U-System - UNIX resources for websites, software, utilities, compilers, email
A U-System account provides email services for faculty, staff, and students of the University of Arizona on the email.arizona.edu domain, but also provides additional tools. The U-System account is also known as a 'shell' account , which can be obtained after creating a UA NetID, and provides a UNIX environment that includes email and applications such as statistics, math, and graphics software.
A U-System account is available to all UA employees and students.
U-System Software, Utilities and Compilers
Primary Uses for a U-System Account
- To develop and post webpages
- Email account access (web mail, Pine, Euduora, Outlook Express, other email programs). The Email server is separate from the U-System Accounts.
- Running programs like statistical, scientific and graphics applications in a Unix environment -- see a full list of software and utilities available.
Creating a Web Page
- Once you have successfully connected to the u-system select 'M' to enter the Menu Option. If you just see a command prompt, type 'menu'.
- Move your cursor down and select the Misc option.
- Select the Home Page option. This will create the public_html folder that you will use, make a basic index.html file inside the folder and set file permissions for you.
- Your webpage can now be viewed at http://www.u.arizona.edu/~username.
General Info
- Each U-System account has an allocation of 500MB of disk space. You can use the command 'ezquota' for information about your usage.
How to Get a U-System Account
- Create a NetID if you do not already have one
- Go to the Account Program
- Select U-System Account
- Choose type of Account (Menu is easier to use).
How to Connect
- Get an SSH client from the Site License website if you do not already have one (look for SSH under No Cost Software).
- Run the program that you downloaded.
- Enter u.arizona.edu for host hame, 22 for the port number, and select either SFTP or SSH, depending on which is available.
- Enter your NetID in the username field and your NetID password under the password field. Then try to connect.
SSH is the required way to connect with the U-System. SSH uses encryption to prevent eavesdroppers from reading information, such as your password, from the network. All SSH-type software allows for secure communication and file transfers, replacing the vulnerable utilities like telnet, rlogin, ftp and rcp. The SSH software can be downloaded free from the Site License website. Look for SSH under No-Cost Software.
Password Policy
Your U-System password is your NetID password.
Scratch Disk Space
- Scratch disk is available on /scratch for temporary storage of files.
- Files are cleaned out after they are 48 hours old.
- Files are not backed up on /scratch.
- Scratch disk directory names must match your login id.
- All files on scratch must be in a directory.
- Only one scratch directory per login id is permitted.
- Systems reserves the right to move any files as necessary.