How Do I Request a CS Account?

Account Types

We have two types of accounts classified by their relative access to CS computing and networking resources. Regular Accounts (also called Full Accounts) allow full access to all the CS computing and networking resources. Limited Accounts are restricted to a minimal set of resources and are typically used only for certain guest accounts. The restrictions are outlined in the Limited Guest Accounts section below.

Beginning in July 2019 (FY2020), all CS accounts require funding for the full duration they are active. This includes summers, transition periods between semesters, and sabbaticals. The Rate Sheet (login required) shows the costs for regular and limited accounts.

Department-Funded, Regular Accounts

The following categories of users are eligible for a department-funded, regular account:

  • Faculty, Staff, and PostDocs in Computer Science
  • Associated faculty (upon end-user request)
  • Emeritus faculty (upon end-user request)
  • Graduate Students in Computer Science
  • Declared AB or BSE Undergraduate Students in Computer Science (upon end-user request)
  • Non-CS Graduate Students who are part of the teaching staff for a COS course (upon request and approval of the Graduate Coordinator)
  • Non-CS Undergraduate Students who are part of the teaching staff for a COS course (upon request and approval of the Department Manager)
  • Non-CS Graduate Students whose primary adviser has a faculty appointment in Computer Science (upon request and approval of the Graduate Coordinator)
  • Students enrolled in COS courses that require access to certain resources are eligible for a temporary Class Account More details about some of the categories follow.

CS Undergraduates (BSE or AB)

CS undergraduate concentrators (BSE or AB) may request the privilege of a CS account by filling out the "New CS Account" form to the left and selecting the account type, "Undergraduate CS Major"  Those eligible are listed on our CS Undergraduate Students page.

Students not listed but who very recently became a CS concentrator, should allow one full business day for their change in status to reach the CS systems.

If you are not listed on that page but believe you are an eligible CS major (BSE or AB), double check in TigerHub that your major is properly recorded by using "View Internal Transcript." If your listed major is incorrect, please contact the Undergraduate Coordinator.

If your record in TigerHub is correct (and you have allowed one full business day for recent updates) and you are not listed on our CS Undergraduate Students page, contact CS Staff.

If you are listed on the CS Undergraduate Students page but are having difficulty with the form, contact CS Staff.

CS Graduate Students

CS NetIDs for incoming CS graduate students will automatically be created by CS Staff late in the summer (approximately 1-2 weeks before graduate student orientation day) and after we have obtained their OIT NetIDs. Faculty may request that specific students have an earlier start date for their account with approval of the Graduate Coordinator and by supplying a chartstring to use for the duration in which the account is active prior to the other grad student accounts being activated.

CS Faculty, Staff, PostDocs

New CS employees (faculty, staff, postdocs) who are within three weeks of starting must wait until we receive notice from OIT that an HR-requested OIT NetID has been assigned. We will then contact the new user and create the CS NetID.

New faculty members who have postponed their start date by more than three weeks can request an account by contacting the Department Manager.

The "three week" cutoff is to avoid a race condition where both HR and CS request an OIT NetID for the same person.

Class Accounts

If you are taking or administering a Computer Science course that requires you to have a CS account and you do not already have a CS account through one of the above affiliations, you may request a class account. Class accounts expire at the end of semester and are deleted so please make sure you backup your files. If you would like a class account please fill out the "CS Undergrad Account" form located on the left sidebar of this page specifying the Class Account type and the CS course you are enrolled in.

Guest Accounts

Please (re-)read "Do You Really Need a CS Account?"

Guest accounts are available for those people who do not have one of the affiliations listed above (i.e., those eligible for a CS account whose cost is not covered by the department) but still have a demonstrated "business need" for an account (that is within University policy).

There are two kinds of guest accounts: a "regular guest account" and a "limited guest account." The costs for the accounts is found on the CS Staff Rate Sheet. In either case, to request a guest account the account sponsor (a CS account holder who is regular CS faculty or staff) should send an email to CS Staff. The message should include:

  • the type of account requested ("regular" or "limited"),
  • the name of the account sponsor (must be faculty or staff),
  • the name of the account holder,
  • their OIT NetID (or an explanation why they won't have one),
  • the business reason for the account (and why existing facilities will not suffice),
  • what resources will be used,
  • the relationship of the account holder to the CS Department,
  • the expected duration of the account, and
  • the chart string for the account charges.

The request will be reviewed by the Computing Facilities Manager.

If the guest has never had an OIT NetID, you should first request a University DCU/RCU account so that an OIT NetID is assigned. CS uses the same "name space" for NetIDs as OIT.

Regular Guest Accounts

"Funded" Guest Accounts allow full access to all the CS computing resources.

Limited Guest Accounts

"Limited" Guest Accounts are available for the cases when only shell access to the file system is needed. The typical use cases would include (1) pass-through SSH access for non-CS guests to dedicated research clusters or (2) for light editing of web content in support of a research project. These accounts are available at lower cost and have the following attributes/restrictions:

  • Shell access (SSH) and a modest quota (128M).
  • Accounts may have unix group memberships as appropriate.
  • Accounts do not have access to the ionic cluster.
  • Users cannot request CS resources such as project space, mailing lists, host registration, etc.
  • Users do not have associated CS email accounts.
  • Users should not run computationally intensive jobs on departmental systems.
  • Users should not use excessive network bandwidth.
  • Users may not use their account to gain access to University resources that they are otherwise not entitled to access.
  • The user needs little or no support from CS Staff.

Note that limited accounts that consume excessive resources (excessive network bandwidth, excessive compute resources, excessive CS Staff time), will be required to convert to a Funded Guest Account.

/node/70 built from account_request.md on 2023-10-26 08:23:43

Tags: