Essential guides about IT services

INTRODUCTION

This page summarizes the essential guides about IT services for students.

ESSENTIALS GUIDES
Accounts and access to buildings

• Campus Lugano:
  • USI card: the student card is the document that certifies the registration at USI and shows the student’s registration number. It is delivered after completing the first registration. After paying the half-yearly fee, to update the card, you must insert it in the machine located in the atrium of the Main Building (the machine is open Monday to Friday from 07.00 to 19.00)
  • account LDAP (Unix/Linux): The LDAP account, which remains active for the entire stay at the University, is a UNIX / Linux account given to students, assistants, academic and administrative staff at the Faculty of Informatics.
• Campus Mendrisio:
  • USI card: the student card is the document that certifies the registration at USI and shows the student’s registration number. It is delivered after completing the first registration. After paying the semester fee, to update the card you need to insert it in the device located on the 3rd floor of the Canavée building.
• USI Accounts
• edu-ID: the edu-ID digital identity is a permanent identity that is created by the users themselves and can accompany them throughout their education - potentially at several universities - but also after their studies. Allows access to various services, such as: iCorsi e-learning platform; platform for registering for examinations/courses, checking grades, obtaining certificates; library services, including lending; ...

IT Security

• Rules for the use of IT infrastructure and appliances
• Tips for secure password

Wireless (Wi-Fi)

• On the campuses are the USI and Eduroam wifi available. To access it you must use the Windows login data (the ones that allow you to see the USI mailbox, using the username(at)usi.ch format)
• Outsiders can use the USI-Guest network. At this link you can find a short activation guide
• Rules for the use of IT infrastructure and appliances.

Wired network

• Campus Lugano EST
  • Windows: changes to be applied to the PC/Laptop to connect to the network
  • Ubuntu: changes to be applied to the PC/Laptop to connect to the network
  • macOS: changes to be applied to the PC/Laptop to connect to the network

E-Mail

• E-Mail: the easiest and most secure way to access USI e-mail is to use it via web:
  • Staff access: mail.usi.ch
  • Students access: www.mail.usi.ch => USI Cloud or portal.office.com

Private files storage

• Campus Mendrisio:
  • dischi e stampanti:
  • disk spaces
• Campus Lugano:
  • each user has a private profile with 2GB of document space, accessible from the University PCs or from outside.

VPN:

• The virtual private network functionality grants access to the University's internal network and make access to the data folders on USI's file servers (personal, team and project) available
  • VPN connection and files access on Windows
  • VPN connection and files access on Mac OS
  • VPN connection and files access on Linux

Printing service

• Campus Mendrisio:
  • printers and plotter
  • print credits
  • scanner and other accessories
  • rules prints and photocopies
  • how to recharge your credit print
  • print control software
  • procedure for installing printers: dischi e stampanti
  • student printers location
• Campus Lugano:
  • printing on Windows
  • printing on Mac OS
  • printing on Linux
  • photocopying, scanning (for collaborators)
  • student printers location

Software and hardware

• Discounts
• Private laptop
• Purchase various software, including the Microsoft Windows operating system for academy people: studyhouse.ch
• Microsoft Azure for Education: a site where all members of the USI community can download free of charge a range of Microsoft applications for private use using the USI e-mail credentials.
• Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS): all members of the USI community can download and install the statistics program, this works connected to the university network or via VPN.
  • MacOS guide
  • Windows guide
  • Linux guide
• VMware: all members of the USI community may download a series of VMware applications free of charge using the WMware Academic Program, using the edu-ID credentials at the time of purchase. These applications may be accessed for private use, subject to the limits stated in the license.
• Matlab: is an environment for numerical computing and statistical analysis. You can:
  • download it free of charge and install it with the help of the instructions given here.
  • use the USI 96 Core at this link.
• Qualtrics: among its various functions, it is an application for creating surveys and analyzing a series of data. The application is available to all members of the USI community: go to https://usi.eu.qualtrics.com and log in using your USI accounts.

• Accademia Mendrisio:

  • Software

Exam and courses

• Student portal "segreteria virtuale" (Campus Mendrisio)
• iCorsi
• Registration for exams and courses at the Lugano campus is automatic. Students can only unsubscribe via the following platform: esami.lu.usi.ch. To unsubscribe, students must notify their secretary and, if they have any questions, contact their faculty dean’s office.

Classroom for students (to study and/or use PC)

• Campus Mendrisio:
  • workstations available
    • Palazzo Turconi: 25 workstations if there are no lectures
    • Palazzo Canavée: 40 workstations in the public area and 20 workstations available if there are no lectures in the computer classroom
    • Library: 7 consultation stations and 2 public workstations
• Campus Lugano:
  • https://www.desk.usi.ch/en/study-and-relaxation-areas-lugano-campus

Sending large files

• The following service is available to send data to third parties that are larger than those that can usually be managed by e-mail (switch.ch/filesender)

File sharing

• To share documents with colleagues or outside people, you can use:
  • SWITCHdrive: is a tool similar to DropBox. Since it is operated by SWITCH, it provides the advantage of maintaining data in Switzerland (switch.ch/drive)
  • OneDrive: available in the Microsoft 365 suite, where you can save up to 1TB of data and allow sharing of files or folders (portal.office.com)

IT tools for home office

• Microsoft 365: the Microsoft Office package is available for installation on their personal devices for all employees, assistants, professors, and students. Access via (portal.office.com) with username (at)usi.ch and password allowing access to the USI mailbox.
  • guide for Windows and MacOS systems
  • guide for Apple and Android devices
• Skype for Business: allows staff, assistants, and professors to call and video, call on the external network, chat and share the screen
• MS Teams: allows collaborators, assistants, professors, and students to call and video, chat and share the screen. It’s used for teaching.
  • Guide for teachers in the e-learning lab, applicable most of all to collaborators.
• Antivirus: the security of your device is important, especially if you are accessing the USI data folders via VPN. Its use is highly recommended.
• SWITCHmeet: is provided by SWITCH (the foundation that operates the Swiss academic network), it is free of charge and provides the advantage that it does not require any program installation on your PC. Access via (https://www.switch.ch/meet/)

Security

• The rising use of personal computers for teleworking caused by the pandemic also increases the risks to which data and IT infrastructure are exposed. It is therefore important that the security of personal devices is taken care of. Some advice:
  • keep the operating system of your devices up to date, including applications
  • install a high reputation antivirus
  • keep the work environment separate from the personal/family environment (e.g. with two different users)

IT support

• Contacts and informations