NIU Department of Mathematical Sciences
Overview of the Computer System

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The network

The departmental computer network currently consists of a few dozen Unix workstations, as well as several PCs and Macs. They are all linked by an Ethernet network, which in turn connects to the campus backbone.

To use the workstations you need a valid departmental computer account. The procedure for obtaining one is described here. Note that this account is valid on Math Department computers only. If you need an account on one of the computers run by Academic Computing Services, please see a separate document.

The workstations are all shared in the sense that your account is valid on all of them. However, some of them are servers, or are intensively used by their "owners", and some belong to the Statistics Division. To see hints on choosing the right one, click here.

Help and documentation

Most of the documentation is available on-line (if you are reading this on the screen, you already know that!) Whether you use a Mac, a PC or a workstation, it is important to learn how to use a Web browser. Then tell it to access the page http://www.math.niu.edu/help/ and start there.

Whom to contact

The system manager can be contacted by e-mail (admin@math.niu.edu), by phone (753-6727), or in person (Watson Hall 323). Here are some other contacts within the department and on campus.

Back to the NIU Math Department Web page