Create a UNIX account to:

• Create a web page on PIC webspace.
• Access e-mail sent to your PIC account (different from Bruin OnLine e-mail).
• Write programs using Perl or LISP, for example.

Your class might require a UNIX account (e.g., those that teach Perl or LISP).

Use SSH Secure Shell to connect to x.pic.ucla.edu, where x is one of the servers listed here:

laguna (students, TA's and faculty)

malibu (master administrative site)

More information on SSH, including a link to download Windows software, is available here.

Creating your UNIX Account

This process doesn't really "create" the account, rather it sets the password for your account so you can log in for the first time. If you have an NT account you will also have a UNIX account already created (and you must now go through the following procedure to set the password).

Please pre-select a strong password. It should be at least 8 characters long and must include upper and lower case letters, digits and punctuation. Do not use words from published dictionaries even in non-English languages. (Quenya is out, but you might get away with Khoisan.) Do not use place names or the names of people you know, or the name of your pet. Follow this link for more information and a link to a random password generator.

[Unlike NT accounts, UNIX accounts are persistent. If you ever created a password in the past (even many quarters ago), you must log in as you did previously.]

1. Log in with username "newuser", password "newuser".
   
   
2. Follow the directions. You will be given a username and asked to create a password. Note that the rules for the password are complex. If you fail to choose a valid password after 3 tries, log in with newuser/newuser and try again.

Notes:

• To backspace, you might need to use ctrl + backspace.
  
  
• If you get a message "error, cannot change password," this means that your account has already been created. Try logging in normally. If you still can't log in, treat this situation like a forgotten password - that is, go to the Bugs office in person to change it.

PIC E-mail Account

By having any PIC account, you automatically have a new e-mail address: your_login_name@pic.ucla.edu. This address is distinct from your Bruin OnLine e-mail address.

• To read e-mail sent to your PIC account, the simplest way is to use the Pine program. Just type "pine" at the UNIX prompt. You can also use Eudora in Windows NT to check your UNIX account, or any e-mail client from home. Both SMTP and POP3 servers should be set to "pic.ucla.edu" by default, which are the correct values.
  
  
• Most users will want e-mail incoming to their PIC addresses to be automatically forwarded to their Bruin OnLine addresses. You can set up forwarding by editing the file ".forward" in your UNIX home directory:
  • From the UNIX prompt, type "pico .forward" to open the file. Enter the address you would like incoming mail to your PIC account to be sent to as the first (and only) line of the file, save and exit.

Quick Guide to Using UNIX

UNIX is similar to DOS, but the command keywords are often different. Consult the following table, or this Unix warmup [by Professor M.J. Mossinghoff] to get started.

UNIX Command	Description	Similar DOS Command(s)
cd directory	Change directory	SAME
ls	List files in current directory	dir /w
ls -l	Detailed file listing	dir
ls -a	Include hidden files in the list	dir /a; attrib
rm filename	delete a file	del
mkdir / rmdir	creates / removes a directory	md / rd
cp source dest	copy a file	copy source [dest]
mv source dest	rename / move a file	move, ren
pico	simple text editor	edit

Feedback PIC Lab home	up one level	UCLA Department of Mathematics Program in Computing - PIC Lab 2817 Boelter Hall / 310-825-7267
This page last updated: September 23, 2005