COMPUTER LABS
Introduction
FIT Network
· Network structure overview
· Opening hours
· Remote access
How to use the Computer
· Switch on – Switch off
· How to store retrieve data from the file server (drive letters)
· Removable storage media (CD-ROMs, floppy, Zip)
· Printing/photocopy facilities
· Word processing
· Browsing the Internet
Accounts
· What is an account / when is it created and by whom
· How to log-in to the network using the account (W2K environment)
· How to log-out
· Password / changing a password (W2K environment)
· Data Access and Storage
· Allowed storage space (disk quotas)
· Responsibilities of having an account
· E-mail accounts
· How to view FIT emails inside FIT
· How to view FIT emails outside FIT
Rules
· Policies on
· eating/drinking
· mobile phones
· virus checks
· software installation
· obscene/pornographic material
· reporting faults/damages
· vandalism
· proof of ID
Lab assistants
· Obligations
· Authorities
Introduction
The purpose of this handbook is to familiarize FIT students and personnel with the computing facilities available at the institute and assist them in using the provided services effectively. The document does not provide a detailed description of the network infrastructure nor an analysis in the technologies used. If such information is required, please consult the Computing Services Department (CSD).
The handbook provides a brief description of the FIT computer network and explains of how workstations should be used. A detailed and practical guide is also provided, explaining how user and email accounts can be used. In addition, general rules regarding the operation of the computer services is also included.
A careful study of this handbook will make it easier for any student to understand and use the network and the computers.
FIT Network (Nicosia Campus)
Network Structure
A campus-wide networking infrastructure exists at FIT, connecting all computers to the main servers and to each other, as well as to the outside world (Internet). A very general outlook of the connection is provided below.
Fig 1: General view of FIT Nicosia Network Infrastructure
In the main building, students have access to the workstations[1] in the computer laboratory area, which is located on the third floor. It is generally prohibited for students to access workstations other than those found in the laboratories. The computer clusters are divided to three labs, as shown in the network diagram below.
Lab 1 is the general purpose lab, Lab 2 is the engineering lab and Lab 3 the art and design lab. Whenever labs 1 and 2 are not used for teaching purposes they are available to students. Lab3 may only be used by students if an explicit permission is granted from a lab assistant. A timetable is provided at the Lab assistants office indicating what time labs are not used for teaching. Entrance in the Lab Assistants Office is not allowed unless to request assistance. Entrance to the Server room is not allowed at any time and is considered to be a serious offense.
Apart from the workstations located in the computer laboratory area, other specialized computer labs exist such as the computer engineering lab, the mechanical and civil engineering lab and the Unix lab. Workstations in these laboratories are used only for teaching purposes and students are not allowed access outside these hours.
In addition to the main building computing facilities, the institute maintains a small computer cluster in the library building which is available to students. Those computers are available throughout the period the library is open and can only be used for word processing and internet browsing.
All clients in the FIT network operate under Windows 2000 or Windows 98 operating system. The network is controlled by a number of servers (located in the server room) that operate under Windows 2000 server, and Linux operating systems. At all times, the servers control the operations that users are allowed to perform at the workstations. What type of operations is available to students/faculty/administrative personnel is decided by the CSD and is under continual review. Details on what exactly students can do and what facilities are offered will be provided in the following sections.
Opening hours
The Labs in the main building are open from 08:00 am to 07:00 pm from Monday to Friday and Saturdays from 09:00 pm to 12:00 pm. As mentioned, labs are not accessible during teaching hours. The relevant timetable is posted in the Lab assistants office.
The computer cluster in the Library is also available throughout the period the library is open. You should bear in mind however that not all services are available from the library workstations (e.g. no access to the file space on the file server).
Remote access
Remote access to the institute facilities is not allowed, for security reasons. However, students can access their email accounts from outside the Institute’s premises. For more details look in the Remote Email Access section.
How to use the Computer
· Switch on – Switch off
At all times you should not switch on or off a computer unless explicitly instructed by a lecturer or lab assistant. You are not to try to do so, even if a computer you want to use is off or does not respond. In case of doubt, always ask a lab assistant to assist you. To use the workstations you should follow the login-logoff procedure described in the account section of this handbook.
· Storage of information
Users of the FIT network will require to access (e.g. start a program like Internet Explorer to browse the Internet), store (save a report for an assignment) and transfer (move a file to another place for later use) information on the workstations they are working on.
A detailed description of where and how information can be stored and accessed is given in the ‘FIT Account Data Access’ section.
· Removable storage media (CD-ROMS, floppy, Zip)
Student files can be transferred from and to the workstations using removable storage media (such as floppy disks, zip disks and CD-ROMs). All computers are equipped with a CD-ROM drive and a floppy drive. In the Lab 3, as well as in the Lab Assistants office, CD writers and zip drives are also provided.
To access a removable media you should follow the instructions provided below:
1. Place the media into the correct device. (e.g. put the floppy disk in the floppy drive)
2. Double-click on the ‘My Computer’ icon found on your desktop.
3. Double-click on the media you wish to access
4. Make the file transfer you want.
Students should note that the computer security system will not allow them to install anything software on the computer, just transfer files.
When using removable storage media it is always important to bare in mind the institute rules on computer use. You should be particularly careful with virus detection and use of abusive/pornographic material.
· Printing/photocopy facilities
Photocopier: A color photocopier exists at the library and can be used by any FIT student/staff. To use the photocopier you should ask the assistance of the librarian. Photocopies are at available to FIT students at cost price[2] and the amount (depending on number and type of copies) should be paid to the librarian.
Printer/ scanner: There are 2 color printers and one color scanner in Lab 3. Lab 3 equipment is available only to students of the Art and Design department and can be used with permission of department lecturers.
All computers have access to the student printers (HP monochrome LaserJets) for general use. Usage of the scanners is free and unlimited provided the material scanned respects the FIT computer use rules. For printing, each student will have a quota (limit) on how many pages he/she is allowed to print. This quota can be renewed by making a request at the lab assistants office and paying the relevant fee. Printing costs are set to cost price and are significantly lower than prices found outside.
· Word processing
Students can use any workstation for word processing. Students should note however that documents of a personal nature should abide with the institute’s rules regarding their content.
All PC workstations have Microsoft Word installed and the Institute advices students to use this application for word processing as it is most commonly used. The program can be started by clicking the Start button on the bottom right hand of the screen, select Programs and then Microsoft Word. Students are free to use other word processing programs that are already installed on the workstations. It is, however, prohibited to attempt to install any other word processing application.
The default typing characters are set to Latin (English language uses the Latin character set). However, all computers in Lab 1 and 2 have Greek character sets installed as well as a specialized tool for Chinese writing. To change the language to Greek, just select it from the bottom right-hand corner of your screen as shown in the figure below.
If the language selection icon does not appear then you should install this setting using the following instructions
1. Click ‘Start’ / ‘Settings’ / ‘Control Panel’
2. From the icons shown, double-click ‘Keyboard’
3. Double-click on the media you wish to access
4. On the top of the window opened, select the tab named ‘Input Locales’
5. Click the button ‘Add…’
6. From the top list named ‘Input Locale’ select Greek and the press ok
7. Close the windows that are open.
To use Chinese writing, start the NJStar application. To do this, click on Start button and then select Programs and NJStar Communicator.
· Browsing the Internet
FIT maintains a 256Kbps frame relay connection to an Internet service provider therefore, students have continuous access to the Internet.
For Internet browsing students can use Internet Explorer (IE). To invoke IE, click the Start button on the bottom right hand of the screen. Select Programs, then Internet Explorer. Alternatively, double click the IE icon on your desktop.
Learning how to efficiently browse the Internet requires some practice but it is fairly straightforward. The important part is to know where to place the address you wish to visit as shown in the figure below.
Learning how to find useful information on the Internet requires some practice. However, a staring point can be the use of the following two sites:
www.google.com: Provides several links related to the keywords you specify
infotrac.galegroup.com: Search from a large selection of academic databases that can assist you with your studies (contact your course supervisor for usernames and passwords)
Accounts
What is an account
To be able to use any workstation one should first have an account. Without one, the computer will not allow access to any applications. The CSD creates an account for each student after the registration is confirmed and deletes it after the student graduates or leaves the Institute. All accounts are created on the FIT servers.
Each student will be given a user name and an initial password. For example, student John Smith will be assigned nad57 as username and pwd782 as password. The user name and password can be collected by the student after his registration from the lab assistant office. A student should memorize his username and password. His username should be publicly available and it is suggested that other people know it (see Email section). The password however for security reasons should not be known by anyone else but the user. If a student forgets his password, he should inform one of the lab assistants who can reset it.
How to login to the network using the account
It should be noted that accounts are only necessary when students will be using workstations with Windows 2000 operating system. (The operating system of each workstation can be easily found by clicking Start - Help). Most workstations in the laboratory area operate under windows 2000. Workstations with Windows 98 do not require use of the FIT account but cannot provide certain services like access to personal server space and email viewing.
When you take a sit in front of a computer you will observe a message box with the message “ Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to begin”. These buttons have to be pressed one at a time and kept press until a new message box pops up. This new message box contains User name and Password fields. When those fields are filled up with the appropriate user name and password that the student has, the login will be accomplished by pressing the OK button. The information you enter is sent to the main server so that the correct authentication will take place and all your personal information will be loaded. Once logged in you can have access to all the facilities offered as described in the following parts.
How to log-off
You must always logout before you leave the computer, because otherwise the account and personal data are accessible to others. To log of, simply press again Ctrl+Alt+Delete and choose Log off from the options that will pop on the screen. Another message box will ask you “Are you sure?” Press OK and you will have logged off.
Password / changing a password
When you first log on with the password you will be given, you are advised to change your password. Do so by choosing a password which is hard for someone to guess. Name, telephone number, dates of birth etc are to be avoided. Write down your password and keep somewhere safe and do not reveal it to anyone.
If you forget your password, you will need to visit lab assistant office to be given a new one. Passwords are stored on the system in an encoded format, so Lab assistants can not look up your existing one. You must bring proof of identity with you, preferably your University Photo ID Card.
If you intend to change your password, it is better to do this at the end of your computing session. Usually it takes some time for the whole system to get updated with the new password so do not worry if you seem unable to log on to another computer.
To change the password you have set, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. A message box will appear with the Change Password option among others. Click it and follow the simple procedure to change your password (enter once the old password and twice the new one).