Web FAQ 2.06. Common problems you may encounter

Web FAQ → Section 2: Using ITS Web Space → 2.6. Common problems you may encounter → 2.6d.

Q. I can't connect to sftp.personal.psu.edu to edit my Web page. The error message says that my computer is not in the Domain Name Service (DNS) and has to be registered. What does this mean and what do I need to do?

A. You need to register your computer!

Your computer network administrator must register your computer in the Domain Name Service (DNS). DNS is a internet protocol that lets programs figure out what your machine is called. For example, you are reading this file on a machine named f05s13.cac.psu.edu. More information about DNS can be found in the Your Guide to Information Technology at Penn State at http:/css.its.psu.edu/internet/dns.html.

For security/logging reasons, the server will reject all connections coming from a machine that it can't find a name for. Therefore, your computer needs to be registered. The machine that has to be registered is the machine you are running the client on. The person responsible for the network to which the machine belongs is the person who can register the computer.

• If you are trying to connect from a Penn State machine, TNS has a contact list (for security reason, this page is accessible to Penn State affiliated individuals only) that lists the people who can correct this problem.

  • First, figure out the IP address of your computer. The IP address consists of 4 numbers separated by periods and should be displayed somewhere on the front of your machine (e.g. 128.118.11.80).

  • After you find the IP address, go to the contact list home page and find the subnet for your computer. For example, if my IP address is 128.118.11.80, then the subnet for my computer is 128.118.11.1-94.

  • Finally, send e-mail to the technical contact associated with the subnet for your computer (this e-mail address is the second e-mail address listed). Specify the IP address of your machine and that you would like to have it registered.

• If you are using AOL, then you will need to contact AOL.

• If you are using a local ISP, then you will need to contact the local ISP.