An RCS account allows you to log on to the Rensselaer Computing System, made up of hundreds of networked PCs and UNIX workstations. RCS gives you access to many kinds of software, from word processing to engineering packages, enables you to use PostScript printers located across campus, and gives you access to the Internet. Internet access includes electronic mail, Usenet, telnet, ftp (file transfer protocol), the World Wide Web, and more. There is no charge for this account for members of the Rensselaer community. RCS is not accessible to people who are not affiliated with Rensselaer.
To use the Rensselaer Computing System (RCS), you must have a Rensselaer userid (pronounced u-zer-eye-dee) which is available only to members of the Rensselaer community (student, faculty, or staff).
Each fall, new students are given their IDs at orientation.
You may also pick up your Rensselaer userid at the Help Desk in the VCC. Latecomers,
returning students, faculty, and staff can also pick up their accounts
at the Help Desk. You will need to show your Rensselaer I.D. card in
order to pick up your userid.
In most cases, the userid, which is pre-created for you, consists of the first five characters of your last name and your first initial. If duplicate userids are created, a one- or two-digit number may be added at the end of your userid as needed to make the name unique. Some users have discovered that this formula can create some unfortunate userids. Following certain guidelines, which still require the userid to begin with the first letters of your last name, you can request a change to your userid. Forms are available at the Help Desk in the VCC. Each userid is granted $12.50 of free printing on a standard (not color) laser printer per semester. You can run the "sis" program on RCS, to see how many free pages you have used. Accounts have the following disk space allocations at no charge: 25 megabytes for students, faculty, and staff. You can increase or downsize your home directory quota. You can also request RCS disk space to share with others.
For general information about RCS Accounts and using them, please refer to Memos RPI.112, Using UNIX Workstations, and RPI.113, Using UNIX: The Rensselaer Computing System (RCS).
Please bring your RPI ID card with you when you pick up your userid. You cannot pick up an account name and password for a friend.
Accounts are only created for registered students and faculty and staff on payroll. Guest accounts are available for visiting faculty or staff or for special classes. Please visit the Help Desk in the VCC for a guest account form if needed.
If you forget your password, please bring your RPI ID card to the Help Desk and request a new password.
If you have trouble logging in, make sure you type your password in upper and lower case as written when you receive it. UNIX is case-sensitive. Change your password as soon as possible.
Go to Help Desk Consulting home page.
Return to the Accounts page.
Return to ACS home page.
Please send comments and suggestions to
consult@rpi.edu