Services

A variety of computing and networking services are providing to NPU students.

• Infrastructure
• Network
• Windows 2000
• Unix
• Email
• File Storage
• Printing

DNS
The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated into Internet Protocol addresses. DHCP clients will automatically be provided with the correct addresses for DNS service.

NIS
NIS provides a centralized password database as well as a variety of automounter maps for Unix machines.

AD
Active Directory (AD) provides a centralized password database as well as a variety of automounter maps for Windows machines.

DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol allows clients to request an IP address and other related network settings when they start up, rather than being configured with this information statically.

WINS
Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) is a simple name server that dynamically maps NetBIOS names (used by Windows machines) to IP addresses.

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The NPU Network is based on a 100 Mbit/sec switched ethernet.

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NPU maintains a large and comprehensive Windows 2000 environment. NPU Active Directory replaced all NT4 domains, substantially streamlining and simplifying the Windows environment here.

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NPU supports the most recent versions of Solaris, Redhat Linux and SuSE Linux. A variety of Unix platforms are used within NPU. Those that are supported by the NPU infrastructure are:

• Solaris 8 (Sparc)
• Redhat Linux 7.x (x86)
• SuSE Linux 8.x (x86)

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Every student has an NPU email account like yourusername@npu.edu. Your username and password are the same as your Unix Account. You need an email client program like Netscape to receive and send your emails.

The recommended email client setting:

• Your Email Address: yourusername@npu.edu
• POP3 Server: npu30.npu.edu
• SMTP Server (On NPU Campus): npu30.npu.edu
• SMTP Server (Outside of the NPU Campus): The SMTP Server which is provided by your ISP
• Username: Your Unix Account Username
• Password: Your Unix Account Password

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NPU provides centralized file storage to faculty, staff, and students in the form of the Z drive in every NPU Windows computers. The storage limit of your Z drive is 10MB.

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1. Where is the network printer?

Students using computers in our computer networks systems on campus (in classrooms and labs) use a shared printer for print jobs. The shared printer server is located at the library in the WEST Building. You need to go to the library to pick up your printout. The library is open during the following hours every semester:

• Monday ~ Thursday: 10:00 AM ~ 10:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM

2. What you need to do?

The NPU computer networks system provides both MS Windows® environment and Unix® environment to the users. The printing services work for both systems.

Please follow the procedures listed below to set up the connection.

A) In the MS Windows Environment:

By default, we already set up the printer server in all PCs on the NPU campus. So you don't need to do setup by yourself. You can verify it by clicking "Setting" --> "Printers" in your PC and you will see the Printer Server is your default printer as following screenshot.

To send a print job:

From a windows application program, such as Word, click [File] ---> [print…] to send a printing request. You will see the following screen:

Pickup your printout at the library.

B) In Unix Environment:

From a Unix Workstation, you send a Samba service request to print a document. The default printer for all the Solaris systems is the same as the Windows system on campus. The command and argument format is the following:

When it asks for a password, please enter your password for Windows environment.

3. How is the printing system managed?

Starting with the 2003 spring semester, an automated campus-wide printing management system is in use. Specific goals are as follows:

• To provide speedy printing access to all students,
• To allow for more equitable usage of printing resources among all students,
• To better manage the printing resources and provide efficient services to all students.
  

At the beginning of each semester, the networks system starts with a new list of registered students. A software program in the networks system maintains the printing records of each student in the list.

4. What is the printing charge?

At the beginning of the semester, each registered student is given a credit of 100-page quota for print jobs (free of charge). Each additional page costs 5 cents. The software program manages each student’s print account. The free allowance of 100 pages is non-transferable (to other students) and non-cumulative (to next semester).

5. How do I pay?
Once you have used up your free allowance for print jobs, your print account turns to $0.00 credit/balance. You need to deposit funds into your print account to continue to use the networks printing services. Payments are made at the Library in the WEST Building. The staff in charge there are Mr. Akihiro Takahashi and Ms. Daphne Huang.

NOTICE: Each student’s print account will be cleared at the end of each semester. Any free allowance left will be cleared; any credit left in the account (from funds you deposited earlier) will be refunded at the Library at the LRC. You should go to the Information Window to get the refund by the end of the semester.

6. Check Your Print Account Information

A User Inquiry Tool has been installed on most PCs throughout the campus. This tool will allow you to check your print account information. When you log onto a computer on campus, the User Inquiry Tool will automatically display your account information immediately.

If you do not see the display and want to check your account information, you may manually click the "icon " on your windows screen.

When the credit left in your print account goes below $1.00, a pop-up window will give you a remainder.

When your print account credit displays in "RED", it means that you have no credit left and the system will reject your printing request.

A Popup window will give you the following message and instruct you to deposit funds to enable the printing services for your account.

7. Property of the Printer Server

IMPORTANT:

• Please feel free to visit the Library in the WEST building for any questions or problems regarding your account.
• To avoid unauthorized use of your account by others, you must log off to protect your account when you leave a computer.
• Don't forget to log off!!
• A coin operated photocopier is located at the LRC for the students to use. The cost is 5 cents per page. The LRC Information Window also offers printing service for a higher fee.
  
  

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