Getting Started with CSLab Infrastructure and Services

This page is intended to show new graduate students how they can use CSLab infrastructure and services most effectively. It is strongly advised that you read this page in its entirety. It won't take you long and in most cases you will appreciate the information provided here. Reading this page is especially useful in case it has been skipped or missed during your graduate orientation. So, if you are a student, who has just arrived at the Department of Computer Science, this is exactly the right place to get you started. For example, you will be learning about how to store your master's thesis, dissertation or other work on CSLab file servers (using your own computer/laptop), which are automatically backed up. Hence, you don't have to worry about backups for your work. CSLab will come to your rescue when you face a hard-disk failure or the like. This is just one example. There is lots of other very useful information on this page, which will also come in handy later in your graduate career at U of T. Still reading? Excellent, let's dive right in.

T-Card, Access to Authorized Areas and PoC

If you don't have a T-Card yet, now is the time to get one. You have one already? Good, because you'll most probably need it to get into your office (and other areas). In order to get access to rooms and offices you should have access to, send email to <doors AT SPAMFREE cs.toronto DOT edu>. Include your student number and affiliation/sponsor/group and rooms/areas you should be authorized to enter in your email.

Next, you should talk to your Point of Contact (PoC) to get your desk keys and other equipment necessary for your work.

CSLab Account(s)

You'll need a CSLab account to do your work in the department. It is recommended to also get a VPN account and to get your machine (if applicable) registered for the red network. How to do all that? Please see the account sign up page.

Being Part of the CSLab Network (VPN)

No matter what CSLab service you plan to use, it is recommended to always connect via VPN to the CSLab network first. The benefits of this are huge. Basically, it allows you to use CSLab infrastructure and services from wherever you are at the moment (on- or off-campus). All you really need is an Internet connection (provided by CSLab or not). So please connect to the CSLab network via VPN now.

CSLab File Servers

It is strongly recommended to store your academic work on CSLab file servers, independently where you are currently located (on- or off-campus). We assume you are currently part of the CSLab network (via CSLab VPN or not). If you aren't, read the previous section first. Now you are ready to mount your CSLab home directory via Samba. Once this is done, everything you store in your CSLab home directory is in fact sitting on a CSLab file server, which automatically creates backups of your work on a daily basis.

Using Matlab

Does your work involve Matlab? If so, see our Matlab page for more information.

Using CSLab Printers

Everything you need to know about printing when on campus is described on the printing page.

Using CSLab Workstations and More

You don't need to have your own computer/laptop to do your work in the department. You can opt to use Linux terminal server clients which connect to the Linux application servers. No need to install anything. All you need is a [GettingStarted#account: CSLab account]. Also, see our computer systems page for more information.

Point of Contact

Each group has its Point of Contact (PoC). This is the person you should talk to in case you have any CSLab related questions or desires.

Network Access and Wireless Networks

Everything you need to know about CSLab network access you will find on our networking page. There you'll also find information on how to connect to CSLab wireless networks, which are available at a growing number of areas.

Compute Servers

If your work involves executing computationally expensive programs, you should run those on CSLab's compute servers. See the compute server page for more information.

Windows Application Server and Microsoft Office

If you prefer to work in a Windows environment, you can connect to one of our Windows application servers. These servers also have Microsoft Office installed. More information is on CSLab's Windows application servers page.

Using CSLab Email

The CSLab email page describes everything you need to know about email. Amongst other things, it provides information on how to configure your preferred email client to use the CSLab mail server and how to fight spam.

Using the CSLab Web Server

If you plan to put up a personal or project website, the CSLab websites page is where you find more information.

Still Questions?

If you still have questions, have a look at our frequently asked questions page. Our page index and word index is also helpful to find content you might be looking for or are interested in. Still not found what you are looking for? Please contact your Point of Contact (PoC).