Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 21:27:31 GMT Server: NCSA/1.4.1 Content-type: text/html Last-modified: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 19:00:09 GMT Content-length: 5581 Computer System Introduction

Department of Computer Science

Computer System Introduction

University of Idaho


Computer Science Home Page Univ. of Idaho Home Page
Last updated: July 6, 1995

Welcome to the University of Idaho Computer Science (CS) Department. As a student in the CS department, you will be given an account so that you can have access to the computer network in the department. Before activating your account, you need to familiarize yourself with the department's Computer Use Policy as well as this document. Computers are located in Jansen Engineering Building (JEB) rooms 13, B-25, and B-27. The following guidelines and procedures will provide you with the information needed to use the network effectively.

  1. A quick look at logging on. When you first sit down at one of the computers in the CS labs, move the mouse to bring up the login screen. You will see the University of Idaho Computer Science logo and login and password prompts. Take the mouse and click on the clear button before logging in. This will clear out any null characters in the login field. If you login and get the message "Login incorrect: Please try again", be sure to click on the clear button before attempting to login again.

  2. Disk Usage. There are no disk quotas for accounts. Instead, each user can use up to a maximum of 25MB. Most users should need much less than this to do classwork, homework, etc. Each user is expected to monitor their disk usage and keep it under control. To check disk usage, "cd" to your home directory and execute the command, "du -s". The number given is in 512-byte blocks so divide by 2 to get kilobytes. If du = 5000, divide by 2 to get 2500 kilobytes or about 2.5MBs. Disk usage is monitored, so if a user can't control their disk usage it will be controlled for them.

  3. Man command. Every new user will have questions about how commands work. One of the best commands to learn about is the "man" command, short for manual. To learn about the "ls" command, type "man ls". As a matter of fact, do a man on man "man man" to learn how the "man" command works.

    Additional sources of information about UNIX, C, and other subjects can be obtained from the Computer Services Help Desk located in the basement of the Administration building, room 22. These folks have put together some very good pamphlets covering a number of computer-related subjects. This is also where you go to get an account for the campus-wide computer network. Also remember that if you have a question and all else fails, you can send questions to help@cs.uidaho.edu or bobc@cs.uidaho.edu.

  4. Netscape. Netscape is available on the CS computer network. Netscape is an interactive hypertext interface to the World-Wide-Web (WWW) on the Internet. To run netscape type "netscape &". The Department of Computer Science home page comes up. If you click on any blue, underlined text or icon, you will have used a hypertext link to another document. Click on item 4 "Students in CS department" to see who has a Web home page. The best way to learn about netscape is to browse around and look at different students' home pages. On any page, you can click on "View" (located in the menu bar at the top of the window) and then click on "Source..." to see how some users have built their home page. Also note that there is an item on the CS home page that refers to a UNIX tutorial.

  5. Default files for .profile, .mwmrc, elmrc, .xsession and .Xresources are in /usr/local/defaults. You can copy these files to your home directory and modify them as you wish. Do a "man" on profile, mwm, elm, xdm to learn more about these default initialization files.

  6. To change your passwd use the command "passwd". Try and use a password that is a random string of letters, numbers, and special characters that would be difficult for a password cracker to break. Any password that is composed only of words that can be found in a dictionary or list of words, is a password that can be broken. Remember, you are responsible for your account and keeping it safe from intrusion.
It is important to remember that you are not the only person using the CS computer network. Please be conscious of your actions and how they might affect others. Do not turn the machine off, it is not a PC. Don't use pictures for background screens that might offend someone else. Please keep the labs clean, and be aware that no eating or drinking is allowed in the labs.

If you ever have a question, please feel free to stop by and visit with the System Administrator (that's me) in room B-29 in the basement of JEB. Have fun!


Bob Christofferson, bobc@cs.uidaho.edu
Computer Systems Mgr.
Computer Science Department
University of Idaho
Moscow, ID 83843
208-885-6238