Network Engineering

DNS/DHCP @ Oregon State University

What is DNS?
Network devices identify each other with their unique, dotted-octet IP addresses. In order to make it easier to remember a specific device, without remembering it's unique IP address we use DNS ( Domain Name Service ). DNS maps a IP Address --> a specific name. For example ns1.oregonstate.edu maps to 128.193.0.10. The names are hierarchal, text codes separated by dots with the most specific information at the name's beginning becoming more general after each dot.

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.

What is VMPS
VMPS allows you to assign switch ports to VLANs dynamically, based on the source MAC address of the device connected to the port. In other words you can register a computer on any vlaned subnet and have it still pick up an IP address. This is very useful if you need to bring computers from different subnets into the same physical location, and you want them to pick up an IP address.

Registering your computer on Campus

Resnet / Public Network: If you need help registering your computer on Resnet's network or in one of the Public Network locations please contact IS Computer Consulting at (541) 737-3474, or check thier website for documentation

All other registration managed by Network Engineering is done via Maintain, an open source program developed at Oregon State University. If you need access to Maintain please contact Maintain at net.oregonstate.edu. Visit https://maintain.oregonstate.edu to register hosts on your network.