Information Technology Services Centre
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
GEN008 Computer Accounts and Resources QUICK START GUIDE
Version 1.5 July 2008

1. Introduction

The Information Technology Services Centre (ITSC) provides computer facilities and services to all the University staff and students. All the registered University staff and students, with a valid CU Link card, are eligible for getting computer account(s) on various computer systems according to their academic, research and administrative needs. Details can be found on Computer Accounts and Resources homepage at http://accounts.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk.

2. Computer Accounts

Six types of computer account are available,

  • Personal Computer Accoun
  • Departmental Computer Account
  • Project Computer Account
  • Student Society Computer Account
  • Course Computer Account
  • Temporary Computer Account

    2.1 Basic Personal Computer Account

    All registered staff and students can obtain the following personal computer accounts without application.

    Computer Systems Services Provided
    ITSC PC LAN


    • Provides access to the PC in the User Area and other college computer laboratories
    • Facilitates PC software applications and furnishes access points to computing, networking and information resources on campus and the Internet
    Campus-wide E-mail System (Mailserv)
    • Provides access to the E-mail system
    Dial-up Account
    • Provides access to the campus network and the Internet services over a telephone line through a modem
    E-mail Address
    • Provide you with an e-mail address which is in the form of name@cuhk.edu.hk
    CUHK Community Homepage Server (iHome)
    • Publish Personal Homepage

    2.1.1 Staff Users
    After getting your CU Link Card, contact our consultant on-duty at 2609 8845 to request a Computer Accounts Application Reply Slip which specifies your computing id and passwords for the computer systems mentioned in Section 2.1. Relevant documents will also be sent out by campus mail.

    2.1.2 Student Users
    After getting your CU Link card, you have to collect your Computer Accounts Application Reply Slip in person by presenting your CU Link card to our Consultant at the Consultation Room (Rm 133A of Pi Ch¡¦iu Building). The reply slip specifies your computing id and passwords for the computer systems mentioned in Section 2.1.

    2.1.3 Others
    If the account is for department/student society/project/course/temporary use, please fill in the application form that can be obtained at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/onlineapp/form/index.html.

    2.2 Other Computer Accounts

    ITSC also provides other services through different computer systems to facilitate teaching and research computing needs.

    Computing Resources for Teaching

    Computer Systrems Major Services/Software
    General-purpose UNIX Server (Logic)
    • Provides the Internet applications and homepage service
    WebCT
    • Facilities creation of web-based learning and teaching environment
    CU Forum
    • Provides a web-based conferencing tool enables hosting of discussion forums online and allows sharing of files and URLs among the group members
    Moodle
    • An open source e-Learning platform highly customizable to fit the teaching needs. This platform allows teachers to post teaching materials, host online discussions, post blog and etc. Moodle for sure opens up new opportunities and creativity for online learning.

    Computing Resources for Research

    Computer Systems Major Services/Software
    High-performance Computer Cluster (Orbit)
    • Provide a computation ¡V intensive computing platform that requires huge computation power
    Memory-Intensive Computing Server (Orpin)
    • Provide a memory intensive computing platform that requires huge computation power
    Scientific Computing Cluster (Organon )
    • Provide a computation ¡V intensive computing platform that requires huge computation power

    Application forms are also available on the web at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/onlineapp/form. Application will be processed in THREE working days and account will be granted according to your academic, research and administrative needs.

    3. Password

    After receiving the Computer Accounts Application Reply Slip, you are recommended to change your password(s) periodically. Details can be found on the ITSC Quick Start Guide GEN006 Recommendation for a Secure Password and on-line at http://accounts.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk.

    However, if you have forgotten your password, you need to contact ITSC to reset it for you.

    Reset Password on 'PC LAN', ¡¥CWEM¡¦, ¡¥iHome¡¦, ¡¥Logic¡¦ and Dial-up Account

    1. Visit the Consultation Room in person during office hours;
    2. Mail the application form; or
    3. Call 2609 8845 to request the password mail to office (only applicable for staff members)

    3.3 Where to Get the Password Reply Slip after Resetting the Password

    Password is generated by the system and will be effective in an hour. Staff users will receive the password through the campus mail. Student users should collect the password at the Consultation Room (User Area, Room 133A. of Pi Ch'iu Building) in person by presenting their CU Link cards to the consultant-on-duty.

    4. Computer Resources Applications

    In order to provide fair shared computer resources among the users, each user will be granted a quota of computer resources such as disk quota, file quota, and CPU time etc. The default quota is printed on your Computer Accounts Information Reply Slip. If you find the default quota is insufficient, you can request for additional resources from ITSC.

    4.1 Enquire Current Computer Resources Balance

    When prompted by the system , you can check your quota information by command

    4.1.1 On 'Logic' and 'CWEM'
    [mailserv]% quota -v {file and disk quota information}

    [logic]% quota -v {file and disk quota information}

    4.1.2 On 'iHome'
    visit http://ihome.cuhk.edu.hk

    4.2 Request for Additional Computer Resources

    1. Access the web page at http://accounts.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk;
    2. Select 'Request Additional Computer Resources';
    3. Select the appropriate system and enter the additional amount of quota;
    4. Type in your computing id and CWEM password for verification.

    For a successful submission, a reference number will be generated for your future enquiries. Application result will be sent to you through e-mail.

    5. Dial-up account information

    5.1 Enquire Dial-up Usage Balance

    1. Access the web page at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/network/dialup/;
    2. Select 'Enquiring Dial-up Quota Time Balance';
    3. When prompted, enter your computing id and CWEM password for verification.

    5.2 Request for Additional Dial-up Quota

    1. Access the web page at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/network/dialup/;
    2. Select 'Requesting Additional Dial-up Quota Time';
    3. Enter the additional amount of quota;
    4. Type in your computing id and CWEM password for verification.

    6. Other requests

    Submit any request other than above like extension of computer account expire date.

    1. Access the web page at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/onlineapp/accounts/comp_res.htm;
    2. Select 'Others';
    3. Enter a description of the request;
    4. Type in your computing id and CWEM password for verification.

    For a successful submission, a reference number will be generated for your future enquiries. Application result will be sent to you through e-mail.

    7. Progress tracking on computer resources application

    Whenever you submit a request to the Computer Resources Request System, a reference number will be generated for you. You can enquire the status of your request by,

    1. Access the web page at http://accounts.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk;
    2. Select ' Viewing Submitted Request Status/Information';
    3. Select all your records or a particular record with reference number;
    4. Type in your computing id and CWEM password for verification.

    For a successful submission, your record will be shown on screen.

    8. References

    8.1 ITSC Quick Start Guides

    • GEN006 Recommendation for a Secure Password

    8.2 Others

    9. Enquiries

    For any enquiries, please contact us by:

    Website: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc
    Electronic HelpDesk: https://helpdesk.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/group/account-help

    Fax:    2603-6098
    Phone: 2609-8845 (Hotline Services)

    Monday - Thursday 08:45-13:00 14:00-17:30
    Friday 08:45-13:00 14:00-17:45
    Saturday, Sunday & Public Holiday close