Introduction

Apply for a CSEE Computer Account

The CSEE Computer Account is to access the CSEE Solaris and Linux systems (both lab workstations and logins from a remote location). This account will give you a personal Web site, an email address, and a quota-enabled disk space.

First you need to get a GL account through OIT. This should have been done as part of your student registration process. If not, you can receive an account by going to the OIT Helpdesk in ECS020.

Pick up a CSEE Computer Account Application form from ITE325 and fill out the top section. Get your account leader (advisor) to fill out the middle section. Submit the form to the CSEE Student Affairs Office, ITE 325F.

It takes an average of three business days for the account to be created. An email containing the CSEE account password will be sent to the GL account.

CSEE computers accounts are a privilege, not a right.

Lab Computers

The dedicated computer lab for CSEE Graduate students is called the Grad Lab and is located in ITE305. Please note, this room is under camera surveillance. Also, to avoid the accidental destruction of computer property, there is no eating or drinking in this lab.

TAs during office hours may use the computers in the TA offices. Since these are shared resources, they should only be used during office hours.

OIT has labs throughout campus. Use your GL username and password for logins. The OIT Helpdesk in ECS020 can provide assistance with all questions regarding these labs.

There is no eating or drinking in the computer labs.

Remote Login Access

There are five systems which you can gain connectivity from a remote location. A remote location is your personal ISP, UMBC modem dialup or UMBC Wireless. The five interactive login servers are:

• sunserver1.cs.umbc.edu (Sun Solaris)
• sunserver2.cs.umbc.edu (Sun Solaris)
• sunserver3.cs.umbc.edu (Sun Solaris)
• linuxserver1.cs.umbc.edu (Redhat Linux)
• linuxserver2.cs.umbc.edu (Redhat Linux)

Use your favorite ssh client to access these systems. All modern operating systems except for Windows comes with a ssh accessible from the command line. Windows users can freely download a ssh client called putty from http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html.

Grad Lab and TA Offices Rules

Access to these rooms are by card swipe only. Only users with card swipe access can be in the Grad Lab. Those without card swipe can not be let in.

Please logout if you leaving your computer workstation. You will not want your account be used for illegitimate purposes by a passerby.

If you are not using the computer for school work and someone is waiting to use the computer, please log off so they can do work.

Do not remove any computer component from the Grad Lab or TA Offices. Only the CSEEIT staff is authorized to move, add, and remove hardware.

Do not disconnect hardware. All systems are monitored and turning them off or removing network access will trigger an alert.

No Eating or Drinking in the Computer Labs

Keeping computer labs running takes a lot of time by the CSEEIT department. Much money is spent not only to initially set them up, but keeping them maintained in good working order. If a piece of equipment gets damaged due to an accidental food/drink spill, replacements will not get covered by the system warranties. The money that would normally buy new equipment will have to be used to replace existing equipment. This will reduce the budget to perform needed upgrades to systems that need them the most. Users who eat or drink in the labs or offices will find their advisors notified of the incident. Results include losing your CSEE account and computer lab access.

Computer System Rules

The primary purpose of CSEE computer systems is for school-related activities. Personal computer uses are to be run on your personal computer.

Please keep in mind there are many students now enrolled in the graduate program. They all will need to use the computers at some in point in time. The CSEE computer resources are for schoolwork, be it for class or research use.

No hacking. Do not attempt to hack the CSEE computers or services. Do not attempt to hack other computers from a CSEE computer. This is a direct violation of UMBC Policy, laws of the State of Maryland, and federal laws. All hacking attempts will result in prosecution. There are no school or research assignments to hack computer systems. There are procedures in place if you are interested about computer security. Please talk with your advisor and the CSEEIT department if you are interested.

CSEE systems are not to be used for accessing pornography (UMBC rules).

CSEE systems are not to be used for illegal activities, including the transfer of unauthorized copyrighted material (i.e. MP3's, movies, warez).

Accounts left logged in and unattended for thirty minutes or longer may be logged off. The resources are shared and everybody deserves to use them.

Do not share accounts with others.

All computer account usage is logged.

UNIX Software

The Linux and Solaris systems have the vendor provided applications installed in their normal locations. Additional software is available on these systems which are maintained by the CSEEIT or OIT staff. The directory locations are:

• /opt
• /usr/site
• /usr/local

Software in /opt and /usr/site is specific to individual machines. Software in /usr/local is maintained by the OIT staff--questions or comments should be directed towards the OIT helpdesk.

Printing

CSEE does not have any printers for student use. Print jobs be may sent to OIT printers at the standard rates that they charge. The command to print is:

$ lpr -Pacsps filename

The printer in the Grad Lab is only for TA grading use. Many research labs have printers; access is based on the discretion of the lab owners.

CSEEIT on the Web

CSEEIT's Web site is http://www.cs.umbc.edu/systems. This is the first place to look for any documentation about the CSEE systems. If you can not find the information that you are looking, a trouble ticket can be opened at the Web site http://my.cs.umbc.edu.

Account Password

The CSEE account password system is different from the GL password system. If the password is changed for one system, it will not effect the other.

Unlike typical UNIX systems, the password can not be changed using the standard tools running on the server. Use the Web interface at http://my.cs.umbc.edu to change passwords. It takes an hour for password changes to propagate.

Passwords should be changed immediately after you get your account. The best password is eight characters in length consisting of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Never give someone your password. You will be accounted for any actions taken with your account. Users who appear to have been involved in illegal activities will find themselves prosecuted.

System Downtime

Planned system downtime notifications are sent by email to your CSEE email account. Every effort is made to provide a date, the span of time of which downtime will occur, and a list of services which will get affected. It is realized that there is no good time to take services down in a twenty-four hour computing environment. Disruptions are expected to be minimal.

Contacting CSEEIT for Assistance

The recommended way to contact CSEE for assistance is through our trouble ticket page at http://my.cs.umbc.edu. Responses to tickets are sent to your CSEE email account. Please use the Web interface to reply to any tickets. Tickets that are idle for one week will be closed.

If immediate contact is necessary, the CSEEIT staff can be found in ITE307. If a problem needs to be escalated, the CSEEIT manager is found in ITE302.