Information

• CO & NOC Spring 2008 Presentation
• Office 2007 Training Information
• Hitachi Starboard Information
• Using Classroom and TV Studio Virtual Computers

Frequently Asked Questions

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What does Computer Operations do?

Computer Operations deals with the following issues:

• Answers all engineering computer questions through the Help Desk
• Maintains all engineering computer laboratories and ensures secure images on every lab computer
• Evaluates computer resources to bring the best possible level of technology to students, professors and staff
• Meets with professors and TAs each semester to help ensure a smooth transition through an orientation session

Computer Operations handles different kinds of computer accounts for students, faculty and staff. About a thousand users are served daily. Overall, we handle roughly 4000 accounts. 150 faculty/staff 864 students in professional programs 1369 students in degree programs 1627 others

Engineering Computer Operations in Relationship to
University Information Technology Services

Please allow Computer Operations 2 weeks’ notice to test and install any additional software needed to teach in the multimedia classrooms, computer labs, or TV studios.

Call (214) 768-7327 or email help@engr.smu.edu immediately if you notice any problem with hardware or software in your lab as well as any problem with the room itself.

Please allow Computer Operations at least2 weeks notice to install and test any additional software needed to teach in the multimedia classrooms, computer labs, or TV studios.

Opening an Engineering Account

Most undergraduates accounts needed for Engineering classes are opened at the beginning of the semester when the students are registered.

Graduate student, new professor and adjunct accounts are usually created individually and require that an account form be filled out. This form is found at SIC 306 or at http://engr.smu.edu/co/accounts.html. Once completed, the form can be faxed to the number on the form or delivered to SIC, room 306.

Accounts take 24-48 hours to create.

Engineering Passwords

The initial account is created in UNIX and propagated to the SEAS-S domain. Students should use their UNIX account password to log into both UNIX and SEAS-S.

This password does not connect in any way to university accounts.

Anyone teaching in a classroom or TV studio (as opposed to a lab) will need to have a SEAS domain account as well. Please request the account at least a week before it is to be used, and test it prior to the time you will need to use it.

My Password Doesn't work!!! What do you do?

• Check username
• Which password?
  • PC SSH, X-Windows = Unix - SEAS-S
• Access, Blackboard, Webmail, ppp = ask ITS help
• For help with engineering password: send student with SMU ID to Engineering Help Desk in SIC, room 306
  

A few words about policy...

Read the Engineering Computer Operations policy. It is available online at http://engr.smu.edu/co/policy_engr.html.

Do not share your username and password under any circumstances. You could lose your account privileges and print quota. Do not log on for students. Send them to get their passwords.

The accounts of non-Engineering majors (usually 1300 level classes) will be terminated after the semester ends. Be sure to inform your students. An account can be restored upon request.

The Class account

• A “class account” is active for the first three weeks of every semester. This gives students time to learn their login and password. Login, class, password, class.
• TAs can email a list of students who need passwords reset or students can call the help desk to have their password reset.
• After three weeks the account will be TURNED OFF and students can come to SIC, room 306 with their ID to have their passwords reset.
• Students can have their passwords reset at any time by presenting their ID to the Help Desk in SIC 306.

Disk Quota

More people take advantage of their disk quota every year.

Deleting useless files in your directory can expand your disk quota.

Print Quota

• Print quota is renewed automatically at the beginning of each semester.
• When a user’s print quota drops below 200 a message is automatically sent to their engineering email account with directions to renew quota by sending an email. These directions need to be followed in order to renew the quota.
• Additional print quota will take up to 48 hours to acquire.
• Print quota is specifically calculated for homework and research papers and not for printing class notes or class handouts. Ask your Department Coordinator to make copies for class materials.
• Undergraduates are not eligible to have quota renewed except under special circumstances.

Personal Disk Space and Print Quota

You can check your print quota status on any School of Engineering unix machine with the command: pquota

Lab Equipment

• Computers
  • Pentium IV Processor, 2.8GHz, 512 memory
  • Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2.4 GHz, 3GB memory
  • 17” and 19” flat panel monitors
  • Speakers (as needed)
• Scanners with Adobe Photoshop
• LCD and DLP projectors
• Printer
• Overhead projectors or Document cameras

Present Facilities on Main Campus

Public Areas

• Junkins 342
• Junkins 344
• SIC Open Area (3rd floor)

Other Labs

Some Engineering Lab Software

Saving Work on Lab Computers

Computers in Engineering labs will be refreshed at each reboot and at specific times posted in the lab. Personal files saved on the lab computer should be saved to Drive T (for temporary work) within an individual session. All work should be saved to CD or floppy disk or moved to your home directory for permanent storage.

Be sure to tell your students: DO NOT SAVE YOUR WORK ON THE LAB PC AND EXPECT IT TO STILL BE THERE IN THE FUTURE.

Saving Work on Lab Computer's by Mapping to Home Directory

You can save your work to your home directory by mapping the network drive. Go to START, choose RUN, enter:

\\cifs\username (yours that is)

This will open a window which will let you drag a file to it and save it in your home directory.

Teaching Assistance

• Plan ahead. Please have your professor contact Computer Operations to discuss special hardware or software required for class at least 2 weeks in advance. We can only comply when copyright and licensing agreements are in order. No illegal software can be installed on any School of Engineering computer.
• Please allow Computer Operations at least 2 weeks notice to test and install any additional software needed to teach in the multimedia classrooms, computer labs, or TV studios.
• Call X8-7327 or email help@engr.smu.edu immediately if you notice any problem with hardware or software in your lab as well as any problem with the room itself.

Engineering Web Cameras

Web Cameras have been installed in public locations throughout engineering for safety and security. This helps decrease the likelihood of vandalism and theft.

Projector Operation

• Projector operation instructions are available at http://engr.smu.edu/co/labs/av_Equipments.html#projectors
• NEVER TOUCH THE PROJECTOR OR ITS MOUNT

AMX System (Caruth, Embrey and Junkins)

• AMX operation instructions are available at http://engr.smu.edu/co/labs/av_Equipments.html#amx

Linux Machines

• Available Linux Machines

Housekeeping

• No food and drink permitted in computer labs.
• Put equipment away in a locked cabinet.
• Use “class in session” on the outside of lab doors to keep people from interrupting.

Emergency in the Lab

Call for help: (214) 768-7327

To get help

For the fastest response, e-mail help@engr.smu.edu