computer Suite

The Computer Suite

Computer suite

The Computer Suite is situated on the first floor of Garden Court. It contains 15 PCs and an iMac which are connected to the Cambridge University Data Network (CUDN). Also a scanner and two colour/black and white printers. These machines are linked directly to the Public Workstation Facility (PWF) which supports a number of standard and specialised software packages in the following areas:

• Communications and Networking

• Computing Service Information

• Database Packages

• E-Mail

• Graphics and Presentation

• Programming languages

• Spreadsheets and Statistics

• Teaching Packages

• Utilities and Accessories

• Word and Text Processing

You can see your own filespace (250Mb) from any of the computers, so a file written on one machine may be used on any of the others. Please remember to make a backup of your work to a disk or memory stick, as security cannot be guaranteed

A collection of older PCs are designated as web-mail terminals, and should not be used for anything else.

Printing is provided from a HP 4200 LaserJet network printer. The charge is 5p per sheet for black & white or 14p for colour printing to offset the cost of the toner and paper. The cost is added to your college bill at the end of term.

Sidney Sussex College has a World Wide Web (WWW) server. The Universal Resource Locator (URL) of this server is http://www.sid.cam.ac.uk. It can be accessed from either the Macs or PCs by logging on to the network and then selecting a WWW browser application. Within the Computer Suite, this application is configured to display the Sidney Sussex web pages by default.

The same general rules apply in the Computer Suite as in the rest of the Library - no smoking, eating or drinking. Mobile phone use is forbidden. We also forbid the use of computer games. Please remember that the Computer Suite is designated as a space for quiet work and study - your cooperation in keeping noise to a minimum is appreciated.

All the student rooms within the college are now wired for Ethernet connection to the CUDN. If you have a computer you wish connected you will need an Ethernet card with an RJ-45 connector and a cable. Newer laptops may have an internal Ethernet card already installed. If not you will need a PCMCIA or USB Ethernet card. Network cards cost £15 from the Computing Officer. You will also have to configure your computer for network access and request an IP number from the Computing Officer. The cost is currently £16 per term. If you are unsure how to accomplish this, either a student computing officer or the Computing Officers will provide help. Several web pages are also available to guide you through the process. You are also responsible for ensuring that you download the latest free virus scanning software, available from the Computing Service at http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/virus/

What if I need help?

The Computer Officer is Patrick Gates. He is in charge of the general computing facilities within the College and works in close co-operation with Dr Laurent Storoni, Fellow in charge of Computing. Andre Jiggins is the Assistant Computer Officer. They can usually be found in the office located on the first floor adjacent to the Computer Suite. They are happy to answer any questions regarding the computer systems, and prepared to welcome new users into the College by giving them a hands-on tutorial on basic aspects of computer use.

As well as the Computer Officers, there are Student Computer Officers who are always willing to help with general queries when they are available. On the other hand, if you have a non-urgent query, you can send an e-mail to help@sid.cam.ac.uk which will be directed to the Computing and Student Computing Officers. This is an effective way of asking for help or further information.

How do I access the Network?

Shortly after arriving, students are issued with a user identifier and two University passwords. One password will be for your Hermes e-mail account and the other for your PWF access. These are issued by the University Computing Service. Your user ID is a set of letters followed by some numbers – for example, Joe A Bloggs might be jab230. The User ID will be the same for all computing systems with the exception (there is always at least one exception!) of the Engineering Department, who have their own identifiers in the form 01JAB.

How do I use e-mail?

To access e-mail use the dedicated web-mail terminals or go to http://webmail.hermes.cam.ac.uk/ . You will n be prompted for your user ID (the one from the Computing Service). Type the ID exactly as given and press enter. You will now be asked for your Hermes password. This is on the same sheet as your user ID. Be sure to use your Hermes password and NOT your PWF password, and again type the password exactly as shown on the sheet.

On the PWF machines, log in using your user ID and PWF password. Then select “PWF Programs and Information” this can be found on the desktop or from the start menu. Next select e-mail then the Mail User Agent (MUA) you wish to use to access your e-mail. This should become familiar with a little practice - if not, please ask for help.

What if the program I want is not listed?

Special programs can be requested from PWF but we have to request them several months in advance. If your department requires a special software package, please request it as early as possible. Depending on cost, availability and compatibility we will try to make it available if required by several users.

What happens if I lose my password?

If you lose your password all is not lost! You can be given a new password from the Computing Service helpdesk at the New Museums site. Remember to take ID with you.

Rules of the College Library and Computer Suite

1. The primary purpose of the College Library and Computer Suite is to serve members of the College who are working for the Tripos. Graduate students and other resident members of the College are also encouraged to use these facilities. Non-resident members of the College, members of other Colleges and other persons may be admitted by prior arrangement with the Librarian or the Computer Officer.

2. The Library and Computer Suite should be places where individuals can work in quiet, clean and tidy surroundings. In the interests of all users noise must be kept to a minimum and books, notes and personal possessions should not be left on the tables.

3. Smoking is forbidden in the Library and the Computer Suite.

4. No food or drink may be brought into the Library or the Computer Suite. Bottles of water are allowed but should be stored on the floor not on the tables.

5. Because of the risk of spillage, bottles of ink may not be brought into the Library or the Computer Suite.

6. Mobile phones must be switched off if brought into the Library or the Computer Suite and may not be used there. £5 fine will be charged for use of a mobile phone.

7. Users of the Library and the Computer Suite must conform to the notices and instructions of the Librarian and the Computer Officer.

8. Users who flout these rules, or disturb or obstruct other users, may be fined or reported to the Dean, who may impose a fine or exclude the offender temporarily or permanently from the Library and the Computer Suite.

Rules applicable specifically to the College Library

9. Books, periodicals and other publications must be treated with care. They must not be marked or defaced in any way. Offenders against this rule will be required to pay for the replacement of items lost, damaged or defaced.

10. Reference books, periodicals, examination papers and other books marked for reference only may not be removed from the Library.

11. Books not excluded under Regulation 10 may be borrowed within the periods prescribed by the notices posted in the Library, provided that the loan has been registered in accordance with those notices. Up to ten volumes may be borrowed at a time. All books borrowed within Full Term must be returned within ten, or three days for short loan material, or by the date announced for the end-of-term recall, whichever is the sooner. If a borrowed book is requested for use by another reader, it must be returned within 48 hours of receipt of the recall notice. Books borrowed for the vacation must be returned by the first Wednesday of the next Full Term.

12. The non-return of books is a disciplinary matter. Failure to return books by the date prescribed at the end of the Easter Term may result in the replacement cost of the books being added to the borrower's College bill.

13. Users must not lend books they have borrowed to any other person without the permission of the Librarian.

Rules applicable specifically to the Computer Suite

14. Users shall not jeopardize the integrity of the computing equipment, the installed software or stored information.

15. It is forbidden to make unauthorized copies of software stored on the servers or on individual machines.

16. Use of the facilities for storing or processing personal data must be in accordance with the Data Protection Act; such use must be notified to the relevant College Officer.

17. Use of the University Network is allowed under the rules laid down by the University Information Technology Syndicate.