Unix Access For CMSC 420

Alpha Systems

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frost.umd.edu

holmes.umd.edu

maigret.umd.edu

marlowe.umd.edu

marple.umd.edu

morse.umd.edu

poirot.umd.edu

tracy.umd.edu

wolfe.umd.edu

Games, IRC, and MUDs are not allowed on the OIT Unix cluster.

The home directories contain default .login, .cshrc, and .logout files. In addition, the access mode on the home directories has been set to 700. This means that a student will not be able to copy files from an unsuspecting student, unless the owner changes the mode of his home directory to something that allows such access. Of course students can still MAIL things to each other.

User files are NFS mounted on various servers. Symbolic links are used to create the file names found in the system password file. This means the names returned by the pwd command may not match the names found in the system password file. Users should always refer to home directories by the ~loginid or $HOME methods.

This document last updated August 20th, 1999.
 

WAM (Workstations At Maryland) workstations, such as those located in CSS room 3330, are directly connected to the campus network. Directions for using WAM workstations can be found in each workstation laboratory and in the OIT Information Technology Library (CSS West Wing room 1400).
 

Your students should use the First-Aid service (located in all WAM workstation laboratories). They may also use the First-Aid Hotline for phone-in questions ((301) 405-6941), which is answered by First-Aiders in the PGII WAM lab.

Exact hours of service are posted at each First-Aid station.

University faculty, staff, graduate researchers, and teaching assistants can use the following consulting services.

Help on a walk-in or phone-in basis at the OIT Help Desk (CSS West Wing room 1400, phone (301) 405-1500), 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday during the Fall and Spring semesters (9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. during semester breaks and the Summer semester).

Electronic mail at any time; use the Internet address helpdesk@umail.umd.edu. Questions are answered by a member of the Help Desk staff at the earliest possible opportunity.

The default .login file contains a call to the readnews program. On some systems, users prefer to use the rn program to read news. If rn is used, the call to readnews should be removed from the users' .login file.
 

The call is lpr <file> to initiate printing of file <file>.

Output may be retrieved at the OIT dispatch counter in room 1299 of the A.V. Williams I building.
 

Requests for change of password should be made to Ira Gold at the address above. Requests to change student passwords will only be honored when they are made by the instructor. Instructors can make such requests via electronic mail. Requests must include login id and may include a suggested new password (must be 6 - 8 characters long).
 

Initial disk quota for classroom accounts is 5 meg per account. If you are using some of the accounts as TA or grading accounts, let me know which ones and I will increase their disk quota.

Requests for change of disk quota should be made to Ira Gold at the address above. Requests to change student disk quotas will only be honored when they are made by the instructor. Instructors can make such requests via electronic mail. Requests must include login id, desired new disk quota (expressed in megabytes), and system name. In all cases, requests for higher disk quotas will be evaluated against system resources and system load.
 

Files residing in /tmp and /var/tmp can be deleted without notice if disk space becomes critical. See "Disk Quota" above for information about requesting disk quota changes. /tmp and /var/tmp are local to each system in the cluster.
 

Primary Principles: Freedom of Expression and Personal Responsibility

Freedom of expression and an open environment to pursue scholarly inquiry and for sharing of information are encouraged, supported, and protected at the University of Maryland. These values lie at the core of our academic community. Censorship is not compatible with the tradition and goals of the University. While some computing resources may be dedicated to specific research, teaching, or administrative tasks that would limit their use, freedom of expression must, in general, be protected. The University does not limit access to information due to its content when it meets the standard of legality. The University's policy of freedom of expression applies to computing resources.

Concomitant with free expression are personal obligations of each member of our community to use computing resources responsibly, ethically, and in a manner which accords both with the law and the rights of others. The campus depends first upon a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation to create and maintain an open community of responsible users.

General

These guidelines set forth standards for responsible and acceptable use of University computing resources. They supplement existing University policies, agreements, and state and federal laws and regulations. Computing resources include host computer systems, University-sponsored computers and workstations, communications networks, software, and files.

Computing resources are provided to support the academic research, instructional, and administrative objectives of the University. These resources are extended for the sole use of University faculty, staff, students, and other authorized users ("users") to accomplish tasks related to the user's status at the University, and consistent with University's mission.

Users are responsible for safeguarding their identification (ID) codes and passwords, and for using them for their intended purposes only. Each user is responsible for all transactions made under the authorization of his or her ID, and for all network activity originating from his or her data jack. Users are solely responsible for their personal use of computing resources and are prohibited from representing or implying that the content constitutes the views or policies of the University.

Violation of these guidelines constitutes unacceptable use of computing resources, and may violate other University policies and/or state and federal law. Suspected or known violations should be reported to the appropriate University computing unit. Violations will be processed by the appropriate University authorities and/or law enforcement agencies. Violations may result in revocation of computing resource privileges, academic dishonesty or Honor Council proceedings, faculty, staff or student disciplinary action, or legal action.

User Responsibilities

The following provisions describe conduct prohibited under these guidelines:

1. Altering system software or hardware configurations without authorization, or disrupting or interfering with the delivery or administration of computing resources.
2. Attempting to access or accessing another's account, private files, or e-mail without the owner's permission; or misrepresenting oneself as another individual in electronic communication.
3. Installing, copying, distributing or using software in violation of: copyright and/or software agreements; applicable state and federal laws; or the principles described in Using Software, A Guide to the Ethical and Legal Use of Software for Members of the Academic Community, available at www.inform.umd.edu/software-guide.
4. Using computing resources to engage in conduct which interferes with others' use of shared computing resources and/or the activities of other users, including studying, teaching, research, and University administration.
5. Using computing resources for commercial or profit-making purposes without written authorization from the University.
6. Failing to adhere to individual departmental or unit lab and system policies, procedures, and protocols.
7. Allowing access to computing resources by unauthorized users.
8. Using computing resources for illegal activities. Criminal and illegal use may include obscenity, child pornography, threats, harassment, copyright infringement, defamation, theft, and unauthorized access.

Administration

The maintenance, operation, and security of computing resources require responsible University personnel to monitor and access the system. To the extent possible in the electronic environment and in a public setting, a user's privacy will be preserved. Nevertheless, that privacy is subject to the Maryland Access to Public Records Act, other applicable state and federal laws, and the needs of the University to meet its administrative, business, and legal obligations.