Getting Around in the LAN

Logging on to the Network

In order to use a terminal, you should begin by entering into your class directory. You can log on by typing your class number and section in the User Name box. Note that there are no colons or spaces in the user name. The password is simply “cic.” followed by your course number and section. In the Password box, type “cic.111a” substituting your own class number and section letter. Click OK once you've typed in your class user name and password. Remember that if you don’t log on to the appropriate class directory, you will not be able to access course materials or save work to your student folder.

If the login window does not appear on the screen when you first sit down at the terminal, you may need to log out first. The last user did not log out properly, and you are in another class directory. To exit this directory, select Log Off from the Start menu in the lower left hand corner of the screen.

Understanding Network Drives

In order to move around easily within the CIC computer network, you need to have a basic understanding of how and where information is stored. In particular, you need to understand the distinctions among four different places where you can save information: a floppy disk, the internal hard drive, a ZIP disk, a CD-ROM, and the network. Each of these locations is designated as a different drive. Although there are numerous drives on our computers, there are only a few with which you need to be familiar.
  • A: DRIVE (FLOPPY DISK DRIVE): When you insert a floppy disk into the computer, the information on that disk can be found on the A: drive. If you want to take a fileh home from the LAN, you may save a copy of that file onto the A: drive.
  • C: DRIVE (INTERNAL HARD DRIVE)
    Each of our computers also has an internal hard drive. Information stored on the C: drive is accessible only to a user at that particular terminal. Since you will not always be using the same machine every day and will often need to share your files with your classmates, do not save your files to the C: drive.
  • D: AND E: DRIVES (ZIP AND/OR CD-ROM DRIVE)
    When you insert a zip disk or CD-ROM into the computer, the information on that disk can be found on the D: or E: drives. If you are using a Zip disk, you may retrieve files from and save files to your disk on the D: drive. If you are using a CD, you may transfer files from home to the LAN, but you will not have access to a CD burner which would allow you to transport files to your home computer.
  • L: DRIVE (LOCAL AREA NETWORK, OR LAN)
    Every class in the CIC program has its own public space on the Local Area Network, or LAN. Any file that is intended for class use should be saved in your class folder on the L drive, since files on the L drive can be accessed from any terminal in both computer classrooms.