Computing Lab Frequently Asked Questions

Information Technology Services (ITS) Computing Labs

What are the ITS Labs?

ITS Labs are used by students from all disciplines for their course work. They house some general and some class specific software, so you may find them adequate for some of your CMPT courses. Go to the ITS-DCF Lab page to find out more.

Where are the ITS Labs?

All over campus. Go to the ITS Labs Web Page, and look for the link to Lab Hours, which shows a map of lab locations.

Who can access ITS Labs?

All SFU students can access the ITS Labs when they're open, and not already booked by someone else. Check the schedule to make sure the lab you want is available at the time you want. Go to the ITS Labs Web Page for details. The Lab Hours link will tell you the regular hours of the labs, and Lab Bookings -> Weekly Lab Schedule (or Calendar) will let you see reserved times.

When are ITS Labs available?

Go to the ITS Labs Web Page for details. The Lab Hours link will tell you the regular hours of the labs, and Lab Bookings -> Weekly Lab Schedule (or Calendar) will let you see reserved times.

What hardware is in the ITS Labs?

Go to the ITS Lab Web Page, and look for the link to Lab Hours. Click on an individual lab to see what sorts of computers and other equipment is at that location.

Computing Science Instructional Lab (CSIL) Facilities

What is CSIL?

CSIL is comprised of several rooms with computers, most with Internet access. Students registered in one or more Computing Science courses can use CSIL to do course work, access their SFU Email accounts, and access the World Wide Web.

CSIL is supported by the CSTS (Computing Science Technical Services) group. The fastest and most efficient way to contact us is email helpdesk. Note we normally only provide service Monday to Friday, 0900 hrs - 1600 hrs (9:00am - 4:00pm).

Where is CSIL?

Burnaby Campus

CSIL is located on the main floor of the Applied Sciences Building. See the campus map for directions to the ASB. CSIL consists of rooms: ASB 9838 North, ASB 9838 South, ASB 9840, ASB 9804 multimedia, ASB 9700 Networking. We are trying to get all the computers dual-boot Windows/Linux.

You can see the layout of CSIL Burnaby, including names of workstations here.

Surrey Campus

CSIL@Surrey is located on the east side of Galleria 4. Please see the Surrey campus map for directions to the Galleria. There are two labs: room 4050 and room 4080, they are all dual-boot Windows/linux.

You can see the layout of CSIL Surrey, including names of workstations here.

How do I get in to CSIL?

Burnaby and Surrey Campuses

CSIL is accessible by magnetic cards at both campuses. Any undergraduate student registered in a CMPT course (or MACM 101), all CMPT graduate students, and all CMPT instructors can obtain a card to CSIL. Read the CSIL Card Access FAQ for more details.

When is CSIL available?

Generally, CSIL is open from the 4th working day of the semester until the end of the exam period. During the semester, CSIL is open 24 hours per day, every day, to valid CS access card holders. No valid CS access card, no access, no exceptions.

Between semesters, CSIL is open only on an as-needed basis. Contact helpdesk if you need access during this time

Can I access CSIL computers from off campus?

Yes. You may access certain Windows and Linux/Unix systems from off campus.

For Windows users:

For remote access to a Windows machine, Windows users may connect to the CSIL Windows Terminal Server (TS) via a Remote Desktop Connection (RDC, or RDP). Read the How to Use CSIL Windows Terminal Server page to find out all the details. Note that you CANNOT access other CSIL Windows systems remotely.

You can use ssh (secure-shell) to connect to any Unix/Linux computer with a text-only interface. You may have to install a free ssh Windows client on your Windows machine. Search Google for an ssh client (we recommend PuTTY for Windows users).

After you have installed your ssh Windows client and you've started it up, connecting to a CSIL Unix/Linux computer is a 2-step process:

1. Connect to fraser.sfu.ca.
2. From the fraser Unix prompt, ssh to your chosen CSIL Unix machine:
   
   ssh -p 24 ????.csil.sfu.ca
   
   (To find the name of the Linux workstation you would like to connect to, please check the CSIL Burnaby layout or the CSIL Surrey layout.)

For Linux users:

Run ssh (secure-shell) at the command line. With ssh, you can connect to any Unix/Linux computer with a text-only interface. Connecting to a CSIL Unix/Linux computer is a 2-step process:

1. Connect to fraser.sfu.ca.
2. From the fraser Unix prompt, ssh to your chosen CSIL Unix machine:
   
   ssh -p 24 ????.csil.sfu.ca
   
   (see the CSIL Burnaby layout to find Unix/Linux machine names to connect to, and the CSIL Surrey layout to find a CSIL Surrey machine).

About Linux CPU server

Depending upon your course requirements, you may be provided access to gemini.csil.sfu.ca. This is a more powerful Linux based cpu server for some CMPT courses. Your instructor will let you know if you will be given access to gemini.

What hardware is in CSIL?

At both the Burnaby and Surrey campuses, the CSIL facilites have a variety of Dell computers in separate labs, as well as an enterprise printer for general printing. There is a scanner, DVD player, Television, & sound system in ASB 9804 (the Burnaby campus Multimedia Lab). A digital camcorder and other equipment is available on loan from the Burnaby CS office. Note that CSIL labs are sometimes reserved for selected classes, tutorials and events, and certain equipment is reserved for students from particular courses. See the CSIL Burnaby layout to see where our equipment is located at the Burnaby campus, and the CSIL Surrey layout to see our CSIL facilities in Surrey.

Click here for more information.

What software is in CSIL?

For Linux/Unix software, see the Unix/Linux software page.

For Windows software, see the Windows software page.

Using CSIL

What is my user ID and password?

The ID and password you use in CSIL is the same as your SFU Campus Computing (email) ID and password.

Where can I find out more about UNIX?

There is information on Unix at the Unix Tools Web Site

Where can I find out more about Linux?

Linux is a UNIX variant, thus many of the things that you would look at for general UNIX knowledge are applicable to Linux as well. The Linux distribution we use in CSIL is from Ubuntu, and you can find out most everything you need to know about Ubuntu at the Ubuntu Web Site.

Where can I find out more information about Windows?

See the Windows FAQ.

Can I use my laptop in CSIL?

Yes.

But you may NOT disconnect the network cable from any CSIL machine and plug it into your laptop. To get access to the Internet for your laptop, use the SFU wireless service.

You may hook up your laptop to the LCD panels for better displaying. Just remember: put the LCD panel back to working order before you leave the spot, i.e. make sure the computer is displaying the CSIL logon screen properly.

When I'm logged into a CSIL machine, where is my home directory?

You will be able to mount your SFU Campus Home directory when you log on to any CSIL workstation.

On Windows:

After you logon to a CSIL Windows system, your SFU Campus Home directory will be auto-mapped to your Windows session. Your SFU Campus Home directory should be mapped as your H: drive.

** It is important to note that any work from your Windows session should be saved it to your H:\ drive. The local hard drives on CSIL Windows systems ARE NOT BACKED UP, AND MAY BE ERASED BY CSIL STAFF AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT NOTICE. The CSIL Windows workstations' local hard drives may be cleaned out without advanced notice. Thus if you wish to save anything on a more permanent basis, you should save it to your SFU Campus Home directory.

You may find more details here.

On Linux:

/home/{userID}/sfuhome/ - this is your place to save all your files, it will be auto-mounted for you when you logon to a CSIL Linux system. This is your SFU Campus Home directory - the same folder you see when you logon to fraser.sfu.ca.

After you logon to a CSIL Linux system, your session will set your home directory to /home/{userID}/. Please be aware: this folder should be considered as TEMPORARY STORAGE ONLY. This space may be cleared out without advanced notice. DO NOT USE it for any valuable data/programs.

Again, please save all your files to: /home/{userID}/sfuhome/

How much data storage space do I have?

You will have exactly the same storage space on your home space (sfuhome) as when you logon to fraser.sfu.ca directly. See the ITS Web site - this space is provided by ITServices, not the School of Computing Science.

Reporting Problems

Who do I complain to?

CSIL facilities are open 24 hours a day during the semester but we cannot provide this coverage for our helpdesk email. Our official hours of operation are: Monday to Friday, 0900 hrs - 1600 hrs (9:00am - 4:00pm).

With this in mind, please be as clear as possible about any problem you need to report to us. Let us know things like:

• Who you are
• The nature of the problem. Is it:
  • a machine that's broken? (tell us the machine's name, ie. CSIL_machine_name.csil.sfu.ca)
  • do you see visible damage?
  • is it a software problem?
  • what can't you do?

Who do I email to?

DOs and DON'Ts in CSIL

CSIL Rules

1. No eating or drinking in CSIL.

   This is strictly enforced, and may lead to a loss of your CSIL privileges. CSIL is a PUBLIC facility that you have to SHARE. Don't ruin things for your fellow students.

2. No gaming.

   This is strictly enforced, and may lead to a loss of your CSIL privileges. CSIL is a PUBLIC facility for study and research. Play games on your own laptop is also prohibited within CSIL.

3. Be familiar with SFU's policy on computing resources, better known as GP24. Please also read the CSIL Etiquette and Ethics Policy.
4. Don't attempt to install your own software on CSIL computers. This is strictly prohibited, and may lead to a loss of your CSIL privileges. Customizing your desktop with the currently installed software is OK.
5. Don't attempt to plug in a laptop or other computer to the CSIL network with a network or other cable. This is strictly prohibited, and may lead to a loss of your CSIL privileges.
Don't put transparencies into CSIL printers!!
6. CSIL is monitored at all times by security cameras and activity logging. This is to protect both you, and the equipment in CSIL. Damage will be seen and noted, but please report damage as soon as it occurs as we can fix it faster than if it goes unreported.

What is GP24?

Here you can find the full text of GP24. General Policy 24 outlines rules for Fair Use of Computer Resources at SFU.

Typical Problems

I forgot my password.

Go to the my.sfu.ca website, and look for the link: forgot your password?

I can't log in.

If you could lnot logon to a Linux workstation, please check out the login troubles FAQ.

If you could not logon to a CSIL Windows workstation, please click here for the answers.

My access card doesn't work.

See the card access FAQ.

I can log in, but can't run course software.

Some course software has licensing restrictions that only allows a certain set number of simultaneous users. You may have to try again later.

Windows

Your Windows profile may have been corrupted. Contact helpdesk.

Linux

There might be a problem with your command shell configuration files. Contact helpdesk for assistance.

I can't print to CSIL printers.

Go to the CSIL printing FAQ

I can't send email to my course list.

This is normal. Only instructors and TAs can send to the course mail list. For more information about CS course mailing lists, see the mailing list FAQ.

The monitor of the computer I want to use has no display. What I should do?

(this Q&A is under reviewing, please comment.)

Generally speaking, there are a few scenarios and fixes.

• Firstly, the computer maybe turned off or in hibernation. You could hit the NumLock key to verify if the system is indeed running. If the system is no running, just simply push the power button of the computer and get it boot up.
• Secondly, if the system is indeed running, please check the settings of the LCD panel: it must set the input to “Auto-Select” to ensure it displays properly for workstations in CSIL.
• Thirdly, please ensure there is one and only one video output from the computer to the LCD panel.

Background information: To provide convenience for laptop users in CSIL, we have put a VGA cable for each 24in LCD panel attached to a Linux workstation. The VGA cable (w/ blue connector) is for hookup laptop only. The Linux workstations are using DVI connections (w/ white connector) for display. If the VGA cable is hookup to a Linux workstation, the LCD panel won’t work properly.

If the Linux computer has the VGA (blue connector) hook up, it is wrong. Please disconnect the VGA connector from the computer and reboot the Linux workstation.

(The Windows workstations are using VGA connections at this moment.)

These issues mostly caused by some people hooked up their own laptop and changed connections of the displays and LCD panel settings. So, laptop users, please change the settings/cables back to original settings before you leave the spot. Thank you.

This page was updated on 2012.05.07