IT @ GT
Information Technology
Guide for Students
Help when you need IT
How to use this guide
Welcome to Georgia Tech! This guide will help you familiarize you with the
technology and related support services provided by Georgia Tech. For the various
campus locations mentioned in this guide, please visit:
map.gtalumni.org/campusmap.pdf
In addition to this guide, you can find phone, email, and walk-in support at the
Technology Support Center (TSC) and on the Resnet website at resnet.gatech.edu.
The Technology Support Center, located in Suite 215 of the Clough
Commons, provides a variety of services like GT account management,
wireless configuration, virus and spyware removal, OIT software distribution,
how-to clinics, and more.
The highly-trained, courteous staff is available by phone from 8:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or in person from 8:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also send an email 24/7 to:
support@oit.gatech.edu.
For a complete list of support options as well as valuable links to additional
resources, or to request help online, visit the TSC website.
call
located
email
visit
(404) 894­–7173
Clough Commons Suite 215
support@oit.gatech.edu
http://tsc.oit.gatech.edu
Phone &
Live Chat Support
Monday-Friday
8am-4pm
(404) 894­–0444
http://resnet.gatech.edu
ResNet works exclusively with campus residents, providing support for residential
cable TV, GT wireless (LAWN) and wired (LAN) connections, network configuration
for gaming consoles and a large variety of technical devices upon request.
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East Campus: Upper Level of Brittain
Dining Hall (between vending
machines and laundry)
West Campus: Curran Parking Deck
(8th St Entrance next to Westside
Market)
ResNet provides technical assistance with on-campus housing wired (LAN)
& wireless (GTwifi) connections, network configuration for gaming consoles,
CATV (cable TV) and support for virtually any technology you need. Campus
cable boasts over 120 channels, spanning a wide variety of programming. A
substantial number of channels are in foreign languages.
Residential networking consists of high-speed connections wired directly into
rooms. There is exceptional wireless coverage in buildings and nearby outdoor
spaces all over campus.
Gamers can find a home on our wired (LAN) network for their PS3, Xbox 360
and Nintendo Wii. Please refer to http://resnet.gatech.edu/gamingsystems/ for
console connection instructions as the setup procedure will be different from a
home network. Plan ahead and follow the instructions.
You can register up to five (5) devices on your room wired (LAN) port.
You can also use a router, but be aware that it is against Georgia Tech Policy to
broadcast your own wireless signal. The ResNet RTA student staff can assist
with disabling the broadcasting on your router.
Don’t get caught broadcasting your own private wireless signal (even with a
hidden SSID).
LIVING ON
CAMPUS?
ResNet is the only residential technology support
group on campus which can assist you in the
residence halls. During Fall move-in week and
weekend, we’ll be knocking on your residence door
to offer IT support and technical assistance. Please
refer to the posters in the entrance hallways of your
residence hall for scheduled days and times.
ResNet Walk-up Support Locations and Hours
Sunday - Thursday
4pm-10pm
ResNet offers residents assistance with Windows, Linux, and Mac machines,
including walk-in support for operating system diagnostics/troubleshooting and
malware/virus removal. Additional support for a variety of technical products
(mobile devices, gaming consoles, servers, etc.) is available by calling the
ResNet office or submitting a help request on the ResNet website.
The ResNet professional and student staff wish you good luck as you begin
your journey at Georgia Tech, and remember that help is available when you
need IT. We’ll see you in your residence and in the hallways during Fall movein week and weekend! ResNet is IT when it comes to being your residential
technology support staff.
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GETTING STARTED
GT Account
Email
Georgia Tech offers a number of tools
and services for Institute students,
faculty, and staff. To identify yourself
to the campus network and enable
access to these resources, you will
use your assigned GT Account.
Your default email address is your
GTAccount@gatech.edu, but you can
create your own custom email alias after
activating your account and logging into
PASSPORT at
http://passport.gatech.edu.
PASSPORT is the user gateway for
all GT Account self‑service functions,
including most account and
password related issues.
Some campus services may require
your gtID#. You can find your
number under the barcode on the
front of your BuzzCard.
Your GT email address will be
automatically forwarded to the email
address supplied on your application.
You can change where your GT email is
forwarded to, or request a GT mailbox for
your tenure as a student in PASSPORT
too!
More than just a photo ID, your
BuzzCard can be used for
admission to campus events,
purchases, meal plans and more.
T-Square
T-Square is a collaboration and
learning environment powered by
the Sakai platform, a free and open
source product.
Many instructors use T-Square as
an online collaboration tool to post
announcements, class materials,
assignments, grades, and other
class related resources. Students
can also use it to create their own
collaboration spaces outside of
courses.
Check out the T-Square site at
https://t-square.gatech.edu/portal
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Buzzport.gatech.edu
Buzzport is Georgia Tech’s
campus portal system.
Buzzport makes it easier for
students to locate and access
the web resources that they
need at GT.
Buzzport provides one click
access to many of the most
popular web systems at GT
while providing students with
dashboard views to course
pages and registration.
Online Training
Georgia Tech has unlimited online
training via lynda.gatech.edu available
for all students. Lynda is an online
subscription service library that offers
courses in the latest software tools and
skills through high-quality instructional
videos taught by recognized industry
experts. Please visit lynda.gatech.
edu 24x7 for courses in topics like:
AutoCAD, C++, Adobe Photoshop,
XML, Dreamweaver and more.
There are more than 1,100 courses
available and new titles being added
weekly. Lynda services are designed
for all levels of learners and is available
whenever you’re ready to learn.
Certificates of Completion are available
for anyone who completes the course
tests. You can view it on your iPhone
or iPad, too.
Log in for training using your GT
credentials at lynda.gatech.edu.
LAWN (Wireless)
LAWN (Wireless/Wi-Fi) The Georgia
Tech LAWN (Local Area Walkup &
Wireless Network) access is enabled
for all students, faculty, and staff with
a valid GT Account. With very few
exceptions, every building on all three
Georgia Tech campuses has wireless
coverage, including all classrooms
and most labs, common spaces,
and offices. Wired LAWN ports are
available in a variety of locations
around campus.
LAWN works with most modern
laptops, smart phones, and other
devices which support Wi-Fi
(802.11a/g/n/ac). All student laptops
must support 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz
802.11n Wi-Fi for use on campus,
and we highly recommend this for
other Wi-Fi devices when possible.
Most Wi-Fi enabled devices and
operating systems can connect to
LAWN using the GTwifi wireless
network (SSID). Once selected,
enter your GT account username
and password, accept the gtwpa.
lawn.gatech.edu certificate, and (if
necessary) select “PEAP” for the EAP
type and designate “MS-CHAPv2” as
the authentication method.
For specific information about
configuring your devices for LAWN
visit http://www.lawn.gatech.edu,
Resnet, or the Technology Support
Center.
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COMPUTER CLUSTERS
The Office of Information Technology supports computer clusters in the
Student Center and the Library Commons. These spaces are designed
for individual and group productivity and include hardware and software
specific to the academic learning environment.
Multimedia Studio
For more information on OIT labs, visit:
The Multimedia Studio is equipped with high-performance Mac workstations with a
wide variety of multimedia applications including much of the Adobe Creative Suite,
iMovie, Final Cut Pro and Maya 3D. The space also includes DV/DVD decks, large
platform scanners, and knowledgeable staff who can help answer some of your
questions related to multimedia projects.
www.oit.gatech.edu/service/computer-labs/computer-clusters
Lewis H. Beck Multipurpose Room
Library Commons
The Commons at the Georgia Tech Library represents the services that every
Georgia Tech student needs to be successful during his or her academic career.
The Library and the Office of Information Technology (OIT) have partnered with
other Georgia Tech departments to provide comprehensive support, cutting-edge
technology, and facilitating environments to help students do their best work.
The Commons includes:
• West Commons (LWC)
• 2West
• East Commons (LEC)
• Multimedia Studio
• Lewis H. Beck Multipurpose Room
For more information on the Commons, including computer availability, software,
and upcoming events, visit http://library.gatech.edu
Library West Commons (LWC)
The LWC Productivity Computer Cluster is equipped with a wide variety of
productivity software such as MATLAB, Microsoft Office, and AutoCAD. There are
also several flat-bed scanners in the horseshoes of the cluster.
Library 2West
Located inside the Multimedia Studio, this room can accommodate video
teleconferencing, professional audio recording, presentation rehearsal, and a
mini classroom. This room is equipped with an Mbox Pro audio interface, Yamaha
HS80M reference speakers, acoustical paneling, Mondopad touchscreen
teleconferencing system, and ten multimedia laptops. A full list of additional
hardware and software is available inside the multimedia studio. The room is
reservable via GTEvents for students, faculty, and staff.
VLab
The VLAB (Virtual Lab), funded by the technology fee, is a project whose primary
purpose is to enable remote access to software normally only available in campus
computer labs. Every student has access to the campus VLab enviroment. Your
specific access to the VLab resources, such as School operated pools, will be
dependent on your class enrollment. Additional information is available at
https://mycloud.gatech.edu
Departmental Computer Labs/Clusters
Additional computer labs and clusters are available across campus and are
traditionally maintained by the respective schools and colleges. Talk to your
program director/advisor for additional information about computer accessibility
within departments, as well as any additional software requirements as part of your
major.
The second floor of the Library West Commons was recently renovated to
provide additional group collaboration/study areas including moveable furniture,
whiteboards, walk-up computers, individual study areas, and hardware and
software enhancing the group collaboration process.
Library East Commons (LEC)
The LEC was designed for group collaboration and has forty workstations
distributed throughout three zones: four visitor computers, six walk-up computers,
and thirty computers at collaborative stations. Anyone can use the visitor
computers in Zone 5, but all other computers in the LEC require an active GT
Account to log on.
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Printing@OIT
Printers and Options
Much of the printing on campus is managed by the Office of Information Technology
via Pharos stations. Printing options in most locations include a variation of Black,
Color, & Staple (black printer that can staple and hole-punch jobs).
Mobile Printing
Every printer has Letter (8½x11”) and Tabloid-sized (11x17”) paper. Library Commons
printers default to simplex (single sided), but this can be changed in the print dialog.
network (via a wired connection, VPN, or on LAWN) in order to send a mobile print.
With the exception of Central-PS, mobile jobs will be released like other prints.
Weekly Allocation
Students receive an allocation of $2.20 each week for printing at any Pharos payfor-print station on campus.. The allocation resets every Friday at 12:01 a.m., and
any remaining balance does not rollover from one week to the next. Prints are 4¢ per
page for the Black and Staple printers, 19¢ per page for the Color printer.
If you exhaust your allowance, prints are deducted from your BuzzCard funds. If you
need to put more money on your BuzzCard, you can make cash deposits at kiosks
in the LEC (by the elevators), Student Center (by the Box Office), or with a credit card
on the BuzzCard website.
Releasing Jobs
After sending a print job, you must release the print. Release Stations are located
beside the printers, where you are required to login with your GT Account and swipe
your BuzzCard. Pending jobs, the total charge each print, the amount of unused print
allowance, and available funds on your BuzzCard will populate on the screen. You will
have the option of releasing the prints or deleting them.
Students may send print jobs from their own computers by downloading and installing
the OIT mobile print packages available at
http://software.oit.gatech.edu Keep in mind that you must be on the campus
Central Printing
Central-PS is a print service that is a little different than the traditional pay-for-print
service in that print jobs are printed offsite and returned to bins in the Student Center
computer cluster at designated times. There is a quota of 1200 pages allocated
at the beginning of each semester for printing larger print jobs via the Central-PS
service. Before you print to Central-PS, you should keep in mind:
•
You must be in the Pharos system (accomplished by releasing a print job at a
Pharos pay-for-print station) before sending a print job to Central-PS.
•
Copyright infringement is strictly prohibited. Failure to adhere to Institute policy
will initiate infringement processing.
•
Anticipate a 2½ hour turnaround. Jobs sent after 3:00pm should not be
expected until the next day delivery time.
•
You do not need to release Central-PS prints.
•
You can pick up your Central-PS prints in the lockers located in the Student
Center Computer Cluster.*
Delivery Times
Monday-Friday
9:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday
no deliveries
* After two weeks, unclaimed prints will be recycled.
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Office 365
Store.
Share.
Sync.
Student Computer Ownership
Office 365 is the same Office you already know and
use every day, but now it’s powered by the cloud
so you can access your applications and your files
virtually anywhere at anytime.
Recommended Hardware
OneDrive for Business is a web-based document
storage and collaboration service that includes
the Office Online web applications - Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, and OneNote. You can work on a
PowerPoint presentation at the same time in real
time with your project teams or send a draft of an
assignment to your TA for comments!
HD capacity: 128GB solid state drive or 250GB hard disc drive or larger
Ext HD size: For local backup, an external hard drive with double the size of
the internal hard drive or a subscription to a cloud based backup
solution like Crashplan is highly recommended
Networking: Dual-Band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) Wireless 802.11n capable
Lync is an online meeting and instant messaging service that is shared across all of
Georgia Tech. You can meet with your project groups online with video and audio
and shared desktop capabilities, attend virtual office hours with your TA, or instant
message a classmate for yesterday’s notes.
Outlook is one of the email services offered on campus. You can request a GT
mailbox in PASSPORT (https://passport.gatech.edu), or you can keep using your
personal mailbox!
Visit https://office365.gatech.edu to get started!
GT Journey
GT Journey is a virtual focal point for
students, faculty, and staff to develop
ideas and solutions, find technical
support and resources, advertise
and access campus data, and share
applications and experiences.
Visit gtjourney.gatech.edu on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to explore campus
applications built by your fellow students; including bus tracking, maps, directory,
augmented reality tours, and more. To get involved, visit gtmob.gatech.edu
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Form factor: Notebook
Processor: 64 bit Multi-core processor or better
Memory:
8GB or more
Accessories: DVD writer, USB Flash drive, Ethernet cable, laptop lock
Learn more about Georgia Tech Student Computer Ownership at
http://sco.gatech.edu
Free & Discounted Software
The Office of Information Technology has made agreements with various software
distributors in order to supply the campus with their software needs. To download
available software including mobile and print packages and links to other sources of
free and discounted software, visit the online distribution page at
http://software.oit.gatech.edu
Anti-Virus Protection
For Windows 7 we recommend that everyone use Microsoft Security Essentials for
PCs
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/microsoft-security-essentials.aspx
In Windows 8, Microsoft has re-branded Microsoft Security Essentials, and it is built
into the OS. For more information about Windows Defender, visit this page:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-find-remove-virus
For OS X, Apple has a solution called XProtect built-in to the OS and it runs in
invisibly in the background. However, if you would like to make sure that PC files
that you receive are not infected, then we recommend that you use the free Sophos
software. Get Sophos from http://www.sophos.com. For more information on OS X
XProtect, follow this link: http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg-builtin/
Words to the wise: Cyber crime is a very real issue throughout the world and is
an increasing threat everyday. Because Georgia Tech is well recognized and is a
formidable target for hackers worldwide, its best to educate yourself about how
to keep your systems secure. Working together and raising awareness is the best
defense. Visit the Technology Support Center in Clough Commons for information
on what you can do to make sure all of your computing devices are safe.
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Important Security tips
In an effort to reduce attacks on the Georgia Tech infrastructure as well as the importance
of securing the “end points” that access the Georgia Tech network, OIT has provided the
following tips to help keep your computer and the GT infrastructure secure.
•
Back up your computer regularly and keep software applications, operating systems,
and security patches current.
Windows: http://www.update.microsoft.com
Apple: http://www.apple.com/support/security
•
Create strong passwords and do not share them with anyone for any reason. A strong
password has a minimum of eleven characters, including a combination of numbers,
upper and lowercase letters, and special characters (such as !@#$%^&*).
•
Log off, lock your screen, or use a password-activated screensaver when stepping away
from your computer.
•
Limit the amount of personally identifiable information such as social security number,
income tax records, credit card numbers, and banking information you store on
your computer. Limit the amount of personal information you post when using social
networking technologies such as Facebook and Twitter.
•
Consider purchasing theft protection services, such as LoJack, that can assist with
tracking, locating and recovering a stolen laptop or desktop computer. Unattended
laptops are an easy target for theft.
•
Register your laptop with the GT Police Department by completing the form located at
http://police.gatech.edu/services/property/. This assists GTPD with returning your
computer if found. If your computer is lost or stolen, immediately contact the GT Police
Department at (404) 894-2500 to obtain a police report.
•
Illegal downloads, uploads, installs, copies, storage, or redistribution of copyrighted
material such as music, movies, software applications, and television shows is against
Institute policy. Take a moment to read the Georgia Tech Computer & Network
Usage and Security Policy. http://http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/informationtechnology/computer-and-network-usage-and-security
•
Access to Georgia Tech’s computers and networks is a priviledge and students are
responsible for reading and being compliant with this policy.
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