IT Services for Undergraduate and Taught MSc Students

Where?

• The School provides a number of computing labs with access to the School specific software and also the University student email service. Your first point of contact with regard to the taught material is the lecturer in charge of the given laboratory.
• For general use, the University provides a number of "Open Access Computing Laboratories" (aka "Microlabs"), in which a wide range of software (some general, some subject specific) and the student email service are available. A support service and helpdesk, including introductory IT sessions, is provided.
•  It is School policy that most software used in taught classes, should be usable from some the University's open access laboratories. Some of these are accessible 24 hours per day  (e.g.Solid Edge is installed in KB Centre, Swan & Hugh Robson Basement). For technical reasons there is some software which cannot be made available outside the School.
• Access from home - see our page on Remote Access for information on how to connect to our services from outside the University. See footnote

When?

• When not used for taught classes, the School's computing laboratories are available to undergraduates for ad-hoc use whenever there is servitor cover in the buildings.
• Some of the University Microlabs are subject to the same opening hours, some venues follow the Library opening hours and some are open 24 hours per day including weekends.
• Computing Laboratories: School Timetable

What?

• Please act responsibly and not participate in disreputable activities.
• File Store:
  • You must use the network filestore we provide to save all your University work. The filestores provided are backed-up nightly.
  • You have a University provided network file store ("M:" on Windows PCs) and a School (SEE) provided network file store.
  • Both network filestores are accessible from most places including your home.
  • A `USB-memory-stick' is useful to transfer data, but is no substitute for using the network file store for storing your coursework.
• Operating systems:
  The School uses Linux, Unix and Microsoft Windows (Windows7).
  • Windows applications have to be run on Windows PCs (or using the Windows Virtual environment)
  • Most Linux and Unix applications can be run from Windows by using NX.
  • TLA/B/D/G PCs  can run both Linux and Windows 7, please see the instructions in the lab about logging in.  The PCs must NOT be rebooted.
  • TLF PCs are Windows with access to Linux, Unix applications using NX.
  • TLC workstations are Linux ONLY and run services for the rest of the School and must NOT be rebooted.
• Applications - full index
  School specific MS-Windows applications in Microlabs (information not yet available)
• Office Tools:
  The School IT team that you should use OpenOffice, throughout your course.
  • OpenOffice is available on all machines in the School and the University Microlabs. If you have your own personal computer, OpenOffice can be downloaded for free.
  • You can generate PDF output files for reading by others, eg for electronic submission of course work, by selecting the "CutePDF" printer under the MS-windows print menu. You can also export to PDF directly from OpenOffice.
• Collaboration tools
  Collaboration tools such as bulletin boards or Wikis, are available.
• Disruptions and problems affecting Labs
  Please click here for information about problems and disruptions in School Computing Labs

Logging in and out

• The login and logout procedure is exactly the same as for the University Microlabs, ie you use the same username and password. 
• Accounts are available when you first matriculate. Your accounts are valid until you leave the University.

Fault reporting in School laboratories

• In School laboratories, any faults with the equipment or software not loading should be reported through the IS Helpline (SeeSup). Please give a full description, and if possible, please try to include any error messages that you can.
• For problems you encounter understanding or using the engineering applications, you need to see your course tutor in the first instance.
• If you encounter problems with how to use generic applications such as the student mail service (SMS), web browsers, OpenOffice etc, please refer to student support.

Home Computing - where does it fit in?

• School Policy: On-line access from home, or use of home computers to load and run software which is used in taught classes is NOT a requirement of any courses taught by the School. Use of the Univeristy's Open Access lab during termtime is deemed provide sufficient facility to be able to satisfy course work requirements. No personal purchase of course software is expected.
• Of course, students may prefer to use their own facilities, but you are encouraged in particular to use the University or School filestore for storage of all your course work. This may be found to be particularly helpful if you or your machine suffer incapacity.