Desktop and tech support
From NCEAS Knowledge Base
- Contacts: Nick Brand, Thomas Hetmank , Ron Theiss (Room 314)
| Need a quick answer? |
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| The NCEAS computer staff actively maintains an online Solutions Center with information on a wide variety of NCEAS computing and technical topics, including answers to frequently asked questions. To get pointers on topics relevant to you, check out the relevant link: |
NCEAS' computing support staff is always available to help you with technical use of our facilities. Our goal is to provide you with easy access to computing services and help remove technical barriers to your research activities at the Center. To discover more about NCEAS computing resources or to get started on setting up any of these services, contact a member of our staff or refer to the resources listed in the Need a quick answer? box on this page.
Some of the most frequently requested, commonly used services are described below:
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Internet and local network access
Wireless Internet access is available throughout NCEAS' premises. Access instructions are posted in the Conference Rooms and here. For faster access and for individuals with older laptops, we provide wired Ethernet connections in our Common Access Rooms, our Lounge, and all offices. In addition, our conference rooms provide cables at each seating station, which can be attached directly to your Ethernet network card. To connect your laptop to the Internet you should set it up to use DHCP services (obtaining an IP address automatically) in order to get assigned a proper name and number to operate on our network.
A visitor account provides login access to a storage area where files can be shared anywhere within our network. The password is displayed on machines in our Common Access areas. How to access
Shared printing
Networked printing is available for visitors and residents, although we encourage users to minimize unnecessary paper use. High-speed black-and-white laser printers are located in the Common Access rooms, and a color laser printer is located in room 313. Details about our printers and instructions on connecting to them are available on the NCEAS Printers page.
Data projectors and SMART whiteboards
Both of the Conference Rooms have data projectors permanently mounted to point at the main screen. A highly portable data projector is available upon request, for use in breakout rooms or the lounge. The conference rooms and the lounge area are also equipped with SMART whiteboards, which takes collaboration to a new level. Detailed instructions on using the projectors and SMART whiteboards, including how to cable them up to your laptop and switch the remote control, are located in each Conference Room.
Common computers and laptop loans
Located in our Vislab (Room 313) are several shared computers that are hooked up to the Internet and available for your use. These Windows, Macintosh and Linux machines feature a broad array of Internet, Office, Graphics, and Scientific/Analytical application software. If you cannot locate the package that you need, please ask one of the computing support staff for assistance. We also have available a limited number of laptops (Windows/Mac/Linux) that can be loaned out for computing during a meeting.
In addition, accounts are available on our Unix systems for demanding scientific analyses and modeling needs. Contact Nick or Mark for assistance on Unix account creation, and availability of software on these systems.
Digital Library Services
Computers networked at NCEAS are inside the UCSB.edu domain, and can thereby access the California Digital Library. See details at http://www.library.ucsb.edu and http://www.cdlib.org.
Special note for visitors
If you are bringing your own laptop system for connecting to our network, particularly if it is running Windows software - please be aware that it is highly vulnerable to viruses and intrusion attempts. If you have not taken the following precautions, chances are high that your machine is infected:
- Personal Firewall (Windows XP's built-in one is fine)
- latest critical (Windows) operating system updates
- up-to-date anti-virus software
- up-to-date anti-spyware software
Before hooking up to our network, we strongly recommend that you contact one of the above computing support staff, and ask them to test and patch your machine for these major security problems. It is much easier for us to fix these before you get onto the network rather than afterwards. If your machine is infected, its network access will be disabled until the security problem is corrected.
