Department of Computer Science
Computer Science
IT support
Introduction
This document is intended to introduce incoming MSc students of Computer Science to the computing services and support that is available.
Student Computer Facilities
The Western Gateway building is a modern IT building, with excellent facilities. This is no exception for Computer Science students. The MSc lab this year is g26.
The lab comprises of 36 pc’s running dual boot windows 7 and Kubuntu Linux. The lab has 1 dedicated printer and Audio Visual Services / projector/ etc
How can I find the MSc lab/ and the helpdesk counter?
The Western Gateway Building is a big place, so it's easy to get snowed under trying to find your lab and helpdesk!
-Helpdesk counter is located in 1-25 on the First Floor. Maps of the labs and rooms are on walls in each floor and on back of this booklet.
Filer Server space
As a MSc student, you are allocated a quota or fixed space on our Departmental Server of 300mb. This is the maximum amount of space that you can use during the year. Once this space is used, you can no longer save any more data to your home directory, until you delete unwanted files. To avoid space filling up rapidly, you should regularly delete unwanted files.
Printing
Most labs have a printer which is accessible from both Windows and Linux via a network print spooler csprint.ucc.ie.
Each printer is named cs<room number>ptr i.e. csg26ptr is the printer in the g26 lab.
Printing is NOT free. A charge is applied per sheet.
At the start of the year €3 free credit is granted to incoming Msc students, and you are charged at the below rates once that initial credit has been used.
Below are the current rates:
Black and white laser printing costs 5c per A4 sheet Duplex printing is 8c per duplex sheet.
How to put credit in your account
To top-up your printing account, use the Coin receiver unit located outside the helpdesk area in room 1-25 on the first floor. This service allows access to print quota top-up outside helpdesk hours. The unit will accept €2, €1, 50c, 20c and 10c coins only.
NOTE: NO change can be given and no cash is held at the Helpdesk counter.
To operate
– login with your WINDOWS username & password – add as many coins as you want
– you are instantly topped up to your Print Quota.
This system also has a swipe card option. You can link your student id card to your username once and then use that card for subsequent top-ups.
To do this, swipe your card first, then enter your WINDOWS username and password and add money to your account if you wish. The next time you want to use the
system just swipe the card and the username it is mapped to will appear on the screen.
If you don’t have your card, you can always just use the keyboard to enter your username & password, OR you have the option to link your username with a different card, just follow the same procedure, swiping new card first.
€3 credit is granted to first years, and they are charged from then on. How do I check how much quota I’ve left?
In Windows use the tool from the Tool Bar located at bottom RHS of desktop. (Double click the € symbol in the taskbar).
How to Print
From Windows use Internet Explorer to connect to http://csprint. Select the
appropriate printer for your current location and click Connect. This will automatically install the selected printer for the duration of your session.
From Linux using the command line: lpr -Pprintername filename
Note: If printing ascii text and having problems with new line codes, then use this command instead of lpr. enscript -Pprintername filename
From applications the print dialogs will vary, in some cases a text field is provided for you to type in the command as used in command line method. Other applications may provide a popup menu of available printers within the page setup dialog. Printer Problems?
Please email [email protected] with a description of your problem, and the printer name/lab that you are in (printer jammed, printer not working, paper tray empty etc)
Helpdesk
The Computer Science IT Support staff maintain a helpdesk in order to assist students with their IT account etc problems
The helpdesk operates mainly on an email basis ([email protected]) and all emails sent to this address are logged to a Helpdesk system.
Calls will be dealt with between 9:15am – 5:00pm although emails can be sent at any time.
To log a call
Email [email protected] ; put an informative subject line in the email (i.e. unable to login / etc, give the full detail of your problems, and your user name. We will respond as quickly as possible.
What we support
Account problems: logging in problems, email problems, problems with accessing resources
General account and IT service problems (i.e. website, applications etc) What we don’t support:
Programming consultation, error debugging – these queries should be directed to your lecturer/ demonstrator.
General enquiries not relating to IT queries – should be directed to the CS Departmental Office
Frequently Asked questions:
This is by far the quickest and easiest way to find an answer to a problem (www.cs.ucc.ie/helpdesk) shows frequently asked questions by students, with answers, and is up to date and informative.
If I can't log in to my account how can I send an email to [email protected]?! If you are unable to login, you can use a special lab account to log a call from any lab in Windows only.
This restricted account only permits a user to run Internet Explorer browser with Squirrelmail so that they can send an email to help-desk ([email protected])
Log in to windows as: User name = help Password = helpdesk
This account also permits access to the FAQ web pages of Computer Science Department.
http://www.cs.ucc.ie/helpdesk
Failing that, if you call to the helpdesk in room 1-25, there is a self-service facility. You can use the form on the self-service PC to log a request for help. Enter your own umail address so we can reply to you (!) and enter as much detail as possible so we can help you.
Helpdesk Counter
What services do we provide at the counter?
Services which necessitate a person to come and meet face to face with CS IT support person
For example: forgotten password – you need to call to the helpdesk with your student ID card in order to prove your identity etc
Collecting your account for the first time
Where a query is especially difficult, and has not been solved using the [email protected] email route
When is it open?
Monday – Thursday 11:00am – 12:30pm and 2:30pm – 4:00pm Friday 11:00am – 12:30pm during Term Time
These are guideline opening hours only. Because of the nature of systems
administration work, staff may be called to fix problems in labs, or other duties. If the counter is unattended, a self-service workstation will be available to log your call. Again, the quickest and most consistent way to log a helpdesk call is via email to [email protected]
Frequently asked questions on Windows/Linux, Accounts, or anything to do with helpdesk
Lab Rules
In order to keep the Computer Facilities to a high standard and to be available to all, there are certain rules that must be enforced.
NOTE All labs in the Western Gateway Building are monitored by CCTV. Offenses which will result in user account being disabled include:
1. Consuming food and drink in the lab. In the Western Gateway Building, there are plenty of breakout areas, and alternative areas to eat in.
There is absolutely NO eating OR drinking permitted in any computer lab. This aspect will be policed and enforced by Facilities Management, and will not be tolerated.
2. Excessive noise, which is disruptive to students trying to study.
3. Games which generate excessive network traffic or otherwise cause disruption to services or other users.
4. Not having valid student ID card. 5. Sharing swipe card or account details.
6. Connecting unauthorized equipment, particularly laptops to the college wired network.
7. Not abiding by the Acceptable Usage Policy of UCC ( PLEASE READ) see http://www.ucc.ie/aup
Actions to be taken following breach of Rules:
The account will remain disabled until the user calls to the help-desk to discuss why their account was disabled. There will be a minimum suspend period, varying in line with the seriousness of the offense.
Backups
Backups are kept of home directories, and are outlined in http://www.cs.ucc.ie/helpdesk
If you accidentally delete or lose data in your home directory (Z: drive in windows, or /users/2016/<username> in linux, please notify [email protected] immediately letting us know the name of the file, the location (directory) it was in, and when (date/time) you deleted. The quicker you let us know, the better chance you have of retrieving data
Applications/Webserver etc
More information on the above will be given to you by your lecturer. You can also look up additional information on http://www.cs.ucc.ie/helpdesk
