October 2003

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IT at Oxford University

• Oxford University Computing Services (OUCS)
• 13 Banbury Road
• Tel. (2)73200
• help_at_oucs.ox.ac.uk

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Agenda

• University card
• OUCS services and who can use them
• E-mail addresses and how to use
• Network connection and remote access
• Personal web space
• OUCS helpdesk and helpcentre
• IT training programme
• Other resources including Shop and Libraries
• Useful web links

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University Card

• Oxford University identity card
• Sign the back NOW
• Carry it with you at all times
• Used to access all OUCS Services, libraries,
  departments, College facilities
• If lost report immediately to College
  Office/Porters/College IT Dept/Library

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OUCS Services

• Backbone network, mail, web, news, UNIX servers
• Your department or Colleges network is run by
  dept/college staff and we cannot set up a
  connection to it for you at OUCS
• Remote access service
• File backup and archive
• Helpcentre
• Computer training including ECDL.
• Hardware maintenance - special rates
• Hardware and software purchasing via OUCS Shop
• Shop disks, documentation, software, computers
  etc. Open Mon-Fri, 0900 - 1645 (Thur 0930)
• Large scale plotting

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Who can use OUCS Services?

• Undergraduates
• Postgraduates
• All members of staff of the University
• College staff
• Anyone with a blue University Card

OUCS Facilities and services are normally free to
all members of Oxford University
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Email at Oxford

• Use for ALL university correspondence
• Email addresses available via the web
• www.ox.ac.uk/contact
• DO NOT use hotmail for university work
• Obey rules for computer use
• DO NOT disclose your password to anyone
• Change your password regularly
• Basic SPAM filtering available

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Email Addresses

• All undergraduates have a pre-created e-mail
  address and account
• Graduates need to self-register on OUCS web pages
• You can do this from anywhere on the University
  network you do not need to come to OUCS!
• University email address
• first.last_at_long-name.oxford.ac.uk or
• first.last_at_shortname.ox.ac.uk
• Graduates generally have addresses for department
  and college but all e-mail goes to the same
  e-mail account

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Reading Email

• Main OUCS mail server is called HERALD
• WING is the web interface to herald
• https//herald.ox.ac.uk or http//herald.ox.ac.uk
• Can read e-mail using an e-mail client
• Outlook Express, Netscape Messenger, Eudora -
  need the specific software on own computer and
  need to set it up
• Configuration instructions at http//www.oucs.ox.a
  c.uk/email/config/
• Many colleges insist on students reading e-mail
  daily in full term
• If you dont read your herald e-mail regularly
  please forward it to an account that you do read
  regularly

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Connecting to the network

• College or department specifics
• Local connections, run by college or department
• OUCS cannot set up a connection to a College or
  Department network for you as we do not run the
  network inside the college or department
• You MUST have anti-virus and patches up to date
  (windowsupdate)
• Peer-to-peer file sharing (e.g. Kazza) forbidden
  and will result in disconnection and a fine
• Ethernet card and software needed (unless
  internal network adapter in your computer)
• Oxford backbone and JANET
• Email software

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Remote Access

• Dialup service
• Use for analogue modem access
• Only charge is the phone call
• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/dialup/
• VPN service
• Use for access to Oxford-only resources if you
  have a connection that is not an network
  connection or OUCS dialup. (e.g. Freeserve
  dialup, or a broadband connection)
• Useful for OxLIP, OXAM.
• Must get software before you leave Oxford for the
  vacation (from OUCS shop)
• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/network/vpn/oucs-service/
  
• Never need to use both services together!

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Personal Web Space

• Each user has 15MB of web space
• Must be activated through manage on WING
  interface to herald
• Access using herald username and password
• Use SCP, FTP or connect drive to place files on
  web space
• Might need to use makeweblinks command on linux
  server for SCP connection
• Details on OUCS web site
• May not be used for commercial purposes

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What can go wrong?

• Computer virus? - protect your computer, regular
  updates available from OUCS
• Keep machines up to date!
• Corrupt/lost files? Take regular backups
• No space for new email? - delete old and unwanted
  messages - limit of 30MB for students - Watch
  for big attachments
• Forgotten password on
• Herald? See OUCS Helpcentre
• College/dept. network? See College/dept. IT Staff

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Dealing with Problems

• Look on OUCS or college/dept. web pages for help
• http//welcometoit.ox.ac.uk
• Then ask college or department IT staff
• If all else fails then use the OUCS Helpdesk
• 8.30am-8.30pm Mon-Fri
• Call (2)73200, E-mail help_at_oucs.ox.ac.uk or visit
  us
• General help and changing herald, remote access
  or athens password
• Forgotten college or department network password?
  OUCS dont control those so cant help see
  college or department IT Staff

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OUCS Helpcentre Services

• Bring your University Card
• No card No access
• Computers Mac and PC
• Lots of applications including office, web, email
  etc.
• Need an OPEN account (register in helpcentre)
• BW and Colour Printing
• Photocopying, scanning including 35mm slides
• Self-teach materials, including for ECDL
• CD-Writing
• ZIP drives, USB stick drive support
• Video editing
• PC consultancy appointments
• Only after initial consultation with helpdesk

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IT Training Programme

• Many courses available mostly free!
• 1 hour, half-a-day, to three full days
• All levels
• European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
• Office applications, e-mail, publishing
  (including Web), research skills, programming,and
  much more!
• Online booking system (OUCS Web Site)

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European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

• Seven modules
• Take over three years
• Test as they are ready
• Self-assessment
• Computer-based training
• Certificate when complete
• Internationally recognised

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Training for ECDL

• Attend OUCS courses
• ECDL Self-Teach in Helpcentre
• CBT on own computer
• ECDL workbook
• Weekly training and testing at OUCS - Tuesdays
  1000-1300 in Michaelmas 2003 (Weeks 0-10)

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Other Resources

• OUCS Shop Bring your University Card!
• Software (including anti-virus and critical
  windows updates at 1 per CD)
• Hardware including printers, PCs and Macs
• Ethernet cards and cables
• Disks, batteries, laptop security devices
• Printing credits for OUCS helpcentre
• Documentation for courses and manuals
• Cash, cheque or VISA (2 charge on credit cards)
• Libraries OxLIP (Not OUCS-provided)
• http//www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/elec-res.html
• Subject-specific

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Useful Web Addresses

• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk
• http//welcometoit.ox.ac.uk
• https//register.oucs.ox.ac.uk
• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/learning/
• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/courses/
• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/shop/
• http//www.ox.ac.uk/it/rules/
• http//www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/email/config/