- About CISER Computing
- Computing Resources
- Request a CISER Computing Account
- Computing Node Availability and Usage
- Computing News & User Notes
- HelpDesk Services
- CISER Computing Basics
- CISER Computing FAQ
- Workshop Downloads
- Workshop Schedules & Registration
- Software on the Computing Nodes
- Online Help for Statistical Software
- Buying Statistical Software at Cornell
Frequently Asked Questions about the CISER Research Computing System
GETTING AN ACCOUNT AND STARTING TO USE THE CISER RESEARCH COMPUTING SYSTEM:
Q:
How can I get an account on CISER's computers?
Q: Why can't I use Windows 98
(or Windows ME) to access the computing nodes?
Q:
I have applied for a CISER Research Computing System account, but I have not received
any word on whether or not the account has been set up. When will
I hear something?
CISER RESEARCH COMPUTING SYSTEM PASSWORD AND ACCOUNT LOCKOUT ISSUES:
Q:
I have forgotten my password, can you look it up for me?
Q: My CISER computing account
is locked out. Can you unlock it for me?
Q: What causes account
lockouts?
CISER RESEARCH COMPUTING CONNECTION ISSUES:
Q:
I cannot connect to the CISER Research Computing System with ftp. What is wrong?
Q:
I
have successfully connected to the VPN and mapped my drive, however,
I cannot open my mapped drive or my User folder.
Q: The link I've
created on my desktop to the CISER Research Computing System no longer works. What is wrong?
Q: I am
trying to log on to the CISER Research Computing System -- but the "CONNECT" button on the Remote Desktop
Web Connection page is grayed out and is not accessible. What
am I doing wrong?
Q:
I keep getting a “protocol error” message when
I try to log on to the CISER Research Computing System. What is wrong?
Q: I keep "losing
my sessions" when connected to the CISER Research Computing System. It seems as though the system
has disconnected me.
Q: Why
does it matter whether I "disconnect" or "log off"? What is the
difference?
MANAGING CISER RESEARCH COMPUTING SESSIONS:
Q:
Why does the CISER Research Computing System seem so slow today?
Q: Why do my sessions
time-out when I am trying to log on to the CISER Research Computing System?
Q: I keep "losing
my sessions" when connected to the CISER Research Computing System. It seems as thought the
system has disconnected me.
DON'T SEE YOUR QUESTION HERE??
Try checking the CISER Computing Basics document at http://ciser.cornell.edu/athena/ciserrsch.shtml.
- Contact us at ciser@cornell.edu.
-
TIP: When writing to CISER about problems using the CISER Research Computing System: The more you can describe about your problem, including what you were doing when the problem occured, and what error messages you receive -- the more likely we are able to find a quick solution for you!
Q:
How can I get an account on CISER's computers?
Answer: See CISER Computing Resources.
Q: Why do I need to upgrade to Windows 2000, XP, or above? I used to be able to access the CISER Research Computing System using Windows98 or Windows ME.
Answer: The computing nodes have been upgraded to the Windows 2003 operating system and moved behind a firewall. A firewall setup resulted in increased system stability and reliability, with substantially decreased downtime for all our users.
CISER computing consulting staff supports only Windows 2000, XP, or 2003 operating systems.
For more information, please see: Requirements for Using the CISER Research nodes.
Q: I have applied for a CISER Research Computing System account, but I have not received any word on whether or not the account has been set up. When will I hear something?
Answer: Usually in 1-2 business days. You'll get an e-mail re: "Request for CISER Research Computing System Account" with information about connecting, logging on, setting your password, etc. If you don't hear within 2 days contact ciser@cornell.edu.
Q: I have forgotten my password, can you look it up for me?
Answer: No we can't. Sorry. But we can create a new password for you -- just send e-mail to ciser@cornell.edu and request one. Turnaround is very quick during the regular work day, but a bit slower in the evenings and on weekends. The worst case is that you will have to wait until the next business day for your new password.
Q: My CISER computing account is locked out. Why? Can you unlock it for me?
Answer: Account lockouts usually clear in half an hour. To prevent lockouts please be *sure* you are famiiar with our password policy.
See also Common Causes of Account Lockouts.
Q: I cannot connect to the CISER Research Computing System with ftp. What is wrong?
Answer: FTP service to the CISER research computing nodes is not allowed. For instructions on moving your files to or from the CISER nodes please see the How to Move Files Between Your Local PC and Your CISER Home Directory section of CISER Computing Basics.
Q: I have successfully connected to the VPN and mapped my drive, however, I cannot open my mapped drive or my User folder.
Answer: Try to disconnect and then re-connect the VPN as well as disconnect and then re-map the networked drive (ciserdfs1). After re-mapping the drive, wait about a minute or two before opening your mapped drive. Be sure to use "ciserrsch\[your netid]" as your user name for both the VPN and the mapped drive.
Q: The link I've created on my desktop to the CISER Research Computing System no longer works. What is wrong?
Answer: There are several possibilities. If you've recently changed your password without first disconnecting the drive is one possibility. Another is if the CISER file server has been re-booted since you mapped the drive. In any case -- the solution is to disconnect the current mapped drive and then re-map it. Please note: This is quick and easy !! See the Mapping Your CISER Home Directory to your Local PC section of CISER Computing Basics to review instructions.
Q: What causes account lockouts?
Answer: Account lockouts usually occur for one of the following reasons.
1) You have mistyped your password 3 times in a row while attempting to log on to a computing node.
2) You've changed your password on one node while having a disconnected session one or more other nodes.
3) You've changed your password while still having the ciser fileserver mapped to your desktop under your old password.
4) You've attempted to connect to the file sever via the CISER VPN and a locally mapped drive with an expired password.
The solution to Problem #1 is to wait 1/2 hour and then try again (or write to ciser@cornell.edu and we'll clear it sooner if we are available).
The solution to problems #2 - #4 you need to follow these steps:
- As above, you'll need to wait 1/2 hour for the lockout to clear (or write to ciser@cornell.edu and we'll clear it sooner if we are available).
- If you have the CISER fileserver mapped to your desktop you need to disconnect that.
- Log on to any node (changing your password only if required to do it immediately) and use Terminal Services Manager to locate and log yourself off any disconnected sessions on other nodes.
- Please note: If you have jobs running in the disconnected sessions and you do not wish to stop them-- you may have to endure periodic lockouts until those jobs have completely finished and you are able to log yourself off completely off of those nodes
- Change your password if necessary *before* attempting to reconnect the VPN or map the file server.
- If you are still having problems please contact ciser@cornell.edu and we'll help you troubleshoot.
TIP! To avoid account lockouts in the future remember to log completely off the nodes when you are not working (see LOG OFF vs DISCONNECT) and to disconnect a locally mapped drive to the file server (if you have one), before changing your password!
Q: Why does the CISER Research Computing System seem so slow today?
Answer: When a node is very busy (i.e. close to 100% capacity for all processors on the node) it will seem "slow" since your job or commands are competing with those of many other people. The quickest solution is usually to just log off and try another the computing node. You can compare the current usage of all the the CISER Research Nodes to determine which node is the least busy.
TIP! You can check the usage of a node to which you are already logged on with Windows Task Manager. Go to Start --> Run --> open: "taskmgr" --> "OK". The choose the "Performance" tab. You'll see current node utilization for the entire node. If the node is very busy try logging off that one and and log on to another node.
Q: Why do my sessions time-out when I am trying to log on to the CISER Research Computing System?
Answer: Perhaps because you are using a modem. A high-speed cable or ethernet connection is by far the best way to connect to the CISER Research Computing System.
Q: I am trying to log on to the CISER Research Computing System -- but the "CONNECT" button on the Remote Desktop Web Connection page is grayed out and is not accessible. What am I doing wrong?
Answer: Chances are that ActiveX is not running. The first time you try to connect to the CISER Research Computing System from any computer you generally receive a prompt asking if you wish to download and install ActiveX. Normally you just say "OK" and after a few seconds everything works fine. However if you are working in a lab or on a public computer it is possible that the network administrator has restricted access so that users cannot install applications. In that case you should contact the network administrator and ask for help. Feel free to contact ciser@cornell.edu if you would like for us to talk to your network administrator to explain why you need ActiveX. If you forgot to say "OK" when prompted to download ActiveX you can sometimes get the prompt to re-appear by re-starting your local PC and then attempting the connection once again. Otherwise you'll need to find and download ActiveX. Contact ciser@cornell.edu for more information.
Q: I keep "losing my sessions" when connected to the CISER Research Computing System. It seems as though the system has disconnected me.
Answer: It's possible that your Internet Explorer is set to re-use the browser window when opening new URL's. If for example you are working on the CISER Research Computing System, and you get an e-mail with a link in it -- on which you click -- your web browser will go to the new link. You can re-claim your CISER Research Computing session by using the "back" button on your web browser. If you don't do this and close your browser window instead -- you will end up with a "disconnected" session on that node. To understand more about the difference between "disconnecting" and "logging off" see the Ending Sessions section of the CISER Research Computing Basics document.
TIP: You can change your default Internet Explorer settings to help prevent this: Open Internet Explorer. Go to "Tools" --> "Internet Options" --> "Advanced" and un-check the box that says "Reuse Windows for Launching Shortcuts". Then click on "OK".
Q: Why does it matter whether I disconnect or log off? What is the difference?
Answer: If you are working on the CISER Research Computing System, and then close your connection window without logging off, you will have a "disconnected" session on that node. If you have a job in-process your job will keep running. However, if you do not have a job currently running and won't be using the node for a while -- you should always log completely off (Go to Start --> ShutDown --> Log off your netid). If you only "disconnect" from a sesssion (by using the Windows X to close the window or by choosing "disconnect" from the Log Off menu) then you're likely to run into problems the next time you change your password, *and* you will artificially inflate user statistics for your department or school. For a review of the difference between "disconnecting" and "logging off" and to see a tip about how to create a shortcut for logging off -- see the Ending Sessions section of the the CISER Research Computing Basics document.