Agenda
• Overview of Seneca Computer System
– File Servers / Student Computer Accounts
– Telnet application
– How to Logon to Learn / Phobos accounts
• How to Change your Password
• Basic Unix Commands
– pwd
– ls (Various Options)
Computer Networks
• Personal computers that are not connected
to other computers (via network cards) are
referred to as “stand-alone” computers.
• Institutions such as colleges find it more
economical and efficient to connect up
personal computers to form a computer
network
Computer Network
Terminal
(Client)
Terminal
(Client)
File Server
(Central Computer)
Terminal
(Client)
Terminal
(Client)
Terminal
(Client)
Terminal
(Client)
File Server
• A file server is a powerful centralized
computer system with an operating system
that allows multiple users to access software
applications and data files.
• The file server may also provide other
important services such as network printer
management and connection to other
networks (Internet)
Computer Networks
• Computers connected to form a network
over small geographic locations (such as a
building or city) are referred to as Local
Area Networks (LANs)
• Local Area Networks can use modems or
routers to connect up to other LANs from
far distances to form Wide Area Networks
(WANs)
Advantages of Computer
Networks
• Economical
– Ability to share hardware devices such as
printers and scanners
• Efficient
– Ability to communicate among users
– Efficient method to maintain and upgrade
software (I.e. one copy of software on file
server - therefore, only upgrade one location)
– Ability for users to share files
Seneca Computer Network
Newnham Campus
SIRUS
LEARN
MERCURY
Newnham
Campus
Modem Pool
T1
T1
Internet
Seneca@York Campus
Remote Users
Seneca Computer Network
Seneca@York Campus
Newnham Campus
T1
Seneca@York
PHOBOS
VISION
CS
PANDORA
(RS6000)
“
“
LINUX
Relevant Servers
• LEARN
– Used to read and send e-mail. Phobos password
will be e-mailed to this account
• PHOBOS
– Computer account used for creating, modifying,
compiling and executing programs
• VISION
– Used to store and maintain a student webpage.
Need to request permission for account
Steps to Logon to PHOBOS
• Access Sirus from web browser
• Complete Sirus screen to generate LEARN
& PHOBOS accounts
• Setup / Read e-mail in LEARN to obtain
PHOBOS account name & password
• Telnet to Phobos account - Read e-mail and
record VISION password
Steps to Logon to PHOBOS
• Logon to SIRIS to create account. Change
Learn password. Remember to use your 5
digit PIN number to logon to SIRIS.
Steps to Logon to PHOBOS
• Setup & access LEARN email via Netscape
to check e-mail to determine your PHOBOS
username and password. Logout of LEARN
account
• Logon to PHOBOS account via telnet
application. Change password and
LOGOUT of PHOBOS account.
Setup Netscape to Access
LEARN mail
• Launch Netscape, point and click onto
EDIT menu and point and click onto
preferences
Setup Netscape to Access
LEARN mail
• Point and click onto the plus sign to the
right of the “Mail & Newsgroups” category:
this will expand the selection. Point and
click onto Identity
Setup Netscape to Access
LEARN mail
• If you are using Netscape at the Seneca
College labs, you will have to type in the
following information for every new
session:
– Your name
– Your LEARN e-mail address
Setup Netscape to Access
LEARN mail
• Point and click onto “Mail Servers”, and
enter the following information:
– Mail server user name: type your username
– Outgoing mail: type learn.senecac.on.ca
– Incoming mail: type learn.senecac.on.ca
• Make sure that Mail server Type is set to IMAP
(Select the option “move deleted messages
in trash”)
• Point and click onto OK
Setup Netscape to Access
LEARN mail
How to Read E-mail via
Netscape
• Point and click onto the mailbox button:
• Point and click onto the New Message
button to read your e-mail
How to Read E-mail via
Netscape
• You will required to enter your LEARN
password (not the 5 digit number, but actual
LEARN password you created in SIRIS)
• WARNING:
– Make sure to close Netscape after reading your
e-mail messages; otherwise, people can read
your e-mail and send e-mail with your e-mail
address.
How to Logon to PHOBOS
Server
• Run Telnet Program
• Type in your Login I.D.
• Type in your password
Note:
For first time-users, you must go to
Siris, create a learn account, read e-mail
message in LEARN account via Netscape
regarding PHOBOS username &
Password
What is the Telnet Application?
• Unix systems such as PHOBOS were
originally designed to accommodate “dumb
terminals” which were simply monitors and
keyboards directly connected up to network
• Telnet allows the server to “think” that the
user’s personal computer is a “dumb
terminal”
• A common type of “dumb terminal” was
Digital Equipment corporation’s VT100.
Telnet Application
• To launch or “run” the Telnet application
from the Seneca computing lab, point and
click onto the application “telnet” on the
Windows 95 desktop
• You can obtain a free version of Telnet
application for home use (assuming you
have computer system with modem). More
details in following lessons
Protecting your Computer
Accounts
• It is important to assign an appropriate
password to prevent unauthorized access to
your computer accounts.
• Concerns regarding unauthorized use:
– Illegal Activity
– Suspension of account
– Loss of data / Copying of assignments
Password tips
• Avoid easily detected passwords such as
names or a series of numbers.
• Use phrases and take the first letter of each
word
For example:
Autumn leaves Turn red, yellow, orange
Password Tips
• Combine upper and lower cash letters
• Include a non alpha-numeric characters
such as . - in your password
• Acceptable passwords on PHOBOS and
LEARN range from 6 to 8 characters
Changing your Password
• After logging onto PHOBOS, you can
change your password by typing at the $
prompt:
passwd <ENTER>
Note: It is recommended to change password
periodically.
Basic Unix Commands
Listing Files:
ls
ls -a
ls -l
ls -al
Displays compact list of files (excluding
hidden files - beginning with period)
Displays all files (including hidden files)
Displays detailed list of files (excluding
hidden files)
Displays all files in detail form (including
hidden files)
Homework
Create an acceptable password using the
above-mentioned techniques. Be prepared
to change your password in next computer
lab.