Introduction

Apply for a CSEE Computer Account

The CSEE Computer Account is to access the CSEE 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 myUMBC account through DoIT. This should have been done as part of your student registration process. If not, you can receive an account by going to the DoIT Technology Support Center located on the first floor of the Library.

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 myUMBC email account.

CSEE computers accounts are a privilege, not a right.

Lab Computers

The CSEE Classroom Labs are ITE 210, ITE 232, ITE 240, ITE 242, and ITE 375. Physical access is given to these rooms only to instructors and students. The computers in ITE 210, ITE 230, and ITE 235 are not networked to campus--the instructors provide details of any special login procedures. The remaining labs use the integrated logins with campus. The Linux systems give you access to your GL account. The Windows systems give you access to your AD student account.

All of the other department-maintained computers in CSEE give you access to your CSEE computer account.

The Grad Lab, a dedicated computer lab for all CSEE Graduate students, 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. Respect the equipment on campus--you are the role models for the undergraduate students.

TAs may use the computers in the TA offices at any time. Since there are more TAs than there are computers in the offices, TAs who are working during office hours have priority for computer usage.

DoIT also has labs throughout campus. Use your myUMBC username and password for logins. The DoIT Technology Support Center located on the first floor of the Library can provide assistance with all questions regarding these labs.

There is no eating or drinking in the computer labs.

Remote Login Access

There are three systems which you can be accessed from a remote location. A remote location is your personal ISP or the UMBC Wireless. The departmental interactive login servers are:

• linuxserver1.cs.umbc.edu (Linux)
• linuxserver2.cs.umbc.edu (Linux)
• linuxserver3.cs.umbc.edu (Linux)

Use your preferred ssh client to access these systems. All modern operating systems except for Windows by default comes with the ssh command line utility. 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. It is not advised to let other people in with your card access--you are responsible for all actions for anybody you let in the Grad Lab.

Please logout if you leave your computer workstation. You will not want your account be used for illegitimate purposes by anybody afterwards.

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

The networks are not configured to allow the use of personally owned computers (i.e. your laptop) to be used on the Ethernet jacks. UMBC 802.11 wireless service is available for network access.

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 the ethical research and testing of computer security. Please talk with your adviser 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). Any local, national, or international laws that are broken will result in prosecution.

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

Do not share accounts with others. Account owners are responsible for all actions from their accounts. Irregular activity identified from an account must be reported and password needs to be changed (through http://my.umbc.edu ).

All computer account usage is logged.

UNIX Software

The Linux 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 DoIT staff. These 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 DoIT staff--questions or comments should be directed towards the DoIT Technology Support Center.

Printing

CSEE does not have any printers for student use. Print jobs be may sent to DoIT 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

CSEE accounts use the myUMBC password for authentication. If the myUMBC account becomes inactive, so does the CSEE account.

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.umbc.edu to change passwords.

Passwords should not be shared with others. Account owners are responsible for all actions by their accounts.

System Downtime

Planned system downtime notifications are sent by email to CSEE account email addresses. 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 CSEEIT for assistance is through our trouble ticket page at http://my.cs.umbc.edu. Responses to tickets are sent to the CSEE email account. Please use the Web interface to reply to any tickets. Tickets that are idle for two weeks 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.