Getting Started
MSU NetID
netid.msu.edu
To access many MSU websites and online resources including campus e-mail and library services, you must have an MSU NetID. To activate your MSU NetID visit netid.msu.edu, click on “Activate NetID,” and follow the steps outlined.
Accessing E-mail
mail.msu.edu
The MSU e-mail system, available at mail.msu.edu, provides all MSU faculty, staff, and students with accounts, limited personal storage space on a central Web server, and unlimited storage space for course materials. MSU mail accounts are also accessible using any of the standard mail interfaces (e.g., Eudora and Outlook). Your MSU e-mail account is activated once your MSU NetID and password have been set up. At that time, your e-mail address will be generated automatically from your user name. For example, Sparty may have a NetID as “sparty,” thus, his e-mail address is sparty@msu.edu. This Web-based e-mail program is available on and off campus or via another computer (e.g. in a computer lab).
Connecting to the Network
dhcp.msu.edu
To connect to MSU’s network, you must register your computer with DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). If you do not register with DHCP, you will not be able to access off-campus Internet sites. To register your computer with DHCP, make sure your computer is connected to a working Ethernet jack, open your Web browser and type in dhcp.msu.edu, enter your MSU NetID and password to login, and follow the instructions listed. A laptop computer registered on the DHCP system obtains instant Internet access from any of the thousands of DHCP ports located in classrooms and other areas throughout the campus.
Computing and Technology Service Status Reports
This site is used to display critical events and scheduled maintenance for services that the ATS and AIS sections of Libraries, Computing and Technology provide to the university community. It may on occasion be used to display information about other campus services if an event creates calls to LCT Help Desks or if the event is critical enough to affect a major portion of campus such as a power failure. Visit servicestatus.msu.edu to obtain the status of MSU’s computing and information technology operations.
File Storage
netfiles.msu.edu
MSU provides free remote file storage space called AFS (Andrew File System). This space can be used to store files, publish web pages, and access files using any Web browser. AFS space enables MSU students, faculty, and staff members to store documents (e.g., papers and research reports) on the network and to post personal Web pages to the Internet. Files saved to AFS space can be accessed over the Internet with netfiles.msu.edu. For help accessing and publishing files on AFS, visit afs.msu.edu or call MSU’s ATS Help Desk at (517) 432-6200.
Electronic Directory
MSU publishes faculty, staff, and student contact information online (name, address, phone number, and e-mail address). Faculty, staff, and student directory information may be searched online by clicking “Find People” at msu.edu. Information for this directory is pulled from the MSU Faculty Staff Retiree Address system (fsra.msu.edu).
Wireless Access
wireless.msu.edu
MSUnet Wireless, the centrally managed wireless Internet service, provides wireless users with the flexibility to roam the MSU campus. MSU’s wireless network supports all of the current Wi-Fi standards — 802.11a, b, g, and n. Authentication using your MSU NetID and password is required to gain full access to the MSUnet Wireless network. Guest access is also available.
