UM Chemistry/Computer Hardware and Software FAQ

FAQ

1. How do I obtain an email account?
2. How do I obtain a computer account?

In order to obtain a university email account, you have to initialize your account here. The university utilizes a single sign-on (SSO) system for access to many university accounts. SSO allows access control to multiple independent software systems with the same user login credentials. However, because we use this SSO system, it is even more important to protect the integrity of your account password. Your SSO credentials will allow for access to hundreds of TigerLan computers in labs scattered across campus--many of these labs are open 24/7. Find a computer lab with the university's Technology Resource Locator.

Here is a website detailing the conditions of a strong password, as well as providing a random strong password generator.

3. How do I obtain an High Performance Computing (HPC) Facility computer account?

Please have your advisor send an email to hpcadmins@memphis.edu stating the request for an HPC account with your full name and uuid.

4. How do I get my computer on the campus network?

In order to use your laptop computer on campus for the first time, you will have to obtain an IP address from the DHCP server. Start Internet Explorer and go to http://netreg.memphis.edu/, where you will be asked for your uuid and password. After you login, you will register your computer and then restart your computer.

5. How do I use on-campus software from off campus?
6. How do I connect to my on-campus computer from off campus?

Use a VPN connection to access on-campus computers and software from off campus.

• VPN FAQ
• Available VPN Client Software
• Which VPN Client to install?
• VPN Client installation instructions: HTML and pdf

The university is testing new vmware (umWare) for access to software applications. umWare provides users with access to the software available on TigerLan computers. This software can be used from anywhere on or off campus and is available for both Windows PCs and Macs. Your work is saved to your own computer and you can print locally. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and your uuid/password.

Microsoft Windows users can follow these directions to enable Remote Desktop connections to their office PC (the host computer running Windows XP Pro or Windows Vista, beyond Home and Starter editions) and login remotely using the Remote Desktop Connection from the client computer. The Remote Desktop is bundled with your Microsoft OS (any version beyond any variant of Windows XP).
Start-->Programs--Accessories-->Communications-->Remote Desktop Connection
Be sure to note your campus machine's IP address so that you can use that IP address in "Computer:" box of the Remote Desktop Connection program.

Mac users can also login remotely to their office PC. Use this Remote Desktop Client. See here for a more complete description.

7. Can I use Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products on my home computer?

Microsoft Windows XP Professional and Microsoft Office 2003/2007 is available to faculty and staff members free of charge. Be sure to save the disk image in case you need to reinstall the program or operating system. You can download your copy of each through this website (you will be prompted for your uuid and password).

8. How do I open Microsoft Office 2007 documents (docx, xlsx, pptx, etc.) with Microsoft Office 2003?

Install the Microsoft Office File Converter, available here.

9. How do I set up my email client on my office computer?

Microsoft Outlook and Exchange support documentation (i.e., how do I setup Outlook email client with Exchange server?) for the University of Memphis can be found here.

10. What software is available for use on my on-campus computer?

Software available for download and installation from the University of Memphis can be found here (you will be prompted for your uuid and password). Select software is available for no cost. Other software is available for purchase. A list of software that is available on the Softgrid is available here. SoftGrid is an application virtualization and application streaming solution from Microsoft (Microsoft Application Virtualization).

Chemistry related software available for download/installation/use and software available on the university's High Performance Computing Facility can be found here.

11. My computer is not working. How do I get it working or worked on?

First restart your computer in "Safe Mode" by pressing F8 at the BIOS splash screen, right after the computer is started, and selecting "Safe Mode" from the menu. Correct the problem, and reboot normally.

If you cannot repair the problem, submit an ARS Ticket here. Please describe the issue explicitly in your ARS ticket.

12. My software package is not working. What do I do?

Is there vendor support? If so, contact the vendor. Is this software installed on a machine at the HPC facility? If so, contact hpcadmins@memphis.edu specifically stating the issue.

13. My internet is not working. What do I do?

Check the ethernet cable. Reboot. Check in the network connection: Start-->Settings-->Network Connections. Check the "status" and "repair" the connection.

14. How do I use a GUI from a linux box on my office PC?

Use PuTTYcyg and cygwin to run X-windows on a PC (install and usage notes for PuTTYcyg and cygwin).