Obtaining a computer account

An ACCC computer account is indispensable, among other things, to use the machines in the public labs, for electronic mail off ACCC email servers, to access Icarus and the ACCC Dial-up servers, and for user authentication to gain access to various networked services and secured Web pages.

To obtain a computer account students need five things:

1. A network ID or netid
2. The UIC Identification Card or i-card
3. Determine type of account: Icarus (typically)
4. Know about ACCC Policies and Passwords
5. Run the Account Creation program

1. Netids
Students are automatically assigned netids when they register. By convention, student netids are of the form "fnnnnn##", where "f" is the first letter of the student's first name, "nnnnn" are the first five letters of the student's last name, and "##" is a number, from "1" and up to ensure the netid is unique; e.g. jsmith99.

Once their netids are assigned, students are automatically added to the Online Phonebook.

NOTE: As of Fall'98, Online Phonebook search results will not return one's netid unless a computer account has already been established for the user.   

2. i-cards
The University i-card is needed, as it contains information, such as the ISO (student ID) number, which is used when running the Account Creation program.

3. Type of account
ACCC runs two main general-purpose computer systems: Icarus and Tigger. Icarus is almost exclusively used by students, and is the one that students should pick when running the Account Creation program. Icarus is a SUN Ultra Enterprise 4000 System, running Solaris UNIX.

Tigger is used almost exclusively by faculty and staff. It is an IBM RS/6000 Model F50 System, running AIX/UNIX.

In some cases users will not have the actual need to login to Icarus or Tigger; but by having a computer account on either of these systems, they will establish a login account and password for authentication to other systems including the public computer labs.

4. ACCC Policies and Passwords
All ACCC users should familiarize themselves with ACCC policies on Acceptable Use, Computer Accounts, Abuses and Sanctions, Public Labs and Software Piracy. For full details, see ACCC Policies.

Choose passwords wisely
Having an ACCC computer account carries some responsibilities and privileges that one needs to protect. The best way to do that is by choosing a good and secure password. This advise can not be overstated.

It is extremely important that users change their passwords regularly, and that they change them to something that can not be easily guessed. For more information see Guidelines to Secure Password Selection.

5. Running the Account Creation program
Students can run the Account Creation program from any of the ACCC public computer labs, or via the Web.

In the computer labs on campus, the login screen has three tabs. Select the "Create Account" tab to initiate the Account Creation procedure, which will prompt for various pieces of personal information.

To activate an account via the Web, visit the Account Creation Web page located at
https://ness.uic.edu/htbin/autocr. Again, once started, the Account Creation procedure will prompt for various pieces of personal information.

NOTE: Account creation is completed overnight, regardless of how the Account Creation program is initiated. That is, new computer accounts will be ready for use by the next day.

In case of problems...
Anyone experiencing any problems creating or using computer accounts, or needing help remembering/changing their passwords should contact the ACCC Client Services Office (CSO) or see the computer lab consultant on duty, when one is available.