Getting Started On UNIX

Getting Started On UNIX

Introduction

This document describes how to log in to the University's UNIX system. The first step is to connect to the system.

Connecting
(The instructions in this section assume that you have a Windows PC. If you have a Mac, contact the Helpdesk about obtaining a telnet client)

There are several ways to connect, depending on the computer your are using.
You must have a connection to the Internet. After you have established your Internet connection, you can:

Use the telnet.exe program by clicking the Start button, selecting Run and typing telnet itsunix.albany.edu in the text box
Download and install HostExplorer* from the ITS website, and connect to itsunix.albany.edu
If you are in a user room, click the "Mainframe Connections" icon and then the "UNIX" icon.

*There is a separate Quick Starts on how to use HostExplorer.

Logging In

When you have connected to the UNIX system, you will be presented with a login prompt:

SunOS 5.7

This is the place where you type your NetID. For students, this usually consists of your first initial, last initial, and the last six digits of your Student ID. It is always in lowercase. It will then ask for your password*.

*If you have forgotten your password you can reset it by clicking below

Password:

If you mistyped either your NetID or your password, the system will display "Login incorrect" and ask you for your NetID again. Things to check:

UNIX is case sensitive! Remember to enter your NetID in lowercase, and your password using whatever case you used when originally setting up your password.

*Reminder…

The password should be 6 to 8 characters long, contain at least one number, and begin and end with a letter. The letters can be either UPPERCASE, lowercase, or mixed case. HOWEVER, you must always enter your password using the same case as you did when originally setting up your password.

*If you have forgotten your password you can reset it by clicking below

.

If these seem correct and you still cannot log in, contact the ITS Helpdesk for assistance.

When you successfully log in, several lines of text will scroll by:

Last login: Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 from nowhere.albany.

Sun Microsystems Inc. SunOS 5.7 Generic October 1998
***********************************************************************

               Computing Services Center
                  Sun Sparc Station
                 itsunix.albany.edu

Logins to this node may be under restrictions during certain times of
the year. Please refer to the file /usr/local/doc/where.to.loginto
see which UNIX nodes are available for your work.

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THIS MACHINE PROHIBITED.

Type 'msgs' (no quotes) to view system announcements.
***********************************************************************
You have mail.
Terminal type? (vt100)

The last line is a prompt asking you about your terminal type. The response is important for programs such as Pine to work. Here you should just press enter to get to the command prompt:

Terminal type? (vt100) [just press enter here]
Terminal type is vt100
itsunix%

Now you are logged into the UNIX system. At the "itsunix%" prompt, you may type commands such as "pine" to check your mail.

Additional Information

You can find more information in the topic-specific QuickStarts available as handouts at the Helpdesk, or on the ITS Computing documentation page: (*Note – these addresses are case-sensitive)

Pine	http://www.albany.edu/computing/documentation/QuickStarts/qs-pine.html
HostExplorer	http://www.albany.edu/computing/documentation/QuickStarts/qs-hostexplorer4.html
Common UNIX Commands	http://www.albany.edu/computing/documentation/QuickStarts/qs-common_unix.html
UNIX Passwords	http://www.albany.edu/computing/documentation/QuickStarts/qs-password.html

Information Technology Services Helpdesk, LC-27

(518) 442-3700

Submit a Help Desk Request at:

http://www.albany.edu/its/help/help-request.html