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Systems/SelfAdministered

Computer Systems > Self Administered Systems

Contents

  1. Notebooks, Laptops and Other Self-Administered Machines
    1. Using the CSLab Network
    2. Norton Anti-Virus for Windows and Macs (free)
    3. Backing Up Data With Samba
    4. Mapping Home Directory via Samba
    5. Importance of Backups and Alternatives to Samba
    6. Remote Access
    7. Windows Vista DHCP Issues
    8. Mounting a Network Share via Samba

Notebooks, Laptops and Other Self-Administered Machines

What is this machine on my desk?

If you have a desk, you should have a computer of some sort on it. The type of computer that you have depends on a number of factors, primarily whether this machine was purchased for you, or provided to you in lieu of a purchased machine.

If the machine on your desk is a workstation (i.e. not a terminal) it means that we do not administer the machine. In this case, although we may be able to assist with hardware failure resolution (i.e. warranty claims), for the most part we don't know anything about your desktop, and we cannot help you with administration of the machine. You should speak to your Point of Contact (PoC) regarding problems with desktop workstations.

Useful Information

Here you'll find useful information if you plan to use your own equipment, but would still like to use some services provided by CSLab. Such services include network access, network shares with automatic backup, running Windows applications on Linux or vice versa, backup space, etc.

Using the CSLab Network

Norton Anti-Virus for Windows and Macs (free)

CSLab strongly recommends that you install and keep up to date an AntiVirus suite. As a member of the University of Toronto you are eligible to use the Norton AntiVirus software package, which will install and run on both Windows and Macs.

The eligibility criteria for the use of this package are available here: Norton Anti-Virus Eligibility.

Instructions for downloading and installing Norton are available here: Norton Instructions and Download Information

If you are using Mac OSX 10.2 and OSX 10.3 and are having installation difficulties, we have some quick instructions: Installing Norton on a MAC

Backing Up Data With Samba

Once you have configured your system to operate on the CSLab network, you should take advantage of the CSLab Samba server to mount your home directory in order save your important data files. In fact, we urge you to do so in order to avoid data loss. Consider the ramifications of losing your laptop or the hard-drive of your system failing: How will you recover your thesis, research project or other vital data? If your answer is that it would be very difficult or impossible, then please take the time to learn how to save your work to our centralized file servers via Samba. Not only do we backup up our file servers continually, we back them up to tapes that are securely stored in a different building. This means that we will always be able to restore lost data for you. However, we can only backup what you have saved in your home directory! So please learn how to use Samba.

Mapping Home Directory via Samba

In order to use configure your system to use Samba, please select the appropriate link.

Importance of Backups and Alternatives to Samba

Consider the ramifications of losing your laptop or the hard-drive of your system failing: How will you recover your thesis, research project or other vital data? If your answer is that it would be very difficult or impossible, then please take the time to organize your thoughts about ways of backing up your system's data to CSLab's central file servers.

The easiest way to do this is by using Samba, which is covered in the previous section. If, however, your OS does not support the mounting of SMB shares, then please consider using scp (Secure Copy) to actively copy files into your home directory. SCP clients are widely available and provide a secure mechanism for moving files to and from your home directory.

Remote Access

Please see the page on remote access if you are looking for things like SSH, SCP, running X on Linux, Windows or Mac OSX.

Windows Vista DHCP Issues

You may find that your Vista machine is unable to lease an IP address. There are two options to resolve this issue:

  1. Apply the DHCP fix tool. Download DHCPFixTool1.2.zip and follow the instructions. Note that the tool needs to be run as administrator (right click to run as administrator). After the tool has fixed the appropriate adapter, reboot the machine and it should be able to successfully lease an IP.

  2. Apply two registry modifications Below is a link to Microsoft's web site.
    /!\ PLEASE DO NOT MODIFY THE REGISTRY BEFORE BACKING IT UP. IF YOU DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE EDITING THE REGISTRY, PLEASE SPEAK TO YOU POINT OF CONTACT PERSON.
    Vista DHCP issues If these registry modifications do not help please contact your Point of Contact (PoC).

Mounting a Network Share via Samba

Please see Mapping Home Directory via Samba

last modified 2009-12-10 17:56:35