MLC Computer Lab

When you are in the MLC lab click on the following link and select "Open from current location." With any luck Maple will start up with the instructional worksheet loaded.

Instructional worksheet for MLC Lab visit

Note the Maple output has been removed from the worksheet. You will have to execute the Maple commands in order to see the output. You might also change some commands and experiment.

If you are somewhere where Maple is not available and you want to see a preview of what will take place in the lab you can examine the following PDF file. It is a static version of the worksheet and soes not require Maple.

Static PDF image of instructional worksheet

The MLC Computer Lab

The workstations in the MLC lab are PCs running Windows NT 4.0. In order to use the machines you must have an ONID account.

The machines in the lab are normally left on, but the monitors may be turned off. If the monitor is off, then switch it on. Next press the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys simultaneously. You should get a login prompt. Enter your ONID user name and press the Tab key (not the Enter key). Then enter your ONID password and press the Enter key.

Next you may see a message about a slow network connection. This message is bogus. Ignore it.

Next you may see a question about a default Novell server. Just answer "none" unless you have a reason to answer otherwise. This question should never appear again.

To start Maple (or Matlab, or Mathematica, ... ) select the Start button (lower left corner of the screen), then Programs from the menu, etc. If you don't know the appropriate steps here ask for help. Writing all this out in detail produces an incredibly dull document.

Logout

When you are done with your session save your work, shutdown the software you were using and should logout. To logout select the Start button (this is a very strange Windows idiom), and then select "Shut Down ..." and finally select "Logon as another user."

Another way to logout is to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete. A menu will appear. Select logoff. That is the simplest way.

Do not select Restart or Shutdown unless you have a reason to do so and do not shut off the PC. There is no harm in shutting off the PC, but doing so causes the next user to have a long wait while the machine reboots. You may turn off the monitor if you wish. That will save power and will reduce the load on the air-conditioner.

Note: If you do not logout you leave your account open for the next person to come along. That person will have access to your personal files on the ORST server. Do not forget to logout!

If you plan to leave the lab, even just for a few minutes, save your work and logoff. When you return and logon, even to a different machine, your work will be available. Do not select "Lock Workstation." If you do, someone else wishing to use the workstation may power-cycle it in order to gain access and some of your work may be lost as a result. The same comments apply to relying on a password protected screensaver. Don't do it. Save your work and logoff. You have no claim on any workstation if you are not physically present.

When you logon to a machine in the MLC lab one or more personal network directories will be visible, typically Z:\. You should use one of them to store your personal files. Do not store files on the local machine or you will be able to access them only from that machine and you risk your files being deleted.