IT + Computing
Computing at CED is distributed throughout the building. There are 152 computer systems available for students to use, some housed in two Computer Labs, others are located in the Studios or special areas such as the DCRP Lounge, PhD rooms, etc. Also housed in these areas are: 20 plotters, 11 color and 8 b&w laser printers, 2 photo-quality printers, and 1 photo-quality plotter. There are tabloid scanners in the Labs and on each Studio floor, a large scale scanner in the Student Tech Center, as well as industrial paper cutters in the Studios. Finally, CED provides many other computer-related peripheral technologies such as: Cloud Laser Printing, a server-based Rendering Farm, and after-hour access to the PaperCut printing management system.
For assistance with your personal computers, The Student Technology Services (STS) provides technical support to students, with locations in Doe Library, Eshelman Hall, and the 4th Floor of the Moffitt Library . Free, drop-in assistance from trained student technicians is available for all undergrads and grad students for:
- Troubleshooting laptop, phone and iClicker problems
- Resolving WiFi and connectivity issues
- Installing free campus software
- Removing viruses and malware
- Finding printing resources, and much more!
For more information, visit the Student Technology Services site for days and times or email sts-help@berkeley.edu.
Faculty Desktop Support &
Computer Lab Manager
485 Bauer Wurster Hall
(510) 292-3556
frederick.lee@berkeley.edu
Systems Administrator
485 Bauer Wurster Hall
510-295-5714
alex.warren@berkeley.edu
Computing FAQ
- Computing Accounts Explained
- I have a computer account, why can't I log into the computers?
- Need the link to free or low-cost software for students?
- What software is available to students
- Where to go for a CED computer or system related problem?
- Can I get online training?
- How to choose a laptop?
- When does my CalNet account expire?
Students: A student computer account provides 24/7 access to the Computer Labs, access to studio computers, scanners, and printers/plotters that are distributed throughout Wurster. Setting up a computing account is done by first creating a CalNet identity, and getting a campus id card. Once the Cal1card and identity has been obtained, go to the Student Technology Center in 477 (south) Wurster Hall to sign up and pay fees. The staff will create a computer account, print account, and set up access to building and other facilities. CED’s computing account allows 24/7 access to Computer Labs and all equipment in those labs and studios, plus access to the Rendering Farm, Cloud Printing, and access to the PaperCut print system.
Staff Computing: Please contact Campus Shared Services.
Faculty Computing: Please use CED’s Help Desk to contact our Faculty IT support person.
If you are not able to logon to your new CED computer account it is most probably due to a CalNet sync problem. CalNet stores passphrases in two independent secure systems and attempts to keep them synchronized but sometimes they get out of sync. Go here and follow the easy steps to sync your passphrase: https://net-auth-p2.calnet.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/krbaws-v3. Upon completion you should get a message that says “Congratulations…”. You should then be able to login to the CED lab and studio computers. If you still encounter problems logging in after syncing, then please go to the Student Technology Center, room 477 south, for further assistance.
Links to Campus and vendor free software: Campus Provided Software and Educational Software Downloads.
Student Personal Devices: For your own personal devices (laptops, phones, etc.), campus assistance for students is located: Student Technology Services, on the 4th Floor of the Moffitt Library, or you can contact the Student Help desk via (510) 642-HELP (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or email sts-help@berkeley.edu.
CED-suppported Student Equipment or Systems: For network, printing or student computer problems in the Labs, Studios, and lounges, submit a Help Desk ticket. If you are reporting an issue related to the Studios, please indicate which floor, which computer or printer/plotter, and describe the problem with enough detail that we can come to the area prepared to fix the problem.
CED Staff: Please contact Campus Shared Services.
CED Faculty: Please use CED’s Help Desk to contact CED’s Faculty IT support person.
Some online training is available for software and we have added links to the most often requested ones.
- Decide what applications you are most likely to use: the suites (Adobe, ESRI (GIS), AutoDesk) or individual packages like Rhino or Maya. Go to those specific websites and search on “system requirements”. This will lead you to links that detail what your computer system should be in order to adequately operate their software.
- If you decide on a Mac, just know that some software only run on Windows so you will need to “Window-ize” your Mac with BootCamp or VMWare or Parallels.
- Make sure your network/wireless card is a combo, capable of 2.4 and 5 gHz wireless connections. Do not get a less expensive 2.4 gHz wireless card as you will experience network issues.
- Add as much memory as you can afford.
- Consider purchasing a more expensive solid state hard drive for speed.
- Have a flash drive or external harddrive for when you create things in the Computer Lab you want to work on from your Laptop.
- Sign up for a cloud drive solution and keep your data on the cloud – Campus offers BOX.
Once no longer eligible for a CalNet identity, such as when you graduate, there is a grace period that will allow you to continue to access limited services (such as bMail and bCal). You will receive an email notifying you that your account is about to expire and what needs to be done to move or continue your accounts. A sample of expiration dates are below, but here is a link to the full list of current grace periods.
Faculty, Staff, Emeriti, PostDocs: 90 days
Students: 274 days
CED Retirees: 30 days, but enroll with the Retirement Center retiree bMail services