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Welcome to Academic Computing & Networking
Updated June, 2006

The information below is the web-based version of the pamphlet mailed with EKey cards to all new students.  You can download a pdf version of the pamphlet to print (two-sided, flip on short side) [for Students or Staff/Faculty] (last updated July, 2007) or read the following information.

Jump to... Getting Started Creating your Trailhead campus portal account Creating your E-mail Account Creating your ADIT Account Creating your Macintosh Account Connecting to the Campus Housing Network Getting Started Checklist Things to Bring with your Computer Remember...

     

Getting Started

You should activate the three different accounts via the steps below to effectively start using services at Mines. The code on the enclosed EKey card is needed for you to create all of these accounts. You will need your Campus Wide ID number ( CWID) and/or sometimes the Username assigned to you by Academic Computing & Networking (AC&N), depending on which account you are creating. Please keep your EKey card in a secure location and bring it to school with you. Do not discard the card after activating your accounts. You will need your EKey to activate new services in the future. There is a $1.00 charge to replace lost cards.

You should become familiar with policies and guide-lines relating to the use of CSM computing and networking resources. You can pick up information at the Computing Commons front desk in CTLM 156A or find this information on the web at

http://www.mines.edu/academic/computer/gettingstarted/

Before you create your accounts, please read the handout or material on the web about creating a good password. A link to this information is available on the getting started page listed above.

We strongly recommend you create and use a Mines e-mail address for school-related correspondence. We will be unable to assist you if you have difficulties receiving assignments or other CSM-related e-mail to a non-Mines address.

Creating Your Accounts

To create your Trailhead Campus Portal account

The Trailhead campus web portal provides access to academic, student life, and administrative business services. It provides you with a personal calendar, access to blackboard and webmail, and other general and personalized information. Through the “Self Service” button you can access services such as your class schedule, grades, drop/add, bills, personal and directory information. You must use this service to select an insurance plan prior to arriving at school. You need your Username and your EKey to create your Trailhead account. Open your web browser to:

http://newuser.mines.edu/trailhead

Enter the information requested and click the Create Account button. Your account should be active within a few minutes. You can test your account by going to

http://trailhead.mines.edu

Login with your username and the password you created. The first time you login to Trailhead, you will be presented with a page of security questions. You should change the questions so they are meaningful to you and provide answers that you can remember but would be hard to guess.

To create your E-Mail account

This account is required to use Mines e-mail and some other academic services. You should activate this account via the web and start using it now to help you become familiar with our services and resources. You should use your Mines e-mail address for all school-related correspondence. The Financial Aid office and others will send certain types of e-mail only to Mines e-mail addresses. We will be unable to assist you if you have difficulties receiving assignments or other CSM-related e-mail at a non-Mines address.

You need the Username assigned to you by AC&N and your EKey to create your e-mail account. Open your web browser to

http://newuser.mines.edu/email

Enter the information requested and click the Create Account button. Your account should be active within a few minutes. You can test your account by going to

http://webmail.mines.edu

Login with your username and the password you created and send an e-mail message to yourself.

To create your ADIT account

To use any of the PCs in central computing labs and establish home directory space, which can be accessed from your residence hall room, you must activate an account on the ADIT server. This account can currently be created only from within Computing & Networking, CTLM, and Library labs. You need the User Name assigned to you by AC&N and your EKey to create this account.

1. Go to any PC in the Computing Commons labs on the first floor of the CTLM-East wing.
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to bring up the user login screen.
3. Type newuser at the "User Name" prompt. DO NOT enter a password.
4. Hit the <Enter> key. This will bring up the WinNT NewUser Program.
5. Enter your user name where requested. Your user name is normally the first letter of your first name followed by the first seven letters (or less for short names) of your last name. If you received an EKey card in the mail, your user name is on the sheet to which the card was attached.
6. Press the <Tab> key to move down to the next blank.
7. If your user name was found in the CSM database, your actual name will be displayed immediately below your user name. If not, contact a student consultant or a member of the Front Desk staff.
8. Enter your EKey  (also known as an authorization code) and then press the <TAB> key.
9. If the EKey is entered correctly, the cursor will move down to the next blank after you press the <Tab> key. If not, try again.
10. At the "Password for the PCs" prompt, enter your password. A poorly constructed password can result in your account being accessed by someone else and/or deactivated by the Computing & Networking staff. Create a good password! Use different passwords for each of your accounts.
11. Hit the <Tab> key.
12. If the password is acceptable the cursor will move down to the next box after you press the <Tab> key. If not, you will be asked to type in a different password.
13. Once the password is accepted, you will be asked to re-enter it.  Type it again and press <Tab>.
14. If the two password entries do not match, you will be asked to repeat the password entry steps. If the two entries do match, a screen will appear which asks "Do you want to add this user?" Click "Yes".  A DOS screen should appear giving you information about the creation of your account.
15. Follow the directions on the DOS screen and click "OK" on the message that pops up upon completion. Your PC account will be activated within approximately fifteen minutes. This account works only for the PCs in the Computing Commons and Library labs. The respective departments administer all other lab accounts.

If you have problems with the process, check with the staff member or consultant at the Front Desk.

To create your Macintosh account

Macintosh accounts are not required to use Academic Computing & Networking services, but are required to login to the Macintoshes in CT156.

1. Go to any Macintosh in CT156.
2. At the login screen, type newuser in the "Name" field. DO NOT enter a password.
3. Hit the <Enter> key. This will bring up a terminal window.
4. Enter your user name where requested. Your user name is normally the first letter of your first name followed by the first seven letters (or less for short names) of your last/family name. If you received an EKey card in the mail, your user name is on the sheet to which the card was attached.
5. If your user name was found in the CSM database, you will be instructed to "Enter Authorization Code" (a.k.a. your EKey)
6. Enter your EKey. (Note that your EKey is case sensitive and that you should not use the numeric keypad to enter the numbers.)
7. If the EKey is entered correctly, you will be asked to create a password.
8. Enter your password and press <Enter>.
9. Reenter your password> when asked, and then press <Enter>.
10. If the two password entries match, you will receive a message indicating that your account has been activated.
11. A dialog box will come up asking if the terminal session created your account successfully. If so, just click Logout; if not, please click Cancel and show an AC&N administrator any errors.

If you have problems with the process, check with the staff member or consultant at the Front Desk.

Connecting your computer to the Campus Housing Network

Network Admittance Policies

AC&N reserves the right to scan all computers connected to the campus and campus housing networks to insure that security patches and appropriate antivirus software are up-to-date prior to allowing full access to the campus network. Be sure to update your operating system, web browser, and other applications with the latest security patches.

The campus housing network uses 10/100 Base-T Ethernet connections. IP addresses and other configuration information is assigned automatically via DHCP. To enable your connection for full use, you need to register your computer and agree to the campus network terms of service. To connect your computer do the following:

1. Pickup patch cables and connection information from your residence hall front desk, or the Student Life office if you live in Mines Park..
2. You should backup your computer prior to connecting it to any network and continue to do backups on a regular basis.
3. Configure your system network settings for DHCP. This may be referred to as "automatically determine my IP address" or similar in your system's configuration options.
4. Connect your computer's network port to a network jack on the wall (these are red).
5. Reboot your computer and start a web browser. Go to http://resnet.mines.edu. Follow the registration instructions on the web page

Important Things to Remember about Connecting to the Campus Housing Network The campus housing network provides access to campus resources and the Internet at speeds much higher than even those provided by Internet Service Providers via DSL or cable modem services. You are responsible for the security of your computer. You should verify that your operating system is up to date and that all security patches are installed. Most vendors provide updates on their websites. Computers found to be spreading viruses, interfering with network operations, or otherwise acting inappropriately will be disconnected from the campus network without warning. If you find your port has been deactivated, please contact the Computing Commons Front Desk. Install anti-virus software and update the definitions at least once per week. AC&N has a site license which extends free of charge to student- and employee-owned systems. See the antivirus section of the AC&N website for information. Computers found to be spreading viruses will be disconnected from the campus network without warning. If you find your port has been deactivated, please contact the Computing Commons Front Desk. Music, video and game files consume large amounts of disk space and you should generally not store them on our servers. Copyrighted material of any type must be obtained legally, and the terms and conditions of licensing agreements and copyright must be observed regardless of where files are stored. Sharing copyrighted files, including music and movies, without permission of the copyright holder is illegal and a violation of CSM policy. Don't do this! Violators are subject to network service suspension or termination. Copyright holders monitor peer to peer networks for violations and are increasingly prosecuting students. Wireless access will be available in the traditional residence halls and Weaver Towers later this summer and later in the Fall throughout Mines Park. Any user-provided wireless access points discovered attached to the campus network in any campus housing unit will be disconnected. .

Getting Started Checklist

___Read policies, understand your responsibilities
___Read information about good passwords -make up good passwords!
___Activate Trailhead account (http://newuser.mines.edu/trailhead)
___ Activate e-mail account (http://newuser.mines.edu/email)
___Test your account with webmail.mines.edu. Send an email to yourself and family or friends.
___Leave for School…Bring your EKey card!
___Activate ADIT account for PC lab use
___I want to use a mail client such as Netscape, Outlook, or Eudora for e-mail. Netscape Messenger
     is available and configured in central PC labs. (We recommend webmail to get started.)
     ___Read settings and options instructions in the Services / E-Mail section of the AC&N web site or
          get handout
___Configure mail client and test
___I plan to connect my computer to the Campus Housing Network
     ___Pick up a connection kit at Residence Hall front desk and read it!
          (Student Life office for Mines Park)
     ___Backup your computer!
     ___Configure your system for DHCP, connect to wall jack, reboot, start web browser, go to http://resnet.mines.edu
     ___Follow instructions on registration page
     ___Ask AC&N “move-in helpers”, other students or Residence Hall staff for help if needed
     ___Contact AC&N if problems persist (303-273-3431, CTLM 156A, open a ticket at the Mines Help Center)
___Learn about computer security and how to apply critical updates to your system. Visit our web site at
     http://www.mines.edu/academic/computer/security/ for basic security information. If you use MS-Windows,
     be sure to visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com frequently.
___Install/update virus protection software on your computer
     (see http://www.mines.edu/academic/computer/antivirus/)
___Install/configure personal firewall on your computer.
     (Info at http://www.mines.edu/academic/computer/networking/sygate/)
___Install/configure anti-spyware software on your computer

Things to bring with your computer

• Operating system, hardware driver, and application software disks in case you have to rebuild your system or reinstall applications.
• Reference manuals for your system, peripherals, and software applications.
• Hardware such as a rewritable CD/DVD, or USB hard drive, and appropriate software and media to backup your system and files.
• Don't forget your printer and supplies!
• Identification and contact information necessary to receive warranty service from your vendor should it be required.
• Appropriate length cables for your monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer and other peripherals.
• A surge protector (or small UPS if you have one).
• You might consider bringing a security device or alarm, especially for your portable computer. Do not get any device that requires permanent attachment to furniture or walls.
• Do NOT bring or purchase a wireless access point. You are not permitted to establish and deliver wireless access services in campus housing units.

Remember

• Never share your EKey, social security number, PINs, or passwords with anyone else.
• Never put your social security number, EKey, password, PIN or other private information in an unencrypted e-mail message.
• If you receive or are issued a password in an email message, you should change it right away.
• Support staff should not need your EKey or password to assist you in any circumstance.
• If you have a Microsoft Windows-based system, we have a site license for virus protection software that extends to your computer. Get it from our web site, use it, and keep it updated!
• Routinely update your operating system and application software with any critical security patches that are released.
• Seek technical help from the web pages or handouts, via helpdesk at the Mines Help Center, from student consultants, full time staff, or friends.

If any of the procedures in this brochure do not appear to work for you, please contact AC&N. Our phone number is on the front of this brochure and on your EKey card. If you have e-mail access through another provider, you can open a ticket at the Mines Help Center http://www.mines.edu/academic/computer/gettingstarted/