Introduction

The computing resources available to the Computer Science Department are provided to meet the special needs of the students associated with the department. These special needs go beyond general access and require more responsibility than in a general computing lab. These systems are not ``locked down'' from local users in order for you to work at a level closer to the system. This means that you will also be held to a higher standard of use than average computer users. This set of guidelines is in addition to the University Policies and the UT-System usage guidelines.

System Use

In general, the lab computers are to be used with the software that is installed. If you need software that is not installed for your studies or projects, please make arrangements with your instructor or the system administrator.

If you are working on a project that requires more access or is of an experimental nature that should not be run on general use computers, make arrangements with your instructor or the system administrator to work with computers that are in a more controlled environment.

If you are not sure if your project is suitable for running on computers in the general lab, just ask. If you are sure, ask anyway- it keeps the system administrator busy.

Resource Use

Your working files need to be kept in your network directory and not on local computers. Local computers will be moved and re-installed at any time. If you have special storage needs for a project, make arrangements with your instructor or the system administrator for additional storage space.

Do not leave systems locked. The computers in the lab are shared resources. If you need exclusive access to a computer for a project, make arrangements with your instructor or the lab administrator. We have machines set aside for just such use.

Do not use the lab computers for non-academic computing jobs such as distributed computing challenges without authorization.

Again, if you wish to do something with the lab computers that goes beyond normal usage, ask your instructor or the lab administrator to clarify or make special arrangements.

Security

Security of computer systems is a serious matter. There are severe legal consequences for misuse of computing facilities and software. As students of computer science, you need to make yourself familiar with these issues.

Important issues to keep in mind:

• Maintain the security of your account information Do not share login or passwords.
• Maintain the security of the systems you access. Do not run services or install unauthorized software.
• Do not access computers that you are not authorized to access.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

As students in a field of study where intellectual property will be your livelihood, you need to be conscious of all the legal and ethical issues of intellectual property and learn to live within these constraints. Start practicing good habits.

Things that are not acceptable are:

Unlicensed Software

Unlicensed Software will not be installed, transferred, or stored on computer science department computers.

Copyright Infringement.

Do not share, copy, or receive unauthorized copies of copyrighted materials.

Violations

On the unlikely chance that you decide to violate these guidelines, the following sanctions are possible:

• Loss of Lab Privileges
• Disciplinary Proceedings
• Criminal Prosecution

In short: Don't do it.

Here is a link to the University of Texas - Pan American Handbook of Operating Procedures which covers this information in detail.

http://www.utpa.edu/newhop/files/pdf/H1835132.pdf