About Your Computer Account

The Computer: For this course, you will have an account on computer webdev.spsu.edu This computer has a Unix-like operating system (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) and the tools you will need for your coursework.

Use of this Account: This account is to be used for coursework for this course only. You may not use it for other purposes. In particular, your account is not equipped for sending or receiving e-mail, so please don't try to use it in that way. (Yes, you can probably figure out how to make this machine generate SMTP messages, but you're not supposed to. Use of the machine in excess of your authority can cause your account to be terminated, which could have a negative effect on your course grade. OK?)

Your Account Name: Your account name is composed of the "local part," that is, the part before the @-sign, or your SPSU email address.

If you don't have an SPSU email address or you have questions about your account name, please see me.

Your Password: Your initial password is formed from the last four digits of your student number. You must change your password. This requirement will be enforced by the computer system, so have a new password in mind before you log in for the first time. Remember, this computer is exposed to the Internet (so you can use it from home, that's why!) so your password needs to be strong enough to resist attack. A good password is at least eight characters long, not a dictionary word, contains lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and digits or special characters.

Logging on for the First Time: Do not attempt to log on until after the class meeting when the form of your password is explained to you. From a computer with Internet access, establish a telnet session to webdev.spsu.edu. (With MS-Windows operating systems, use PuTTY (free) or SecureCRT (special student price), or choose start→run and type "telnet webdev.spsu.edu" then click OK.) What you will see will look something like this:

NOTICE: This machine is for authorized use only. System personnel monitor activity for unauthorized use, which will be reported to law enforcement agencies. In the course of monitoring for unauthorized use, the activities of authorized users may be monitored.

login: rbrown Password:    Your temporary password
You are required to change your password immediately (password aged) Changing password for rbrown (current) UNIX password:    Your temporary password again

New password:   Nothing echos, not even asterisks.
BAD PASSWORD: it is too simplistic/systematic   You must choose a strong password.
New password: Retype new password: Last login: Sun Aug 4 12:07:38 from earnshaw.spsu.edu

You have logged on to a computer operated by the University System of Georgia. If you are not an authorized user of this computer, or if you are using it in a way that exceeds your authority to use it, you may be liable for civil or criminal penalties.

[rbrown@webdev rbrown]$ logout

Note that the passwords you type do not echo, not even with asterisks. You are immediately prompted to change your password. Doing so requires entering your initial (current) password a second time when prompted, then entering your new password twice to guard against typing slip-ups. The computer system will perform some tests on your proposed password, and will not allow weak passwords.

Notice the last login line. It is a security measure. If you see a last login that wasn't a time you were using the computer, or from a location you don't use, your account has been compromised. See your instructor right away.

SSH key fingerprint: The SSH key fingerprint for the server is 1024 86:b6:27:d6:c5:cc:79:1c:3e:71:53:40:a9:25:25:fb. If you connect via SSH and get a different key fingerprint, check with the instructor. That probably means the server software has been upgraded without a corresponding change in this document. However, it could also mean that someone, for whatever unknown reason, is spoofing the address of the webdev server.

Your Account is Temporary: Your account will be removed from this computer on or shortly after the due date for final grades for this semester. You should get any files you want from this machine not later than the end of final exams.