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School of Mathematics

Accessing and Managing Your Account

Computer Systems Guide
Printing, E-Mail

Local Login

If you are at a computer or terminal inside a School of Mathematics facility you can log into that machine by typing in your logon name and password in the provided prompt on the display.

Your account gives you access to computers in the Computer Facilities list and your office machine.

Remote Login

To remotely connect to another computer outside the School of Mathematics or to connect to a School of Mathematics computer from an outside computer use the the following command:
	$ ssh username@hostname.math.umn.edu
Replace username with your username on the host computer you are connecting to and hostname with the name or IP address of the remote computer. An example of a hostname would be: gazpacho.math.umn.edu

Telnet should not be used to connect to remote computers, as it creates several security problems. If you must use telnet contact adm@math.umn.edu about using one-time passwords.

Private Data

Protection of private data is a concern of people in the United States and is covered by U of M policy and OIT standards. Private data stored on laptops must be encrypted. If you want to share private data via the web, contact adm@math.umn.edu.

  • Home address, student id, grades and other items are private data. Some students also have FERPA restrictions on publishing their names, so that could also be private information.
  • Never send private data over email unless it's known to be secure.
  • Private data should also must be encrypted laptops, or better not stored on a personal laptop at all.

Gradebooks

A common form of private data handled in the School of Mathematics is course scores and grades.
  • The safest thing to do is only keep scores and grades on your math.umn.edu account, not on laptops.
  • Scores don't have to be on the web.

    If you plan on putting scores on the web: Don't put student names, id numbers or x500ids on course web sites. Instead try one of the following options:

    • Use moodle.umn.edu to manage your grade book. In the web-based moodle software, an instructor can edit scores in a gradebook. With moodle, students and instructors log in with their UMN id.
    • Use a non-identifiable "code name". Randomize the ordering between student and code name. Put assignments on seperate pages.
  • Use encryption, like the cross-platform TrueCrypt software.

Changing Your Password

To change your account's password at the shell prompt enter the passwd command. When asked, enter your current password. Enter your new password for the next two prompts.

Your password should be a combination of mixed-case letters (upper and lower case: a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9), and printable symbols (like !@#$%^&*()-_+=~:;"'<>,.|\). Passwords should not contain any distinguishable patterns or dictionary words.

The commands pwgen and rpass generate good passwords, and some examples are below. 

$ rpass
sals wade holy rosy byes
...
fame pock jibe sere abut
7Nx_dgxJYR
...
y$xF_VBc+6

Don't give out your account password to anyone. This account is for your own personal use and is not to be shared with anyone.

Accounts can be created for visitors and researchers, just contact adm@math.umn.edu.

Groups can also be created so people with distinct accounts can share files.

Logout

To logout of the system close any open windows or programs you have running and type exit at the shell prompt.

If you are at a terminal or computer inside a lab or office you must exit out of the system by selecting Logout from the System menu of the desktop.

Before leaving make sure that you have been properly logged out by waiting for the login prompt to reappear.

Disk Space

To check how much disk space your account is using and has available, run the command quota -v. Most accounts have 4GiB of diskspace, class accounts have 1 GiB, faculty accounts have 8 GiB.

If you have a reasonable need for more space, contact adm@math.umn.edu for an increase in your accounts disk quota.

Institute of Technology
math.umn.edu/systems_guide/account.html
Last Modified August 20, 2007
Contact the School of Mathematics
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