CSS : Windows Log In

Logging On To The Novell Network

With Windows

Table of Contents

Client/Server vs. Direct Interface
The Full Context Log In Name
Notes On Passwords
Log In To The Network
Accessing Your Files
Logging Out
Additional Notes

Client/Server vs Direct Interface

In client/server architecture, you run programs on your local computer, usually a Windows PC or Macintosh, which communicates with the server, in our case a Novell Netware file and application server. The client/server most users would be familiar with would be a web browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. These programs are the client that presents requests for web pages to servers all over the Internet.

On our system, the first client you use is the Novell client. This program requests authentication information, namely login name (context) and password and sends the information to a Novell Server. When authenticated, the client opens a connection to the server making files and applications existing on the server available to you on your local computer. You will not get a command line prompt; you never give commands directly to the server, you use clients. An example is a mail client, in the computer labs this will be Groupwise. If you have not logged in, the program and your mail will not be available. After login, the Groupwise client is available to request to the server that your mail be made visible to you.

The Full Context Log In Name

Everyone with network access is given a full context log in name. This log in name generally starts with a period (.). Though it is not necessary to use this full context log in name when logging onto a campus computer, it can be used for things like adding a network printer, host registering a new computer and a variety of other networking tasks. For the most part though, you will just need the first part of the name Username.

An example of a full context log in would be .username.x.students.cwu. for a student or .username.cts.admin.cwu for a staff member in the CTS department.

NOTE: When typing in a full context name, make sure you start with a period (.)!

Notes On Passwords

At CWU, by order of the university auditor, you are prompted every 90 days to change your Wildcat password.

When you see the attention (!) box,

• Click OK
• Enter your new password in the text box and retype to confirm it in the second box.
• Click OK.

If you do not remember your password, you will need to call the CSS Help Desk at x2001 and have them issue you a new one.

Log In To The Network

When a Windows computer is first booted or another user has logged out, the Novell Login box appears,

• Type your Wildcat login name in the Username: field and your Wildcat password in the Password: field.
• Click OK.

Accessing Your Files

Depending on the access rights, different programs will be available to different people.

Everyone should at least see the Network Applications folder on their desktop.

Opening this folder and clicking on the [All] icon will display all of the applications and files within that folder.

You will also have access to certain network drives.

To see what network drive access you have,

• Double-click on the My Computer icon (located either on the desktop or the Start menu).

Your display might look a little different but in general terms:

• The A: drive is for floppy disks.
• The C: drive is your computer's hard drive.
• The D: drive (in this case) is the CD ROM drive.

In the picture above, the remaining drives are network drives. The ones with “Sys” in the name are system drives and are not generally used by the public. The drives most people use are:

• The I: drive (Htdocs on Zeus) for storing web pages.
• The G: drive (Data) contains a folder for storing your personal files. Your user folder on the G: drive is duplicated on the N: drive.
• The S: drive (Shared_data) provides access to all of the shared departmental folders.

Faculty have access to a CWU folder which contains campus-wide information.

Logging Out

When you are finished using the computer, please BE SURE TO LOG OUT to ensure that no one else has access to your data and mail.

To log out,

• Click the Start button and select Shut Down.

• If another user is going to log on, select the Log off option. Otherwise select Shut down.

Additional notes

Only one person can be logged on a computer at a time. Your Netware accounts are called “Roaming Profile Accounts.” This means that some information about your session and setup preferences is saved between logins, even when you use different computers. You can also save files to the network so that it no longer necessary to carry a floppy disk around for personal use. Further information is available in E-mail use and File access. Please be aware of the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources Policy (also posted in labs).

Page last updated 07/20/04. Send questions or comments to helpdesk@cwu.edu.