EECS Instructional Computer Facilities
The information in this section, with any current updates, is also available on-line in the file /usr/pub/EECS.facilities. Please also see "What Students Should Do for Help".
Overview of EECS Facilities
Technical and Computing Services (TCS) maintains a variety of computer systems for use by EECS students, professors, researchers and staff. All of the systems are on the Ethernet (provides local networking) and most are linked to the Internet (provides world-wide networking). These systems all run the UNIXoperating system. There are also 486-based ATs running MS-DOS.
TCS operates independently of the Central Computing Services (CCS) but buys time on CCS facilities for Instructional use. CCS user assistance and first-line support is available at the CCS Helpdesk (WEB Office, Evans Hall basement, helpdesk@web, 643-9661). Regular CCS consulting is done at the CCS Consulting Office, 206 Evans Hall, 642-4072. Accounts on CCS-supported systems (CMSA, garnet, violet, uclink) are given out at 241 Evans, 642-7355.
Here are some systems commonly used for EECS instruction:
Laboratory Equipment ----------- -------------------------------------------- 105 Cory HP 715/33 workstations 111 Cory Macintoshes and PCs for AV classes 119 Cory DEC 2100 workstations 123 Cory Intel 486 PCs and printers 199 Cory HP 715/33 and DEC 5000/25 workstations 273 Soda & HP 712/60 workstations 274 Soda `lw274' laser printers 275 Soda HP 712/60 workstations 347 Soda HP 71 5/80 workstations 349 Soda HP 715/80 and SGI workstations ----------- --------------------------------------------Additionally, there is usually a laser printer in each lab.
Please use our /share/b/bin/clients program to see list the computers by name.
Individual Accounts for EECS Faculty
Faculty typically use the instructor's "master" account for a specific class on the EECS Instructional systems. A "master" account is named for the class (such as "cs61a@cory.eecs") and is maintained from one semester to the next to preserve course-related files.
An EECS faculty member may request a personal account by sending e-mail to root@hera.eecs.
Computer Accounts for Students
What is an ``instructional'' account?
The Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences maintains its own computers to be used for EECS coursework. Most EECS students will be issued named accounts only instead of class accounts. A named account has a login that resembles the user's name; a class account login resembles the course name (such as ``ee141-xx'').
There is no fee required for any account on the Instructional computers. The named accounts will be given access to all of the Instructional computers in Cory and Soda Halls, including the HP, DEC and Silicon Graphics workstations and the multi-user machines such as Cory and Po. For most courses, no other accounts will be issued -- students will use their named accounts for all coursework. The password and home directory space will be the same when accessed from any Instructional UNIX computer.
A few classes will still be issued class accounts. Class accounts are created at the request of faculty, who distribute account forms to the students in class. Students do not need to request class accounts. Class accounts expire at the end of the semester.
Who is qualified to have an instructional account?
Undergraduates who are declared as EECS or L&S CS majors, EE and CS graduate students and CS Reentry students can request long-term named accounts on the EECS Instructional systems. The account will remain active as long as the student is in the department. It will not expire or be turned off at the end of each semester.
For undeclared and non-EECS majors, a single named account will usually be issued for all classes being taken. This account will expire at the end of the semester but will be restored if the user enrolls in another EECS course the following semester. Undeclared students in CS Lower Division courses who are candidates for acceptance in the major may be eligible for permanent named accounts, with the approval of the CS Division office (Barbara Hightower, 339 Soda Hall).
What computers can I use for EECS coursework?
The EECS Instructional systems are UNIX and MS-DOS systems. They are located in the southwest corner of the first floor of Cory Hall and the second and third floors of Soda Hall. The Instructional computers can be reached via modem numbers (such as 642-6679). For a current description of the facilities, please read the files /usr/pub/EECS.facilities and /usr/pub/dialups on any EECS Instructional system. Current information is also available using ``gopher'' and is posted on bulletin boards in the EECS computer labs.
Although EECS students will have access to a variety of computers, many instructors will specify a particular operating system (DEC UNIX, HP-UX, Silicon Graphics IRIX, Solaris x86, Windows NT) where the software for that course runs best. The file /usr/pub/Tbl_of_Classes includes information about software and computers provided for specific classes.
Some classes will be assigned semesterly ``class'' accounts on non-EECS systems, such as the Webworm Sun Sparc cluster. The EECS instructional ``named'' accounts will not be valid on those machines nor on systems such as uclink.
How do I obtain my instructional account?
New accounts:
To request a new ``named'' account, users should login to any
EECS Instructional system as the user ``newacct''. You can do this in 2 ways:
1) Type ``newacct'' at the login window of any workstation in an EECS lab, such as 105 Cory or 273 Soda.
2) Type ``rlogin cory.eecs -l newacct'' from another UNIX computer account or over a modem if you call from home.
You will be asked for your Student ID number and name. If your entries are valid, you will be asked to choose a login (i.e. your ``computer name''). The account will usually be created by 1PM on the next business day, and you can go to 391 Cory after that to obtain your account form and password. You will have to show a valid student ID card at that time.
The newacct procedure may reject the requests for some users, typically if they do not have a Student ID Number or if they are not pre-enrolled in any EECS course. In that case, newacct will inform the student to complete an EECS Instructional Account Request Form, available outside 386 Cory.
When you first log in to your new account, you'll be asked to enter the EECS classes you are taking. Later, you can use the ``validate'' command to modify that. This information may be used to allow you to access software that is restricted to your class.
Where do I go for help about an instructional account?
If you have trouble with your account, contact a member of the EECS Instructional group by sending email to inst@eecs (NOT root@eecs or root@cs) or visiting 384/386 Cory Hall or 333 Soda Hall. Tutorial help and guidance about UNIX, the terminals and printers is also available from the XCF group of student volunteers in 311 Soda or from the CSUA volunteers in 343 Soda.
Other Accounts for Students
The following computer facilities are available for students to get personal, long-term computer accounts. All are on the campus network and can be reached by modems.
System Location Account eligibility, cost, and name of terminals where to ask questions ------ ------------- ----------------------------------------------- soda 343 Soda members of the CSUA; free; go to 343 Soda Hall or send e-mail to ``root@soda'' ocf 72 Barrows all UCB students; free; go to 72 Barrows Hall or send e-mail to ``root@ocf'' uclink various UCB students, staff and faculty; free; go to 241 Evans, send e-mail to ``consult@uclink'' or call 642-7355 ------ ------------- -----------------------------------------------
Services Provided to EECS Faculty
Technical Support
Instructors and TAs who detect a problem with the Instructional facilities are requested to call or send e-mail to the Manager of the Instructional Support Group (Kevin Mullally, 643-6141, kevinm@cory.eecs) or to call the main ISG number to leave a message (642-6744).
Application Software Support
The Instructional Systems Support Group has the task of providing computer systems and peripherals, and the standard UNIX and NT operating systems software for EECS instructional lab work. Other popular application programs are supported, such as scm, java, Powerview, Franz Lisp, OPen GL and SUPREM. (Run the software command on most EECS Instructional systems to see more information about supported software.)
Other applications used for instruction are maintained by the instructors. When an instructor wishes to install a new application, he or she should consult with the Instructional Support Group. Issues to be considered will include the system load, costs and maintenance efforts that the software will impose.
For vendor-supplied software, our staff usually will do the installation and keep the tapes and documentation. The staff may provide a copy of ] the documentation for use in the lab room, but the instructor is responsible for making copies for the entire class.
If the instructor provides the software, our staff will install it if ``root'' permission is required. The tasks of debugging and testing are the responsibility of the user.
What Faculty Should Do for Help
Faculty and TAs are encouraged to contact the Administrator of the system they are using, either by e-mail or by phone. This will assure quick attention to the problem. For Instructional computer systems, contact the Manager of Instructional Systems: Kevin Mullally, 643-6141, kevinm@cory.eecs). Also, all of the methods described in the following section are available.
What Students Should Do for Help
There are many different ways to find information or obtain help. Depending on the nature of your question or problem, you may want to use one or more of the following methods for obtaining assistance:
- Read the on-line Manual Pages. (See Online Manual (``man'') Pages)
- Read the various help files stored in the /usr/pub
directory of all EECS Instructional computers.
Type ``cd /usr/pub; ls'' for - Read the various help files available via ``anonymous FTP''. (See Anonymous FTP.)
- Read current information posted on big green bulletin boards near 105 Cory and 273 Soda and in the EECS Instructional lab rooms.
- Solicit advice and help from TCS by sending e-mail to ``root'' on your computer.
- See the EECS Instructional staff in 384 Cory or 333 Soda.
- The Experimental Computing Facility (XCF) offers walk-in help, tutorial classes and handouts. The XCF is run by students and is located in 311 Soda Hall.
- The Computer Science Undergraduate Association (CSUA) in 343 Soda Hall can provide some assistance.
- Read the various help files available through ``Infocal'' by typing: telnet infocal.berkeley.edu
- Use the netscape or Internet Explorer programs. See The World-Wide Web)
Access to Terminal Rooms and Printers
Most of the labs will require access by cardkey (so will the building itself on evenings and weekends). The Instructional labs are provided for students to complete coursework, so access is linked to the current enrollment in an EECS course. Students are pre-approved for cardkeys based upon TeleBears enrollement data and updates provided by instructors to the ISG manager.
How to get a Card Key
- Students are given access permission by their instructors, who submit a signed class list to 391 Cory.
- Once the list has been submitted, students should go to 391 Cory to obtain new cardkeys or to have an existing one updated.
Access Policy
- The Instructional computing labs in Cory and Soda Halls are usually unlocked from 7am-6:30pm on weekdays when classes are in session.
- The PC and electronic labs will always require a cardkey.
- Access to the buildings and to individual labs will require a cardkey after 6:30pm and on weekends, vacations and holidiays.
Please note that there is a campus escort service that will walk you from the labs to the dormitories or parking lots. Call 642-WALK for assistance. This is highly recommended if you are working in the computer labs at night.
Information on card key procedures and access is subject to change. Current information about the Instructional labs is available on-line in the file 2.7 for details.
Dialup Access
Users can access EECS Instructional systems via modems on the following terminal servers.
MODEM PHONE NUMBERS Numbers Baud Rate Device Accessed ------------- -------------------- --------------------------------- 642-6679 auto, up to 14.4kb modems on a terminal server 642-0070 auto, up to 28.8kb modems on a terminal server 642-5131 auto, up to 14.4kb modems on a terminal server 642-7773 auto, up to 2400 modems on a terminal server 642-7654 auto, up to 28.8kb modems on a terminal server 642-9600 auto, up to 14.4kb IST modems on a terminal server 643-0165 same, w/ 15 min limit IST modems on a terminal server ------------- -------------------- --------------------------------- * These numbers access a ``hunt group'' of modems. If one is busy, the next is tried automatically. Each of these hunt groups includes at least 16 modems. So, you can dial a single number to reach the next available modem in the group. * Optimized for high speed use only and are primarily meant for SLIP and PPP applications. Connection speed on your workstation should be set for: 38.4kb, no parity, 8 data bits, stop bit. Send questions to `dialups@eecs' please. * Access to EECS instructional machines from the Information Systems \& Technology (IST) terminal servers may vary from time to time. Users who are have trouble getting to EECS instructional machines from the IST terminal servers should notify `dialups@eecs' as well as report the problem to the IST Trouble Desk at 642-4920.
When connecting from a modem, use these line settings:
parity: none, Data bits: 8, Stop bits: 1
or
parity: even, Data bits: 7, Stop bits: 1
Most software will work with either setting. The first one is preferable; however, some older file transfer software may only work with the second one.
Home Internet Access with PPP or SLIP
Information Services and Technology (IST) provides this service for UCB students, faculty, and staff. Please read /usr/pub/home-ip.help for details.Terminal Server Example
Here is an example of the screen that should appear on your terminal once the terminal server answers your modem. You may need to enter| | Annex Command Line Interpreter * Copyright 1988 Xylogics, Inc. | | Checking authorization, Please wait... | | Home-IP username: | | Home-IP password: | | >>> Welcome to Cory Hall Modems | | Type "rloginHere, you can login directly to a computer (using the "rlogin" or "telnet" commands) or you can initiate a Home-IP connection (by typing "SLIP" or "PPP"). Here are examples of what you would see.-l " to login. | After logging out, please type "hangup" to reset session. | Type "help" if you need more information. | | annex-64-9 port 7 ===>
Login directly (no home-IP):
| annex-64-9 port 7 ===> rlogin parker.eecs -l cs61a-zz | Password: | | .... message of the day, user's login scripts, etc .... | | .... after we're done .... | | parker> logout | CLI: Connection closed. | annex-64-9 port 7 ===> hangup | | Resetting line and disconnecting.Initiating home-IP:
| annex-64-9 port 7 ===> SLIP | | .... pauses here, as long as 30 seconds .... | | Permission granted | | Switching to SLIP. | | Annex address is 136.152.64.31. Your address is 136.152.91.1.The home-ip software on your home computer may require you to do some "complete the connection" action (click on a button or etc). After that, you should be able to run network-based commands such as a WWW browser, telnet, finger or whatever else you have on your home computer.
Please read /usr/pub/dialups and/or /usr/pub/home-ip.help for the latest information about access by modem.
File Transfers
The file transfer programs xmodem and kermit are usually available on the Instructional systems. These are common directory locations (depending upon the system and version of the programs):
/usr/local
/usr/local/bin
/usr/public
/usr/sww/bin
/share/a/bin
Each has built-in help information which is displayed if you type kermit or xmodem.
The ZMODEM protocol is supported by the programs sz and rz, usually located in the one of the above directories.
For more detailed information about file transfers, please see the file /usr/pub/dialups or the information on Gopher.
inst@eecs.berkeley.edu