techstaff:introduction
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
Both sides previous revisionPrevious revisionNext revision | Previous revision | ||
techstaff:introduction [2017/09/22 12:19] – ↷ Links adapted because of a move operation kauffman | techstaff:introduction [2025/01/13 12:41] (current) – amcguire | ||
---|---|---|---|
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
======Techstaff====== | ======Techstaff====== | ||
=====Who===== | =====Who===== | ||
- | Techstaff is a team of three: | + | Colin Hudler\\ |
+ | Justin Laughlin\\ | ||
+ | Ashlyn Dahler\\ | ||
+ | Andrew McGuire\\ | ||
+ | Brent Busby\\ | ||
+ | Bennett Hunter\\ | ||
=====What===== | =====What===== | ||
- | Techstaff supports all aspects of technical | + | Techstaff supports all aspects of technical |
However, we also provide other assistance including printer, A/V, and just about anything that comes along. | However, we also provide other assistance including printer, A/V, and just about anything that comes along. | ||
=====Where===== | =====Where===== | ||
- | We are located in Ryerson 154. Our hours are 9:00-5:30, though we are often around outside of those hours. | + | We can be reached virtually through instructions at [[http:// |
+ | =====When===== | ||
+ | Our hours are between | ||
=====Contact===== | =====Contact===== | ||
- | Email: techstaff@cs.uchicago.edu | + | Email: techstaff@cs.uchicago.edu |
- | Phone: 773-702-1031 (2-1031 from campus phones) | ||
======Resources====== | ======Resources====== | ||
- | All CS systems that permit logins require SSH over the standard port (22). | + | All CS systems that permit logins require SSH over the standard port (22) and use your CNetID for authentication. |
+ | |||
+ | * //ITS will begin blocking SSH to the campus on Oct 27, 2021. SSH access will require use of ITS' VPN to access SSH within the campus network. | ||
+ | =====Your CS Account===== | ||
+ | Your CS account name will be the same as your CNetID, however it is a different account. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Remember to take actions to protect your account.** | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Access to the password -- it is written down and someone sees it. | ||
+ | * Exposed during a hack of a site which stores your information. | ||
+ | * Exists on the darkweb. | ||
+ | * Phishing. | ||
+ | * Password guessing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Please make sure that your account password is unique to the university and is not easily guessable. | ||
=====Desktops===== | =====Desktops===== | ||
- | Each student is supplied with a desktop with the following general configuration: | + | Each student |
* Intel i7 with 4 cores/8 hyperthreads | * Intel i7 with 4 cores/8 hyperthreads | ||
* 500GB disk drive | * 500GB disk drive | ||
* 8GB of RAM | * 8GB of RAM | ||
* NFS-mounted home directory which is mounted on all Techstaff administered computers. | * NFS-mounted home directory which is mounted on all Techstaff administered computers. | ||
- | * Running Linux (Ubuntu | + | * Running Linux (Ubuntu |
* Large software installation (instructional and research related software) | * Large software installation (instructional and research related software) | ||
* Your desktops are configured and managed by Techstaff using automated build and configuration management systems which allows the systems to easily maintain current software revisions, quickly reconfigure or rebuild if required, and maintain consistency amongst CS systems to minimize differences in behavior between the systems. | * Your desktops are configured and managed by Techstaff using automated build and configuration management systems which allows the systems to easily maintain current software revisions, quickly reconfigure or rebuild if required, and maintain consistency amongst CS systems to minimize differences in behavior between the systems. | ||
+ | |||
+ | First year students, beginning in September 2019, will be equipped with new desktops. | ||
+ | * Intel i7 CPUs with 6 cores/12 hyperthreads | ||
+ | * 16 GB of RAM | ||
+ | * 512 GB SSD | ||
+ | * Running Ubuntu 20.04 | ||
+ | * 27" 4K monitor | ||
+ | * on a non-routable private address using NAT | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note: the new systems will be required to have Techstaff management and cannot be self-managed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | =====Miscellaneous Components===== | ||
+ | Cables, adapters, and other miscellaneous parts are available for short term loan from Techstaff. | ||
=====Services===== | =====Services===== | ||
====Interactive login servers==== | ====Interactive login servers==== | ||
- | [[techstaff: | + | [[techstaff: |
These systems are configured similarly to the desktops and lab machines and can be used interchangeably with them. They are configured with 16 hyperthreads, | These systems are configured similarly to the desktops and lab machines and can be used interchangeably with them. They are configured with 16 hyperthreads, | ||
The purpose of these systems is to support instructional computing. | The purpose of these systems is to support instructional computing. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====VDesk==== | ||
+ | You can access virtual machines that are configured to be used as CSIL Linux machines. | ||
+ | |||
====Personal website==== | ====Personal website==== | ||
Line 39: | Line 82: | ||
====Printers==== | ====Printers==== | ||
- | Techstaff has distributed a number of community printers around the department. There are 4 color printers distributed throughout | + | Techstaff has distributed a number of community printers around the department. There are 4 color printers distributed throughout |
- | * sassafras.cs.uchicago.edu located in Ry 160b | + | * sassafras.cs.uchicago.edu located in JCL 214 (faculty only) |
- | * basswood.cs.uchicago.edu located in Ry 160b | + | * basswood.cs.uchicago.edu located in JCL 235 |
- | * persimmon.cs.uchicago.edu located in Ry 257 | + | * persimmon.cs.uchicago.edu located in JCL 314 (faculty only) |
- | * chinkapin.cs.uchicago.edu located in Ry 162 | + | * chinkapin.cs.uchicago.edu located in 362 |
[[techstaff: | [[techstaff: | ||
Line 50: | Line 93: | ||
There are also black and white printers available in the larger student offices. | There are also black and white printers available in the larger student offices. | ||
These printers are all available on all Techstaff managed linux systems. | These printers are all available on all Techstaff managed linux systems. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Note: We will be adding them to all student rooms. | ||
======Instructional servers====== | ======Instructional servers====== | ||
Line 73: | Line 118: | ||
The cluster should be used for larger jobs, rather than than linux.cs.uchicago.edu. Additionally, | The cluster should be used for larger jobs, rather than than linux.cs.uchicago.edu. Additionally, | ||
- | =====Hadoop===== | + | The department has added a research SLURM cluster. |
- | We are experimenting with an [[bigdataetc|Apache Hadoop cluster]] for use by several big data courses. | + | |
+ | =====Non-CS Research Computing Resources===== | ||
+ | * Research Computing Center | ||
+ | * Chameleon Cloud [[http:// | ||
======Labs====== | ======Labs====== | ||
- | The department supports | + | The department supports |
=====CSIL===== | =====CSIL===== | ||
- | [[http:// | + | [[http:// |
- | Two of the pods each contain Linux boxes that are configured and managed by Techstaff. They are configured using a template similar to linux.cs.uchicago.edu or student desktops. The linux systems are rebooted each morning at 4:00 AM in order to clean up processes and to make them less desirable platforms for long term execution which would impact performance for the seated user. The other two pods each contain 20 Macs which are configured and maintained by [[http:// | + | Three of the pods each contain Linux boxes that are configured and managed by Techstaff. They are configured using a template similar to linux.cs.uchicago.edu or student desktops. The linux systems are rebooted each morning at 4:00 AM in order to clean up processes and to make them less desirable platforms for long term execution which would impact performance for the seated user. The other two pods each contain 20 Macs which are configured and maintained by [[http:// |
These pods are reserved for a number of courses for labs, class, or TA sessions. The software on both architectures supports the needs of many courses allowing students to have access to reliable systems that will work consistently for course assignments. | These pods are reserved for a number of courses for labs, class, or TA sessions. The software on both architectures supports the needs of many courses allowing students to have access to reliable systems that will work consistently for course assignments. | ||
- | |||
- | =====MPCS===== | ||
- | The Masters Program in Computer Science (MPCS) has a smaller lab on the fourth floor of Young. It contains 21 linux systems that are configured similarly to CSIL’s. These are used by the MPCS students and courses. PhD students can also make use of them and may do so if they are TA’s for an MPCS course. | ||
======Policies & Recommendations===== | ======Policies & Recommendations===== | ||
=====Getting help===== | =====Getting help===== | ||
====Techstaff==== | ====Techstaff==== | ||
- | We are here to help and will do so. Please contact us by stopping by the office (Ryerson 154), writing us (techstaff@cs.uchicago.edu), | + | We are here to help and will do so. Please contact us by stopping by the office (JCL 357 or JCL 364), writing us (techstaff@cs.uchicago.edu), |
====http:// | ====http:// | ||
Line 99: | Line 145: | ||
====Do I get sudo access?==== | ====Do I get sudo access?==== | ||
No. | No. | ||
- | There are a number of reasons for this, but the primary reason is that root access gives one access to other users home directories. | + | There are a number of reasons for this, but the primary reason is that root access gives one access to other users home directories. |
====Best practices==== | ====Best practices==== | ||
Line 115: | Line 161: | ||
If you require software that is not installed, it is best to install it locally, in your home directory or /local directory if this is possible. | If you require software that is not installed, it is best to install it locally, in your home directory or /local directory if this is possible. | ||
Place any files that you want to be backed up in your home directory, either by creating them there or by copying them there for long term storage. | Place any files that you want to be backed up in your home directory, either by creating them there or by copying them there for long term storage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====Second Monitors==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some students have second monitors. | ||
+ | |||
=====Quotas===== | =====Quotas===== | ||
- | We place quotas on the home directory. | + | We place quotas on the home directory. |
=====Self Management===== | =====Self Management===== | ||
Line 127: | Line 178: | ||
* Techstaff will assist as we can if there are questions or problems, but the amount of time that can be spent is limited. | * Techstaff will assist as we can if there are questions or problems, but the amount of time that can be spent is limited. | ||
* You will have to use other systems to perform TA duties. | * You will have to use other systems to perform TA duties. | ||
+ | * You will be required to install an SSH allowing Techstaff root access. | ||
+ | * The new machines cannot be self-managed. | ||
The reported hacked systems that we have had have all been student-run systems. Therefore, it is very important to note the following: | The reported hacked systems that we have had have all been student-run systems. Therefore, it is very important to note the following: |
/var/lib/dokuwiki/data/attic/techstaff/introduction.1506100742.txt.gz · Last modified: 2017/09/22 12:19 by kauffman