DE Oracle @ UMUC

Numbered UNIX Class Accounts

CSI Staff

Staff Writer

Center for Support of Instruction

Published: January-February 2005

Category: » Tech-skills-software » Polaris-nova-unix

Many faculty members may not be aware that they can set up "numbered UNIX class accounts" for the classes they teach. These can be an effective alternative for classes in which students need to put programs or web material on a UNIX server for class purposes. These accounts -- primarily for student use -- only remain active for the semester for which they are set up and are backed up and deleted at the end of the semester. All class accounts are created on UMUC's Nova UNIX server.

Students can, of course, create a personal Polaris account for their use throughout their student career at UMUC, which includes both a certain amount of server space (including for posting web material) and e-mail capability. However, there are some advantages to using numbered accounts instead:

• Access to software. Generally, numbered accounts created on Nova have access to software that is not typically available via Polaris accounts, such as C++ and Java compilers, or access to the Oracle database management system.
• Direct instructor access. Another advantage of these numbered accounts is that an instructor or a TA (if requested), can have direct access to individual student accounts. This is especially useful for helping students troubleshoot problems or providing guidance on projects they may have stored there.
• Shared directory. For shared resources available to all members of the class, a single shared directory can be set up so that all have access to common files. This may be more convenient that posting the material in the WebTycho classroom.
• Centralized location. Whether students are submitting programming assignments or simply posting web material, this gives a centralized and coherent structure for them to place the material. The faculty member need not remember or keep track of students' individual Polaris account names ("Was that student's account name jbrown35, or jabrown8?"). Accounts are numbered sequentially off a root directory.
• Additional server space. These accounts allow students to post course-specific material to these temporary numbered accounts and not clutter up their primary Polaris accounts. When the semester is done, students need not worry about deleting files to free up space, the numbered account is backed up and removed automatically.
• Permanent Back Up. All numbered class accounts are permanently backed up and stored indefinitely. Therefore, faculty can request to restore a student account if a grade dispute ever comes up.

Issues related to the creation or configuration of numbered accounts should be coordinated through the academic departments.

More information on the specific capabilities of numbered accounts and how to request and set them up can be found on our how-to page on Time-Limited Numbered Class UNIX Accounts.