Welcome to CSE Computer Systems

This is a short tour of how working on CSE computer systems fits together. You don't need to read it end-to-end — pick the section that matches what you're trying to do and follow the links into the detailed docs.

Your zID is your account

Your zID is the UNSW-wide username you'll use for everything: logging in to lab machines, Vlab, Wi-Fi, the print service, and your CSE email (zID@cse.unsw.edu.au). The password behind it is your zPass.

• Getting a zID — for new staff and visitors who don't have one yet.
• zPass — managing your password and what to do when it locks out.
• Account classes and groups — the difference between a student account, a staff account, and the various group accounts you may also be in.

If you're brand new to CSE, the new-person form walks through the paperwork side.

What you get with a CSE account

Every CSE account comes with:

• A home directory on the CSE file system, available from every CSE computer and Vlab session. See accessing your files and storing files.
• A disk quota — see disk quota to check how much you have and what to do if you fill it.
• A CSE email address at zID@cse.unsw.edu.au.
• Access to the teaching labs in K17 and J17, and to Vlab for the same environment from your own machine.

Staff and academics get a few extras — see staff accounts for the differences, and the staff & researchers section for things like VPN, managed print, and laptop loans.

Working in the labs

The undergraduate teaching labs are the simplest way to use CSE computers: sit down, log in with your zID and zPass, and everything is already configured.

• Laboratories overview
• Lab map — where the rooms are.
• Using Linux at CSE — orientation for the CSE Linux environment if you're new to it.
• CSE lab access — opening hours and swipe-card access.

Working from your own machine

When you're not in a lab, there are a few different ways to reach CSE machines depending on what you're doing:

• Vlab quick guide — the easiest option. A graphical session in your browser or VNC client that looks just like the lab desktop.
• SSH — terminal access, the bread and butter for programming work. See logging in with SSH for first-time setup, and SSH keys / SSH key files for passwordless login.
• VNC — direct graphical access (less common now that Vlab exists; useful for some workflows).
• VPN — for the wired-network-only services. OpenVPN is the staff variant.
• Uploading & downloading files — moving things between your laptop and CSE.

Help and support

• Getting help — the canonical list of who to ask about what.
• For coursework or enrolment questions (not IT), contact UNSW Nucleus.
• For anything IT, email ss@cse.unsw.edu.au.