Printing charges on campus are not the same in all locations, so be sure to consult our ONID printing chart for details.

We encourage everyone to keep paper consumption to a minimum. As a part of its Greening IT initiative, Information Services has published tips on how to reduce paper consumption.

Computing Labs

The Virtual Computing Lab allows students and faculty to run OSU software virtually. The lab can be accessed on and off campus with client software called Remote Desktop Connection (RDC).

Four large, general use computing labs are spread around the Corvallis campus. These labs are available for all students. Various colleges and departments have their own computing labs, so be sure to check with them to discover all your options.

Computer Help Resources

Don't forget that the OSU Computer Helpdesk is here to help you throughout your time at Oregon State, and the Helpdocs site is available 24/7 with hundreds of tech tips and setup guides.