Computer Labs

orion galaxy

News and Current Events

11/05/09 | Thanksgiving hours for the Labs

The Sonora and Jonsson computer labs will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, with reduced hours on Wednesday, November 25th. Normal hours will resume that Sunday, November 29th. Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 24 – Normal Hours
Wednesday, November 25 – 8:00am-7:45pm
Thursday, November 26 – Closed. Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 27 – Closed
Saturday, November 28 – Closed
Sunday, November 29 – Normal Hours Resume

11/20/09 | Poster Printing

The Labs are now offering poster printing! If you’d like to print a sign or poster for your campus event or just to decorate your apartment we can help you out. You design the poster and we’ll print it for you! 24” x 36” full color posters are $15/ea; 11”x17” color posters are $5/ea. We can adjust the cost depending on the size of poster that you design. Sorry, we don’t accept cash so you’ll have to use your Comet Card. If this poster is to be used on campus, please be familiar with the UTD policy on Publicity and Signs located here. Contact Mike Karich, mjk052000@utdallas.edu, for your sign/poster printing needs. There are size restrictions so ask before you design a ginormous poster!

7/15/09 | The JO Lab has new imacs!

The Jonsson Computer Lab has new 24” imacs.  All come with iLife and one has Final Cut and Logic Studio installed for your video and sound editing needs.

6/25/09 | The Computer Labs, doing our part to make the world a better place.

The IR Labs have recently installed boinc software which takes advantage of the idle time on Lab computers to contribute processing power to the World Community Grid. We are contributing to such projects as finding a cure for Cancer, AIDS, and Muscular Dystrophy, and helping to create a more nutritional strain of rice to ease world hunger. These are just a few of the projects the Labs help with while idle.

Currently we are number 24 out of over 460,000 Grid contributors and UTD is ranked 5th in the world among colleges and universities!

4/09/09 | Remote printing now available!

In a rush to print that term paper? Print from anywhere on campus remotely! Just install our printers from the link below. Send your print job to the Lab nearest you then stop by to pick it up on your way to class. If you're off campus, you can use VPN to remote in and print your documents as well! For details ask at the CA desk in Sonora or Jonsson. Download the install files and view the instructions here!

Sonora Lab has new Printers!

We've upgraded our Sonora Lab with new PCs, new monitors, and a new color printer! Come and check it out!

Jonsson Lab has new software!

Jonsson Computer Lab now has iMacs with Photoshop, Final Cut Studio Pro and Logic Studio!

Computer Labs now offer walk-in computing support!

The IR Help Desk has moved to the Sonora and Jonsson computer labs! The CAs in both labs will now be able to offer students support for the following problems:
-NetID/password issues
-Basic wireless configurations
-General Information on browser configuration and anti-virus software installation
-Making appointments with the Support Center

The Help Desk will still offer phone support as well as live internet support.

Tips? Suggestions? Let Us Know!

Do you have an idea of some hardware, software, or other feature(s) that you think would make the Labs a better place to study or relax? We are always upgrading in an attempt to better suit your requirements, and your input is instrumental in this process. Please send your ideas to Jacob Abraham.

 

Questions? Comments?

For questions or comments regarding the Student Microcomputer Labs, contact:

McDermott Sonora Lab Computer Assistant Desk 972-883-5379
Jonsson Lab Computer Assistant Desk 972-883-2448
Jacob Abraham 972-883-2389 | jabraham@utdallas.edu
Don Davis 972-883-6176 | dondav@utdallas.edu
Mike Karich 972-883-4721 | mjk052000@utdallas.edu

For questions or comments regarding the website, contact:

Mary Effler | mae057000@utdallas.edu

For extended info, view the Reservations page.


Account Status

What is Your Account Status?

Standard

If you are enrolled, your account is considered to have a Standard access level. This means that you have access to the Student Microcomputer Labs, apache, infoserv, NetID, Orion, eLearning, Galaxy, and WebCT.

Basic

If you were enrolled in a previous semester but are not enrolled for the current semester, your account access level would transition to Basic for the current semester. With a Basic account status, you get access to email (IMAP), infoserv, and Galaxy. Access to the Student Microcomputer Labs as well as other labs on campus is restricted under the Basic level. Nothing happens to the data in your home directory or to your UTD emails when in this state. You should retain access to NetID.

Webapps Only Service Level

This service level is for users who are applying for admissions to UTD for Fall 2009 or later, but have not been admitted. It can also be assigned to guest accounts. This service level does not come with an email inbox.

With Webapps Only service, the user has access to the following resources:

  • Login access to the PeopleSoft web interface for students who are in the system.
  • Galaxy, WebCT, and NetID web applications

Dormant

If you have not been enrolled for the last Fall and Spring semesters, your account will digress into the Dormant state during the next Fall or Spring semester, whichever comes first. Once an account has moved into this state, you will lose the ability to log into any service on campus. The data in your home directory is still retained at this point. Though your UTD email address will still function, you will not be able to log into your email account.

Removed

If you have been out of school for a year, your account will become removed. Users' home directories are deleted. It may be possible to recover home directories at this point, but absolutely no guarantee is made.

Special Circumstances

Newly Admitted

If you are admitted for at least one of the next two semesters, you will assume at least a Basic account level, as described above. You may set up a new NetID account.

PhD Students

PhD students that are not enrolled for the current semester retain Standard access one semester beyond their last enrollment. PhD students that are not enrolled for a second semester assume Basic status.

Password Changed

Each student is required to change the account’s password once each year; e-mails will be sent to the student’s UTD e-mail account to notify the student ahead of time. If the password is not changed by the specified date, the system will automatically change the password. In addition, account misuse may also result in an immediate password change.

Blocked

An account is usually blocked by an Information Resources staff member as a result of misbehavior on the part of the user. This is a temporary state that adopts all of the rights and restrictions of the Dormant state. An account can only be unblocked by an IR staff member, usually after corrective measures have been taken.


Hours of Operation


Please note that during Intersession, Lab hours are reduced. Special times when the Labs will be closed will be posted in advance on the Student Microcomputer Labs homepage, as well as in the Labs themselves.

Sonora Lab
Jonsson Lab
     
Sunday
1:00 pm to 1:45 am
Sunday
1:00 pm to 9:45 pm
Monday
8:00 am to 1:45 am
Monday
8:00 am to 11:15 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am to 1:45 am
Tuesday
8:00 am to 11:15 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am to 1:45 am
Wednesday
8:00 am to 11:15 pm
Thursday
8:00 am to 1:45 am
Thursday
8:00 am to 11:15 pm
Friday
8:00 am to 11:45 pm
Friday
8:00 am to 9:15 pm
Saturday
9:00 am to 7:45 pm
Saturday
9:00 am to 5:45 pm


Hardware

The following is a list of hardware currently employed the Student Microcomputer Labs. Printers and scanners are available at both the McDermott and Jonsson computer labs.
The listed hardware is available as stated for each Lab.

Sonora Lab      
MC 1.314 - SA Lab      
Dell Optiplex PC          
Microsoft Windows XP Pro          
Pentium Core 2 Duo/2.6 GHz Processor
3 gigabytes RAM
ATI HD 2400 256MB video card
         
CD-RW Drive/DVD-ROM Drive      
   
2 Epson Photo/Document Scanners’    
     

Jonsson Lab     Midland/Odessa Lab
JO 2.3 - JO Lab
    This lab available by reservation only. Contact jabraham@utdallas.edu.
Apple 24" iMac    
Mac OS X 10.5     JO 3.209/210 - MO Lab
CD-RW/DVD-R Superdrive      
2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo     Dell OptiPlex PC
      Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Apple iMac - AV Machine       Intel Core 2 Duo 6600
Mac OS X 10.5       2.40 GHz Dual Core Processor
Final Cut Pro 5 installed       3 GB of RAM
Logic Studio Pro installed       DVD-ROM Drive | DVD +/- RW Drive
           
Apple iMac - Photoshop Machine     2 Epson Photo/Document Scanners
Photoshop CS3          
           
Dell OptiPlex PC          
Microsoft Windows XP Pro          
Intel Core 2 Quad 3.0 Ghz          
2.40 GHz Dual Core Processor          
3 GB of RAM          
DVD-ROM Drive | DVD+/-RW Drive          
           
           
2 Epson Perfection 3590 Photo color scanners        

 

Software

The following is a list of software currently installed in the Student Microcomputer Labs.
The listed software is installed on all computers unless otherwise stated.

Microsoft Windows Computers
Windows computers are available in both Labs.

Adobe Reader 9   Microsoft Word 2007
CD creation software*    
DVD creation software*   Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2005
Firefox 3.5   NetBeans 5
Internet Explorer 7   PowerDVD*
    Putty
Mathematica 5   QuickTime Player
MATLAB 2009    
Microsoft Access 2007   SAS System*
Microsoft Excel 2007     (Only in JO Lab)
Microsoft FrontPage 2003   Vim (Vi editor)
Microsoft InfoPath 2007   Windows Media Player 11
Microsoft OneNote 2007    
Microsoft PowerPoint 2007    
Microsoft Publisher 2007    
WinSCP (SFTP utility)    


Apple iMac Computers
Macintosh computers are available in the Jonsson Lab.

Adobe Acrobat Reader 9   iMovie '09
Microsoft Entourage '08   iDVD '09
Microsoft Excel '08   iPhoto '09
Microsoft PowerPoint '08   Garage Band
Microsoft Word '08    
QuickTime Player    
Safari    
Firefox    
     

Locations

Lab Locations on Campus

There are two monitored computer Labs and one specialty Lab available on campus. For a list of the computer specifications of each Lab, check the hardware/software page.

Sonora Lab     Computer Labs Map
1st floor (Basement) of the McDermott Library building (MC)  
Windows Lab MC 1.314  
     
Jonsson Lab    
Second (ground) floor of the Jonsson Building (JO)  
Windows/Mac/UNIX Lab JO 2.3  
     
Midland/Odessa Lab    

Third floor of the JO Building (JO)
NOTE: This is an unmonitored Lab. This Lab is
available through reservation only.

 
 
Windows Lab JO 3.209/210  
 



CometPrint


What is CometPrint?

Simply put, CometPrint is the Student Microcomputer Labs' method of organizing and executing student printouts.

Some important things to note are:

  • Your Comet Card will be required to release a print job.
  • You must have enough UT$ to pay for your printouts before they are printed.
  • Printouts will cost 6 cents per sheet for black and white, and 25 cents per side for color.
  • There will be NO refunds.


From a Windows or Macintosh Computer

When you decide to print a file or document, please use Print Preview to make sure that you are printing what you want. Also, if you are printing a file from the web, please save the file to either the desktop or your home directory and print it from there to ensure it prints correctly. Always go to File, and then select Print instead of using the print icon in the menu bar, as this will give you more control over the output. From there, your print job is held in a print queue awaiting release.

By Remote Printing

The computer labs have introduced remote printing for Windows and Macintosh computers! After downloading the setup file to your computer, you can configure your laptop or desktop to print straight to the CometPrint queue. To download the installer, please visit this site.

At the CometPrint Release Station

Once you have printed your file or document from the computer, it will be held in a CometPrint queue for four hours. You must visit the CometPrint Release Station within that time or the print job will be automatically deleted. Login with your NetID and password, then swipe your Comet Card through the card reader. Then select the print jobs you wish to be printed. You must have enough UT$ on your Comet Card to pay for the printouts before they will be printed. Be sure to check the number of pages of each print job. This will help determine if you are getting what you wanted. This is also very important, as there will be no refunds!

No Refunds!

You are fully responsible for what you print. This means that we cannot be held liable for web pages that print blank sheets, PDF slides that do not appear, Microsoft Word documents on which you forgot to change the margins, documents that printed more pages than you wanted, etc. We are responsible for toner streaks on printouts, paper jams, and other hardware-related malfunctions. After print jobs are paid for at the CometPrint Release Station, we will have thirty minutes to reprint them in the event of printer problems. This will be the only form of compensation.

UT$

You are required to have UT$ on your Comet Card in order to print in either lab. UT$ can be added to your Comet Card at the Comet Center in the Student Union, at the kiosk in the Sonora Lab, or at the Bursar's Office.

What Else Should I Know?

Remember to carry your Comet Card with you at all times and remember to have enough UT$ to pay for your printouts. The only person that can release your print job at the CometPrint Release Station is you!

Plan ahead! The CometPrint system may take longer than expected, especially if you do not have enough UT$ on your Comet Card. You may not have enough time to get a printout right before your class begins.


Reservations

Questions? Comments?

For questions or comments regarding the Student Microcomputer Labs, contact:

McDermott Sonora Lab Computer Assistant Desk | 972-883-5379
Jonsson Lab Computer Assistant Desk | 972-883-2448
Jacob Abraham | 972-883-2389 | jabraham@utdallas.edu
Don Davis | 972-883-6176 | dondav@utdallas.edu
Mike Karich 972-883-4721 | mjk052000@utdallas.edu

Regarding the Website, contact:

Mary Effler | 214-208-2949 | mae057000@utdallas.edu

Regarding Lab reservations for instructors, contact:

Jacob Abraham | 972-883-2389 | jabraham@utdallas.edu
Don Davis | 972-883-6176 | dondav@utdallas.edu

Lab Phone Numbers:

McDermott Sonora Lab | 972-883-5379
Jonsson Lab | 972-883-2448


Policies for Use of the Student Microcomputer Labs


These policies apply to the use of all facilities operated by Technology Customer Services (TCS), a division of Information Resources (IR). They are intended to facilitate the use of the labs in the best interests of all users.

Account Policies

The labs are available for use by currently registered UTD students, by current faculty at UTD, and by research and teaching assistants authorized by a faculty member through completion of an Information Resources Computer Account Request Form.

New students may request a UTD computer account at any of the Labs from the first class day of the semester in which they are enrolled onward.

A validated UTD Comet Card must be presented in order to request a UTD computer account. No other form of ID will be accepted.

Only the holder of the UTD computer account may use the provided facilities or network resources. Access of your account by others (students, faculty and staff included) is prohibited and may result in revocation of your account.

Students are held responsible for any destructive or illegal activity done by those to whom they give access to their accounts. You may also be held responsible if the activity occurred without your knowledge or consent. If you think someone may have discovered or guessed your password, change it immediately.

Students who are not enrolled during the summer semester will not be allowed to use the Student Microcomputer Labs. However, those students will retain access to VPN over the summer semester. VPN currently allows students to access e-mail and allows FTP access to files in their home directories.

Graduating students will retain access to all their computer accounts up until, but not including, the first class day of the semester following graduation. Likewise, after that date, they will no longer be able to use the Student Microcomputer Labs.

Facilities can be used only for instructional, research, and academic support activities directly associated with and administered through the University of Texas at Dallas.

Lab Mechanics

The Labs are supervised at all times by Computer Lab Assistants (CAs) who have the responsibility to ensure the security and smooth operation of the Labs in the best interest of all users.

No food, drink or tobacco products are allowed in the Labs. Open containers should be stored away or disposed of before entering the Labs.

For their protection, children are not allowed in the Labs.

Students are responsible for all charges made to their UTD accounts.

Neither Information Resources nor the Student Microcomputer Labs are responsible for personal items left in the Labs.

Users are not allowed to install software or games of their own except in the rooms in which this is acceptable (ask a CA for the location of these rooms, as it may change). Even then, certain programs may be deemed unacceptable and may not installed on the Lab machines. Any students using software not already installed on the Lab machines will have lower priority than students using the labs for instructional, research, or academic support activities.

When demand for machines exceeds the number available, use may be restricted.

TCS may offer training and provide consulting on hardware and system software operations to the extent that a user can gain access to a given application package or programming language.

Instruction, training, and assistance in the use of a particular application or programming language are the responsibility of the instructor or TA for a given course. Computer Lab Assistants are not required to aid students in the mechanics of these programs.

Hardware problems or suspected software bugs should be reported to a CA.

No materials or equipment may leave the Labs under any circumstances without the written permission of an IR staff member. CAs, TAs, RAs, and faculty are not authorized to permit materials or equipment to leave the Labs.

Administration Policies

To comply with Copyright and License Agreements and to protect University property, the systems may be remotely monitored on a random basis to ensure against illegal duplication of system software, application programs and/or data files that have not specifically been placed into a public area for the purpose of duplication. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against anyone found in the act of unauthorized duplication or using the resources of the Labs in a malicious manner.

Information Resources and Technology Customer Services reserve the right to refuse use of these facilities to any person or any group if it is in the best interests of the University or other users to do so.

The facilities are open to all UTD students, faculty, and staff irrespective of school affiliation. The policies specified here apply to all users.


Staff

Lab Manager   Assistant Lab Manager
Jacob Abraham   Mike Karich
JAbraham

972-883-2389
jabraham@utdallas.edu

  mike karich

 972-883-4721
mjk052000@utdallas.edu

 
Computer Assistants
Don B.   Carl S.
donb Don B. with son Ralph, 1956   CSpurgers

Graduate

Electrical Engineering

 

         
Mary E.   Monish M.
mary Undergraduate

Arts and Technology

  MModi Undergraduate

Software Engineering & Computer Science

         
Jennifer J.   Phillip J.
JJeng Undergraduate

Biology

  phillip

Undergraduate

Computer Science

 

     
Joshua R.
  Skylar R.
JRendon Undergraduate

Computer Engineering

 

  skylar

Undergraduate

Arts and Technology

 

       
Isaac S.
  Quincy O.
IStrohl

Undergraduate

Computer Science

  quincy Undergraduate

Electrical Engineering
       
Michael W.
  Jonathan J.
mike Undergraduate

Business Administration
  john

Undergraduate

Business Administration

 

     
Cade S.
  Garrett L.
cade Undergraduate

Arts and Technology
  garrett

Undergraduate

Computer Science

     
James P.
  Catherine V.
brad Undergraduate

Software Engineering
  catherine

Undergraduate

Biochemistry

         
Kaan C.   Michael S.
kaan

Undergraduate

Business Administration

  mikes

Undergraduate

Software Engineering

         
Catherine F.   Milan M.
catherine f

Undergraduate

Computer Engineering

  milan

Graduate

Computer Science

         
Alexander K.   Sarah B.
alex

Undergraduate

Computer Engineering

  sarah

Undergraduate

Biology

         
Christopher J.   Sindhu J.
chris

Undergraduate

Sociology

  sindhu

Graduate

Computer Science

         
Alex B.    
alexb

Undergraduate

Computer Science

     
         

UNIX

Introduction to UNIX contains step-by-step instructions for using the UNIX Operating System on University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) UNIX Servers, such as apache and infoserv. The UNIX FAQ provides answers to questions about the UNIX system that new users frequently have. UNIX Commands is an alphabetical list of many commands found on the Unix servers: apache, jupiter, and inca.