Introduction

This page explains Biola's use of DNS services, and explains how to request a DNS name for a service.

Policy Statement

Domain Name Service (DNS) is an internet service that translates meaningful alphabetic names into numeric IP addresses which are given to computers, services or any resource participating in the Internet. DNS translates hostnames into IP addresses and IP addresses to hostnames. An example is www.biola.edu which translates to 199.19.144.31.

This policy defines the use of Biola domain name services (which Biola IT operates for the University) to serve Biola domain names to the world, and also defines Biola’s use of external DNS services. Biola domain names are those registered and owned by Biola (at large) to represent Biola’s presence in the Internet. Biola domain names consist of biola.edu, relevant Biola-owned IP network reverse mapping domains, and domains such as biola.org which have been obtained to protect names associated with Biola in the Internet domain name space.

DNS Name Server Management

Biola IT retains official responsibility for maintenance of the top level DNS servers for Biola University. DNS services are maintained by systems and network administrators that adhere to University policies and practices related to server administration and security. The DNS servers are highly available (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Top Level Domains

Biola.edu is the top level domain.

DNS/DHCP Client Services

Biola IT utilizes Cisco Umbrella as the upstream DNS service provider for all Biola University network users. This effectively overrides pre-configured or hard coded DNS addresses defined on client devices. 

By policy, the use of the following DNS and DHCP services are enforced as follows:

• All hosts on Biola networks are policy enforced to use Biola’s DNS systems.
• All hosts connected to Biola networks receive a dynamic biola.edu DNS name.
• No host connected to Biola networks shall be addressable by any DNS name other than that provided by Biola.
• No host operating on Biola’s network shall use an upstream DNS server other than that automatically assigned by Biola’s DNS/DHCP services or by the campus firewall.
• All hosts on Biola networks shall either obtain and use a static IP address or use the Biola DHCP service to obtain an assigned IP address. Users shall not use a self-assigned IP address, or operate a DHCP server.

DNS Record Requests

Requirements

DNS Requests must contain a sub-domain name as well as the Biola.edu top level name (i.e. it.biola.edu). In this example, “it” is the sub-domain and “biola.edu” is the top level name. 

Domain name registrations must be requested by appropriate Biola faculty or administrative staff in their role(s) as Biola departmental staff. These Biola affiliated people and departments are the sponsor(s) of the registering organization's requested use of Biola’s domain name services. 

The responsible sponsoring person must provide a purpose for the requested domain name and identify the sponsor's department and role at Biola. The request should be provided to Biola IT via the Biola DNS Name Request Form.

DNS Naming Conventions

1. DNS names represent the university and should reflect a university, department, service association or school affiliation.
2. Names must be made in the best interest of the University and must not be offensive in any way.
3. Biola has the right to refuse any name if it is deemed inappropriate.
4. Names may also be refused if the requested name may cause confusion about the true purpose of the system.
5. Only domain name registrations that are clearly noncommercial, not-for-profit, and not for personal benefit are considered.
6. Domain name registrations must be clearly acceptable to Biola administration from the point of view of associating the name and purpose with Biola’s supported services.
7. Domain name registrations should express Biola’s (global) organizational interests.
8. Domain name registrations should be logically justified in obtaining service in Biola’s domain name service by virtue of employing Biola’s network, Internet connectivity, and (possibly) Biola owned computer systems for provision of services in the registered domain.
9. Names that apply to a service should be as specific as possible. Requests for generic domain names may be refused if the service will not be used by a significant subset of the Biola community.