Getting Started

Getting Started

Before you begin

Under the unix operating system, commands are case-sensitive--you must make sure the commands and filenames you enter are in the proper case. For example, the files elvis, Elvis, and ELVIS are three separate files. You will find that the majority of commands are lowercase.

Your login id and your password are also case-sensitive. When Computing Services assigns login ids, they are in lowercase and your initial password is your campus ID/Social Security number without the dashes. It is best to make sure your "Caps Lock" key is off before trying to login. You will not see your password as it is entered, so be sure to key it in carefully; if you enter your login id or your password incorrectly, you cannot log into Unity.

Logging On

Before you can login to Unity, you must have a userid or password. Student ids are automatically generated when a student registers for class. Faculty and staff can request an id by completing the Unity Account Application form. A userid is a unique name that you use to sign on to the system; your password verifies who you are. While other users may know your userid, only you should know your password.

You should already have a Eos/Unity userid and password; we will connect (using telnet) to the login.ncsu.edu machine. The login.ncsu.edu address will actually connect you to one of several machines, depending on the load of each machine. This will be an acceptable address to use on your local machine in your office. (If you are at a unix workstation, you will have the Eos/Unity login screen where you enter your userid and password.)

Telneting to Unity

To login via telnet, run your telenet program and connect to the host:

  F:\home\pc#> telnet login.ncsu.edu [return]

Win95 users have a telnet application built in. It is located in your Win95 directory and is called telnet.exe
Win 3.1 users who are using LAN Workplace for DOS will use the Host Presenter icon. When you are prompted for the host machine, enter login.ncsu.edu.
Macintosh users will probably be using the NCSA Telnet. Your host machine is the same as above.

You should receive a login prompt from a machine in the Unity realm. Enter your userid and password.

	Login: enter your userid[return] 
	Password: enter your password [return]

After successfully logging in, the system displays something similar to the following:


*****************************************************************************
ATTENTION ALL USERS - DO NOT PLAY GAMES ON THIS  MACHINE (cc06du) !!!
In order to preserve the use of dialup lines and machines for useful work,
all games, BBSs ,IRCs, and MUDS are not allowed on this machine.
Violators will be handled strictly according to Eos/Unity
policy, so heed this message.  You could lose your Eos/Unity privileges.

Type "policy" to view policies regarding general use of the system,
use of public facilities and use of computer games.
*****************************************************************************

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
|  For the latest Unity news, type `sysnews'.  For Unity usage policy, type  | 
|  `policy'.  If you have problems with the system, see the operator on duty | 
|  or call the Computing Center at 5-3035. 				     | 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


One message is waiting for you at POP server cc00mh.unity.ncsu.edu.
Volume Name            Quota    Used    % Used   Partition
users.noell            30000   22427       75%         78%
Running user customized standard startup activities ...
cc06du[noell:35]

Passwords

The very first time you login, we recommend that you change your password. This is for your security. If your password is easy to guess, someone may alter or delete your files and even misuse your account. A good rule of thumb for choosing a password is to make it strange--good passwords normally meet the following criteria:

6-8 characters long, preferably 8
a combination of letters and numbers or a punctuation mark
a mixture of upper and lower case letters
the first letter of each word in a phrase or quote

A password should not be:

the names of anyone in your family (including your pets)
birthdays or anniversaries
home or office phone numbers
license plate or drivers license numbers
your login name or userid on another account
an unusual word you found in the dictionary (hackers check for these)

Try not to write your password on paper or in a computer file. Also, don't give it to anyone else, and change it at least once a semester.

Changing Your Password

The following example shows how to change your password using the passwd command:

 	unity% passwd[return]    
	unity% Old password for userid: enter old password[return]     
	unity% New Password for userid: enter new password[return]      
	unity% Verifying, please re-enter New Password for userid:re-enter[return]      
	unity% Password changed.

If you mistype any part of this process, the system does not change your password. You will need to repeat the process if your password did not get changed.

Be sure to remember your new password. If you ever forget your password or want to change it, you can come by the Information Center, Room 208 in the Hillsborough Building. Be sure to bring a picture id for identification. Password resets can take up to 2 hours to take effect, depending upon the load on the system.

Go on to next section, Unix file and directory structure

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