Obtaining CS Computer Accounts

(Redirected from Obtaining a CS Computer Account)

CS IT will handle many computer account issues now remotely, via email (never send passwords through email, though!) or Zoom. So, please make sure you have Zoom installed on your computer or mobile device. And, plan to have your J-Card in-hand. (If no J-Card, you'll at least need a picture ID.) If you have any questions, please email support@cs.jhu.edu


A CS Linux account provides:

  • A Linux shell and disk space for course work and light research.

NOTES:

  • A CS Linux account is not related to a JHED account. (JHED accounts are part of JHU's own accounts system.)


Below, you'll see the process to obtain a CS Linux account for access to the Computers Available on the CS Network.


Obtaining The CS Account Form

You can download a copy of the CS Linux/Windows Account Form from our Forms page.

Once you've downloaded it, come back to this page for further instructions.


Filling Out The CS Account Form

Please print and fill out the form COMPLETELY, and sign both sides of the form. Please be legible.

(Some of you might edit the PDF directly, but you still need to sign both sides of the form before submitting the form.)

You then need to obtain any authorized signatures. (Please see our updates to obtaining signatures in that section below.)

Additionally, make sure you list your JHU-assigned e-mail address on the account form. Many of our CS mailing lists use that address.

There is a section there for Permanent (non-JHU/non-CS) Email Address. Please fill that in. Note: If you will not be accessing your CS email directly, we encourage you then to forward your CS email to an address you do check frequently (whichever is your preferred email address... it could be your permanent email address or your @jhu.edu email address) so that you do not miss any emails that may be sent to your @cs.jhu.edu email address.

Under “Local Address”, please list your local resident street address while attending (or working at) JHU.


Indicating Your JHU Affiliation Type

The CS Account form requires you to choose your JHU affiliation.

Grad Student, Faculty/Instructor, Staff, Researchers, or Postdoc CS Computer Accounts
On the CS Linux/Windows Account Form, if you're a CS Grad student or CS Faculty/Instructor, Staff, Researcher or Postdoc, please make sure you've checked off that you want a Linux Grad account, which will supply you with your CS e-mail address and an account to access the Grad/Research Net Linux computers that are supported by CS IT (including the Linux computers in the Master's Lab).
If you are teaching or TA'ing a CS Undergrad Course, and, as a result, also require a CS Ugrad account for yourself, you can check off Ugrad Linux. But, if you do end up needing a Ugrad account, please realize that your CS Grad/Research Net account is your primary account (email, webpage, etc.) And, the Undergrad Net machines are subject to disk quotas.
CS Grad students (PhD and Masters) should also indicate their expected graduation year on the form next to their student affiliation.
CS Staff members: In addition to checking off the Linux box you should also check off the Windows box at the top.
If you already have a Grad/Research Linux account, and then later require a Ugrad Linux account (TA'ing a Ugrad course, for instance), please fill out the form again indicating which other accounts you need, You'll fill in your current username after the "Already have a CS acct..." line on the form. (It might be helpful to write something along the top of the form indicating "Requesting an additional account.")
If you already have a Ugrad Linux account, and then later, become part of the CS Graduate program (Masters or PhD) and are applying for a Grad Linux account (which is probably why you're reading this section now), please fill out the form again indicating which other accounts you need, You'll fill in your current username after the "Already have a CS acct..." line on the form. (It might be helpful to write something along the top of the form indicating "Requesting an additional account.") However, if you do get a CS Grad/Research Net Linux account, your CS Ugrad Net e-mail will no longer be in service (although, you will have access to your old e-mail). You would now have CS Grad/Research Net mail. If you're receiving a Grad account, you should move your Ugrad files over to your new Grad account and let us know, so that we can remove your Ugrad account.
CS Undergrad/CS Minor Student Accounts
If you are a CS Undergraduate student or CS Minor student, you will need a CS Undergrad Account to access the Undergrad Net Linux computers.
CS Undergrad/Minor students should also indicate their expected graduation year on the form next to their student affiliation.
If you already have a Ugrad Linux account, and then later, become part of the CS Graduate program and would need a Grad Linux account, please fill out the form again indicating which other accounts you need, You'll fill in your current username after the "Already have a CS acct..." line on the form. (It might be helpful to write something along the top of the form indicating "Requesting an additional account.") However, if you do get a CS Grad/Research Net Linux account, your CS Ugrad Net e-mail will no longer be in service (although, you will have access to your old e-mail). You would now have CS Grad/Research Net mail. If you're receiving a Grad account, you should move your Ugrad files over to your new Grad account and let us know, so that we can remove your Ugrad account.
Note: CS Linux machines have disk quotas. Please remove files you no longer need on your account after you are finished with them.
Class/Course Accounts
If you are provided a class account by your instructor, or if you apply for one yourself, please note that class accounts are up for removal after the semester is complete.
If you already only have a CS class account, but have entered into the CS Undergrad program, you are eligible to obtain a CS Ugrad Linux account, To do so, fill out the CS Account Form again from scratch, but this time, follow the section above for CS Undergrad/Minor students.. (But, do indicate somewhere along the top that you had been using a class account and what that account is.)
Note: CS Linux machines have disk quotas. Please remove files you no longer need on your account after you are finished with them.
Concurrent Students
If you start as a CS Concurrent Student (grad/ugrad at the same time) or if you were already a CS Ugrad student with a CS Ugrad account and become a Grad student, please make arrangements with CS IT Support to obtain a CS Grad/Research Net Linux account, if you'd like. However, if you do get a CS Grad/Research Net Linux account, your CS Ugrad Net e-mail will no longer be in service (although, you will have access to your old e-mail). You would now have CS Grad/Research Net mail. Your CS Ugrad account, however, will remain while you have a Grad account, until you graduate.
Other
If you're not sure you fit into one of the listed categories on the form, for example "research scientist", please choose "Other" and specify your position within JHU, and a reason you need the account, if applicable. You will still need to get an authorized signature on your form.


Choosing your CS Account Username

NOTE: We do not change CS usernames/accounts once created.
CS Faculty, Instructors, Staff, Post Docs, Researchers, and some others: You can generally request your own username. You should request up to three possible usernames, and we will use what we can, depending upon what's available. However, we highly recommend you choose to make your CS account username the same as your JHED ID.
CS Ugrad, Masters, and PhD Students: A CS username will be assigned to you, based upon your current JHED ID.
Non-CS students taking a CS Course: We will assign you a special course-based username for your CS course account. That course account will only be valid the semester the course is taught and will be removed upon course completion.
Others: When in doubt, your can choose to request us to use your JHED ID username as your CS username too.


Signatures

We require at least two and up to three signatures on each account form.

  • You will sign the front of the form and read and sign the back of the form.
  • Several of you will also need to obtain an authorized signature as appropriate (and as described on the form.) But, read below for changes in this policy.

UPDATE: In recent years, we had made some changes regarding signatures, and those changes are still in place... Instead of you having to obtain the authorized signatures on the form, in several cases (for example, students), we will take care of that for you. Please see below for details. (So, all you need to do is fill out the form, make sure you sign both sides, read the section below about any signatures needed, obtain any required signatures, per below, and then submit the form to us.)

  • CS Grad (Masters & PhD) students: You do not need an authorized signature. We will obtain any approvals for your account from CS Admin staff. Just make sure you sign the front and back in the appropriate spots.
  • CS Undergrads/CS Minors: You do not need an authorized signature. We will obtain any approvals for your account from CS Admin staff. Just make sure you sign the front and back in the appropriate spots.
  • CE (Computer Engineering) students: You do not need an authorized signature. We will obtain any approvals for your account from CS Admin staff. Just make sure you sign the front and back in the appropriate spots.
  • Non-CS student taking a CS class: Until further notice, you do not need your CS professor (CS Faculty/CS Instructor) to sign the form. Your account will last for the semester. NOTE: Under the Non-CS Student section, if you're taking a CS course and you list your Course name and #, in that same section, please also list your CS professor's name as well. This will speed up processing.
  • New CS faculty/instructors/staff: Please get Laura Graham or the CS Dept. Chair to sign your account form.
  • Postdocs, visiting faculty, or research scientists, etc.: Please have a CS Faculty Member (or possibly, Laura Graham) sign the form.
  • Students from other depts that are not associated with CS who are requesting a CS account on our system: You must have a CS Faculty member sign the account form. That CS Faculty member is sponsoring your account. If you're an undergrad student, you would have access to our CS Ugrad Network systems. If you're a grad student, you would have access to our CS Grad Network systems. We will attempt to obtain this approval for you, however, you need to indicate somewhere on the form which CS faculty member will sponsor your account. You do may need an authorized signature, as long as we are able to obtain any approvals for your account. Just make sure you sign the front and back in the appropriate spots for your account. If you choose to gather the authorized faculty signature yourself by sending your filled-out/signed form to the faculty member to sign, then please have that faculty member scan and email the completed form to support@cs.jhu.edu), that will speed up processing.

If you have any issues regarding signatures, please email support@cs.jhu.edu to discuss alternatives.


Submitting The Account Form

  • First, make sure you signed both sides of the form. Also, if you need to, obtain any authorized signatures
  • Please scan both sides into a single pdf. Then, attach the pdf to an email and send that to support@cs.jhu.edu
IMPORTANT! When you email the account form to us, please have the Subject Line include your name and the words "CS Account Form"'
NOTE: If you don't have a scanner, you can always use an app like CamScanner on Android and iPhone or Notes app on iPhone. As a last resort, you can neatly take a photo of both sides of the form.


Processing your CS Account Form And Receiving Your CS Account

Please allow at least 2-3 business days for your account to be created, as we have to obtain the authorized approval.

  • After your account is created, you will be contacted via e-mail at one of the e-mail addresses you listed on the form (so, check all of them) by Steve DeBlasio. He will send you instructions for pick-up of the account information, which will now be done remotely.
BE AWARE: If you are expecting e-mail from the CS IT Support team, and if you use Gmail, make sure you check your Gmail Junk folder. Gmail likes to file some e-mails from CS into Gmail Junk folders.
  • For remote account pick-up, as mentioned above, Steve DeBlasio will provide you instructions. He will meet with you over Zoom Please make sure you have Zoom installed on your computer or mobile device. And, you will need to have your J-Card (or other picture ID if you do not have a J-Card) in-hand, as he will need to see it when you meet with Steve via Zoom.


Do Not Share Your CS Password!

Please don't share your CS account password with anyone. No one else ever needs to know your account password, not even CS IT Support. If you're requesting information about an account, you can just give the account name; that's enough for authorized people to look up information about the account. Sharing the password with other people is potentially a security risk.
Even if you think the person you're contacting is trustworthy, since they should never need your password, it's good practice to never send it (not even via email or text.) That makes it impossible to accidentally send it to the wrong person, among other things.

And finally...

If you have any problems filling out the account forms or have not received notice that your account is ready in a reasonable amount of time (at least 2 business days after submitting the form), please email support@cs.jhu.edu.