The international exchange student's guide to the computer lab
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If you are in the Scuola Normale for an international exchange program (such as the convention with the French ENSs), you may use the computing resources of the Scuola, including this computer lab.
Contents |
How to get an account
Contact the administrators:
- Denis Nardin, room 27 (Timpano) -- internal phone 9539
- Ilario Gelmetti, room 67 (Timpano) -- internal phone 9581
- Giovanni Mascellani, root 55 (Timpano) -- internal phone 9568
You can also ask the account using the sheet over the door of the lab. Please complete all fields.
You will be given an username and a password that you can use to log on the computers.
Often you will find the administrators slugging in the lab. The lab is managed by the students of the school, as a (very-) part-time collaboration. So the administrators may not be always available, depending on their lessons and commitments. Please be patient, we are Maths students, not professional computer technicians. :)
How to use the computers
On Windows:
- To log on, press ctrl+alt+canc, then type in your username and password.
- Use the computer. Unfortunately, only the italian version of Windows is installed, so you could have some trouble with the language. When in doubt, ask someone, or remember that Annulla means cancel. :)
- To log off, select
start->chiudi sessione (close session)->disconnetti (disconnect).
On Linux:
- To log on, simply type in your username and password.
- Use the computer. The default session is KDE, a well-known desktop environment for Linux.
- To log off, select
menu K->termina la sessione (end session)->termina la sessione corrente (end current session).
What we provide
Apart from the two pc's on the left of the door, all pc are equipped with both Windows and Linux operating systems. If you wish, you may reboot them to switch from one to another.
How to reboot:
- On Windows, press ctrl+alt+canc, click on chiudi sessione (close session), then select riavviare il sistema (reboot the system)
- On Linux, click on the Actions (or System) button on the screen, then riavvia la macchina (reboot the machine) and ok.
Please do not reboot or switch off the three computers on the left of the door.(the ones labelled Linuz and Vega).
All computer are connected to the internet. We have three laser printers available (two black and white duplex printers and one colour printer) and a scanner (working under Windows only). An external CD/DVD burner is kept in the doorkeeper's lodge, ask the doorkeeper if you need it.
If you wish to use your own laptop, you can connect it to the switch just behind the printers.
Windows
Windows accounts are managed by the server Linuz (our linux server). Follows most important informations:
- All users must have linux account. Ask for windows account; in every case both accounts must have the same username, while the passwords can be different.
- The home directory (i.e. the directory in which are your own files) is unique; under linux it is
/home/username, under windows it will be mounted asZ:. You can also get into it at the path\\linuz\usernameby using the tool "Esegui". Your own windows files (personal settings, Desktop, Documents, etc...) are located in the directory/home/username/profile. - By default home directories have read permissions for all users, excepts the folders in which are locate linux personal informations and the directory
profile. We remember that administrators have read/write permissions in all directories. To change permissions use thechmodcommand. - Since both linux and windows home directories are on the same hard disk, if it breaks up you will lose all your own files: so make frequent backups.
- Since in the
profiledirectory are located all windows user configuration files we reccomend not to cancel or modify unknown files in that directory.
Rules
- You may eat or drink in the lab, but please do not leave any litter around.
- You cannot smoke in the lab.
- Those who need the computers for "serious" tasks, such as studying, writing papers, checking their mail, have priority over those who use them for entertainment (computer games, chats...). If you fall in the first category and the lab is full, please ask someone who is playing and they will gladly leave you their pc. Please do not be shy and really do it, the good functioning of this lab depends on this rule. :)
- Please avoid "locking" the computers for more than a few minutes.
Personal space
You can access your personal disk space:
- Under Linux, as the
/home/your_usernamefolder. - Under Windows, as
Z:or by typing\\linuz\your_usernameon any address bar. - From outside the lab, using the SSH/SCP protocol to connect to the host
linuz.sns.it.
You can freely store files and folders in your space. There is no disk quota, but we ask you to make a "fair use" of the space; unless you really need it, please do not store more than one gigabyte in it. If you need some extra space for a good reason, please contact the administrators.
The data are not backed up on a regular basis, so if you have important documents please consider storing a copy elsewhere.
Questions, problems, complaints
Contact the administrators.
Other resources
Internet connection in the rooms
In your room, you should find two ethernet plugs for internet connection. To have them activated, contact the Computing Centre of the Scuola, located in Piazza del Castelletto, or send an e-mail to fenicia - at - sns.it and robertini - at - sns.it . The computing centre can also provide you a network cable.
Wireless (WLAN) connectivity
There is a wireless net. The encryption method is WPA2 TTLS PAP (please read instructions in italian, until we translate them.. :)
Other computer labs in SNS
- a computer lab (aula Fermi) inside the Scuola's main building (Palazzo della Carovana). Account for this lab are provided by the Computing Centre.
- a computer lab inside the G. Carducci residence building. Account for this lab are provided by their administrators
