Why So Many Different IDs?

What is the difference between a PID, Banner/Warehouse ID, Hokies ID, Remote Access ID, and VTAIX ID, particularly since you use the same user name? Why is it necessary to use different passwords or passphrase?

Essentially, using a different password for each ID is vital to protecting your accounts. Further, each ID uses a different authentication or authorization process which adds another layer of security that works well in concert with using different passwords.

The two important points to remember about all of your IDs at Virginia Tech:

• your user name is the same for all of your IDs
• your password or passphrase is different for each ID

Which ID to Use for Which System

Having several accounts and knowing which ID to use with each can be confusing. To assist you, below is a list of IDs and the services to which they are associated.

PID

Your PID is used as the credential for all faculty, staff, and students to let you access the online Virginia Tech services that you may be eligible for. For example, logging on to Hokie SPA to update your address and other contact information or to view your paystubs or academic history, is a service that is available to students, alumni, and current employees. Further, PID passwords are managed through MyVT. For instructions, see Managing Your PID and Password (http://answers.vt.edu/kb/entry/2621/). For more information on PIDs, see the university's Personal Credentials for Enterprise Electronic Services and the Your PID page.

Services that use the PID for authorization:

• Alumni Gateway
• Blackboard
• Filebox
• Hokie SPA
• MyVT
• VT Mail
• Web Hosting
• Wireless

Banner/Warehouse ID

Your Banner/Warehouse ID is an administrative ID for faculty and staff used to log on to the systems which access university data using Internet Native Banner, online reports, and the Data Warehouse. For more information, see the Banner/Warehouse ID page.

Hokies ID

Your Hokies ID is used for Microsoft Windows specific resources available for faculty and staff such as logging on to the Exchange e-mail service, possibly your workstation if you log on to the Hokies Domain, using Citrix, and accessing various file servers. For more information, see the Hokies ID page.

VTAIX ID

Faculty and staff may have a VTAIX ID to access the Virginia Tech Computing Center's general use UNIX system. For more information, see Advanced Research Computing.

Other Resources

• PID
• Banner ID
• Hokies ID