Responsibilities

Use of the Computer Labs is a privilege extended to Statistics Department

faculty, staff and students. All users of the Labs are responsible

for compliance with the terms of this policy. Violation of such terms

may result in suspension of lab use privileges if a warning has been

previously issued to the individual.

• Use of the lab must be accordance with the lab purpose as stated above and must not violate PSU University Regulations.

• If no machine is available at the time it is needed, students should make an appropriate entry in the Lab Log. This log is also used in assessing lab resource needs.

• No user may use more than one computer simultaneously if at least one other computer does not remain open and available for other users.

• Screen locks left up after 15 minutes of absence may be broken and the sessions forcibly logged out. Screens are not to be locked for any other reasons than brief interruptions (bathroom and vending machine breaks).

• Many users need to run long running processes that consume large amounts of CPU time.

• On Unix systems, CPU intensive jobs must be run at a lower priority to avoid impacting other users on the same system. This can be accomplished with the lowprio command; for example:

  lightning:~>lowprio mybigprogram
  

  Processes consuming large amounts of CPU time at a high priority may be either reprioritized or killed if they impact other users.

• On single user PCs, long running jobs will totally tie up the system. If you run a long running program on a PC, leave a note on the system to indicate that it is actively performing work. Machines should not be monopolized and left when the PC Lab is full.

• Users that are seeking a fast Unix machine with low usage should use the labusage command, available at the command prompt from any Unix system in the department. This will give a listing of all of the systems in the Unix Lab sorted by their level of usage from lowest to highest.

• Users planning to consume large amounts of disk space should contact
  helpdesk@stat.psu.edu to ensure that their needs can be met.

• No more than three (3) copies of a document may be printed on the laser printers in the lab. Photocopiers or the high-capacity Xerox printer/copier in 325 Thomas may be used for additional copies.

• Used paper should be placed in a recycle bin.

• No food is permitted in the lab. Drinks are only permitted in containers with closed tops that are kept on the floor or otherwise away from keyboards and monitors. Under no circumstances may they be placed on the same desktop as keyboards.

• Software (including public domain ``plug-ins'') may only be installed by Statistics Computer Operations personnel. If you need software other than what has been provided, please submit a request tohelpdesk@stat.psu.edu.

• As a shared environment, users and guests must respect the needs of others.

• Any users who have not learned proper procedures for unjamming and otherwise maintaining printers are to request assistance from lab personnel rather than open the printer.

• Users are to clean up the area around the computer as they leave. This includes making sure diskettes are removed from the floppy drive and any unwanted paper is placed in the recycle bin.