Faculty/Staff Getting Started Guide
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This checklist will walk you through the tasks
necessary to get started with computing
at Virginia
Tech. Start by creating your PID
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/pid/) and
then checking with your department for your
computer
needs. The next step is to get a VTnet
CD (http://www.antivirus.vt.edu/proactive/vtnet2004.asp).
VTnet is a software collection assembled for
current
Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students only. This
software also configures your e-mail and connects
you to the Internet with Ethernet or modem.
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Create
Your PID |
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Your PID
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/pid/)
is your unique Personal Identifier.
Your PID and PID password
grant you access to Virginia
Tech services such as e-mail,
online courses, the library
databases, personal Web space,
and online personal information. |
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You can create
your own PID
(https://my.vt.edu/mdsAuth/start.html)
once your department’s
Banner Human Resources representative
has completed the necessary
steps
(http://www.it.vt.edu/organization/isc/irm/pidgeneration.html)
and given you your Virginia
Tech ID number. |
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Access to computer
systems and networks owned
or operated by Virginia Tech
imposes certain responsibilities
and obligations and is granted
subject to university policies,
and local, state, and federal
laws. For more information,
see Virginia
Tech's Acceptable Use Guidelines
(http://www.vt.edu/administration/policies/acceptableuse.html). |
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Get Your
Computer |
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Please check with your department's
technical support person for
your computer needs. |
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Computer
Purchasing
(http://www.ita.vt.edu/purchasing.html)
processes requisitions for
computer equipment, software,
maintenance, and service for
faculty and staff. |
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Connect
to the Internet |
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On
campus, offices are equipped
with a high-speed Internet
connection. Speak with your
network liaison for more information.
Important:
Do not use VTnet to configure
your office network connection.
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Off campus,
there are several ways to
connect:
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Your apartment
complex may offer
a high-speed Ethernet
connection. Check
with the rental
office for more
information. |
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You
may subscribe
to a Virginia
Tech Modem Pool
(http://www.cns.vt.edu/data_VTMP.html)
account. For information,
contact Communications
Network Services
(CNS)
at (540)
231-6460 or speak
with your departmental
CNS Liaison. Once
you have your
account, use the
Virginia Tech
Modem Pool configuration
instructions on
the VTnet
CD
(http://www.antivirus.vt.edu/proactive/vtnet2004.asp. |
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There are also other connection options.
Read the Local
Internet Service Providers & SMTP Addresses
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/email_and_calendaring/vt_mail/isp_smtp.html)
page for more information. |
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Public
Ethernet Portals
(http://www.cns.vt.edu/html/data/publicportals/publicportals.html)
are available in Torgersen
Hall. Refer to Configuring
Your Laptop to Use Public
Ethernet Portals on the Virginia
Tech Campus for instructions. |
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Wireless
Campus Network
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/internet_and_web/internet_access/wireless.html)
is available in many places
on campus. You will need
a
valid PID and to purchase
and then register your wireless
network interface card (IEEE
802.11g or b compliant)
with Communication
Network Services (CNS). |
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Configure
Your E-mail |
| Check
with your department for advice
in choosing and managing your
e-mail services. |
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All students, faculty, and
staff have a VT Mail account
provided by the university.
For more information about
VT Mail or e-mail client configuration
instructions go to the VT
Mail
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/vtmail/)
page on computing.vt.edu.
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VTnet
(http://www.antivirus.vt.edu/proactive/vtnet2004.asp)
will configure
your Outlook
Express
or Eudora e-mail
client for you.
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For
out-of-town access
to your VT Mail
account, you can
log on to WebMail
(https://webmail.vt.edu/). |
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Faculty and staff
are encouraged to use the
Exchange
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/exchange/)
service, a premier e-mail
and calendaring solution.
This service includes integrated
e-mail, appointments, tasks,
contacts, and public folders. |
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Get Additional
Software |
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Virginia Tech offers software
on the VTnet
CD (http://www.antivirus.vt.edu/proactive/vtnet2004.asp),
including Symantec
AntiVirus,
Eudora, and
Netscape. |
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Symantec AntiVirus
is available at no charge
to all Virginia Tech students,
faculty, staff, and retirees only. Download
it from antivirus.vt.edu
(http://www.antivirus.vt.edu/)
or install it from the VTnet
CD. |
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Integrity Desktop,
a firewall software package,
is offered at no charge to
faculty and staff. See the
Faculty
and Staff Software
(http://www.ita.vt.edu/Apps/WebObjects/SoftwareWeb.woa)
page for ordering information.
Software Distribution is located
in 3240 Torgersen Hall near
the bridge. |
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Virginia Tech
also offers other software
to faculty at reduced prices.
For a complete list, go to
the Faculty
and Staff Software
(http://www.ita.vt.edu/Apps/WebObjects/SoftwareWeb.woa)
page. |
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The Virginia
Tech University
Bookstore
(http://www.bookstore.vt.edu/)
also offers a variety of academically
priced software packages. |
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Take Advantage
of Computing Services |
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Hokie
SPA
offers tools such as Faculty
Access, Hokie PLUS, Hokie TEAM,
and Hokie SPA for managing
your personal information
and your courses. |
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My
VT
is a gateway to Virginia Tech
online services and information. |
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Banner
is the collection of central
administrative systems and
data at Virginia Tech. |
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Blackboard
is an online tool used by
many professors to supplement
classroom instruction. |
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Executrain
offers
office software skills training
for staff through University
Leadership Development. . |
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The Faculty
Development Institute
offers year-round technology
training for both faculty
and staff. |
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Filebox
is a Web publishing and file
storage service that is provided
free of charge for all current
faculty, staff, and students.
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The New
Media Center
offers free consulting, computer
labs, scanners, audio/visual
bays, and equipment loans |
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The Software
Skills Gateway
provides more than 500 online
tutorials through Element
K on a
wide range of software for
faculty, staff, and students. |
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Get Help |
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computing.vt.edu
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/)
is a directory of computing
services offered by Virginia
Tech. |
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answers.vt.edu
(http://www.answers.vt.edu/)
is a knowledge base that provides
answers to common computing
problems at Virginia Tech. |
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security.vt.edu
(http://www.security.vt.edu/)
offers software, tools, and
documentation that provide
you with practical protection
and prevention for your computer. |
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antivirus.vt.edu
(http://www.antivirus.vt.edu/)
offers contains important
information on how to protect
your system, as well as antivirus
software and virus removal
instructions. |
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4Help
Computer Consulting
(http://www.computing.vt.edu/4help/)
provides computer support
to Virginia Tech faculty,
staff, students, and alumni.
Contact 4Help by using the
Help
Request Form
(http://4help.vt.edu/info/4help/request/escalate.asp)
or by calling (540) 231-HELP
(4357). |
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