Student Authentication for MSCD

Student Authentication, a new login procedure to provide individual student accounts, has been implemented in the student labs. Student Authentication will synchronize logins and passwords for Macintosh and PCs in the general labs, granting access to college network resources such as software applications, print services and the Internet. It is available in the open labs on the main campus, Metro South and Metro North. When the Student Authentication is fully implemented, lab employees will no longer need to check student IDs and will be re-allocated to other important student services.

The Plan

The plan is divided into two phases. Phase I, in place beginning this week, will provide the initial population of student accounts. Students will log into the workstations on the main campus using their individual accounts. A generic login for Metro South and Metro North will provide access in Phase I. For cross-registered students, lab monitors will continue to check for current enrollment in MSCD courses and verify ID. Password synchronization will only be provided for PCs and Macintosh workstations in phase I.

Phase II of the Student Authentication Plan will extend password synchronization to the Sun workstations as well as future platforms, e.g. Linux. Additional services, such as secured individual directories, print metering, backups and recovery, will be part of phase II and is targeted for implementation by Spring 2004.