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What is an ICS Account?

If you are enrolled in an ICS class that requires you to use any ICS computing resources, you will need an ICS account. An ICS account is actually two accounts, a Windows account, and a UNIX account. They are separate and distinct both from each other and from your UCInetID. They each have an expiration date, usually the same, and they each have a password, which can be the same. You will need your Windows account to access instructional dropboxes, and your UNIX account to access your ICS e-mail and your network drive. It would be difficult, to say the least, to get much homework done without first activating your ICS accounts.

Getting an ICS Account

Q: Who is qualified to get an ICS account?

All ICS majors.

Non-ICS majors currently enrolled in an ICS class which requires the use of an ICS account.

Students currently enrolled in an ICS class through University Extension.

Q: Where do I go to get an ICS Instructional account?
Instructions can be found at Activating your ICS Instructional Account.

If you are a student enrolled through University Extension, go to CS 346L and see the ICS Lab Manager regarding your account. You will need to show proof of enrollment and some form of picture ID (such as a driver's license).

Q: Okay, my instructor just signed my add card, why can't I get an account?
Our system is linked to the UCI registrar's database, and we receive updates several times each day. If your classes were dropped because you haven't paid your fees, or you have not yet turned in your add card, then you are not currently enrolled and you cannot obtain an account.

Using an ICS Account

Q: Now that I have an ICS account, what are my responsibilities as a fellow user of a multiuser system?

Do Not ...

* send messages to people who don't want to receive them

* advertise any commercial products or use your account to earn money.

* propagate chain letters

Type man ethics for the man page that discusses this topic and provides guidelines. Also, there is an online document Ethical Use of Computing Resources.

Q: What machines are available for instructional use?
CS 364 has around 130 PCs and Sun Workstations.

Students can log directly into any of the UNIX Workstations located in CS 364 or connect remotely using a secure terminal emulation program, such as Secure CRT.

For more information, see ICS Lab Specifications.

Q: Where can I go to log in?
The Network and Academic Computing Services (NACS) has public labs on the first floor of the Engineering Gateway Building. Their labs are open 24 hours a day.

The School of Information and Computer Science (ICS) has labs for students taking ICS classes on the 1st and 3rd floors of the Computer Science building. Check the posted hours for specific hours of operation. Note that these labs are not "public" labs in the sense that they are only for students taking ICS courses.

See ICS Lab Equipment and Hours for more information about the ICS labs.

Q: How do I access my account from home?
If you have a network connection and a PC with terminal emulation software or communication software at home, you can connect to the UCI computer systems remotely. Connect via ssh to "openlab.ics.uci.edu" which is an alias to a load balanced, round robin of UNIX machines. You will be connected to the machine that has the most available cpu usage.
Q: I can't log in because I forgot my password.
The Lab Assistant in CS 364 can reset your password for you. Be sure to bring a photo ID, preferably your student ID card.
Q: How can I change my password?
To change your ICS password you need to go to http://support.ics.uci.edu/passwd This page is only available from on campus. If you are off campus please use the UCI VPN. For more information on VPN see http://www.nacs.uci.edu/security/vpn

Q: I've never used UNIX. How do I get started?
If you are unfamiliar with the UNIX operating system, you may want to peruse our UNIX Support pages .

Account Expiration

Q: When does my account expire?

Accounts are extended automatically when you register for classes. If you are registered, and your account has expired, please contact ICS Support.

If you are a ICS major, your account should expire shortly after graduation. If you are a non-ICS major taking an ICS class your account expires shortly after the end of the quarter in which the class is taken. Should you take another ICS class which requires computer resources, your account will be extended, re-opened or re-created. Accounts created for extension students expire shortly after the end of the class.

Q: My account is about to expire because I am not an ICS major, but I'll be taking another ICS course next quarter. How do I get my account extended?
Not all ICS courses use computer accounts, but if the course you are taking does, your account will be re-opened at the start of next quarter. Due to disk space limitations, expired accounts are sometimes deleted between quarters. You might want to download your files to a floppy disk or CDROM to save them. There are two type of people, those who make backups, and those who wish they did.
Q: In a previous quarter I had an account which has now expired. This quarter I'm again enrolled in an ICS course. What should I do?
Try logging back into your account to check if it has been reactivated. If not, see the Lab Assistant in CS 364. Be sure to bring your ID card with you.