Our users should have user codes defined on the central server systems in order to use the computational resources of the university.
To obtain a user code for the students
Undergraduate Students: Student usercodes are automatically defined at the beginning of student's first semester at METU. The password envelopes, on which temporary password (composed of 13 charactes) are written, are delivered at the registeration place. With the temporary passwords, from https://useraccount.metu.edu.tr address, students can define their permanent passwords, recovery e-mail addresses and METU e-mail addresses. Without doing this process, students can not do any process that need usercode and password. Our users should have user codes defined on the central server systems in order to use the computational resources of METU Computer Center. All students are bound to obey to the "METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy" while using IT resources.
Master and Ph.D. Students: At the beginning of the semester, password envelopes on which temporary password (composed of 13 charactes) are written, are given to the students in return to the student ID card, from Computer Center, 1st floor, room no: 114. With the temporary passwords, from https://useraccount.metu.edu.tr address, students can define their permanent passwords, recovery e-mail addresses and METU e-mail addresses. Without doing this process, students can not do any process that need usercode and password. Our users should have user codes defined on the central server systems in order to use the computational resources of METU Computer Center. All students are bound to obey to the "METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy" while using IT resources.
METU undergraduate students whose user accounts haven't been closed but newly started to Master or Ph.D., do not need to have password envolepes again since they are expected to use their existing usercode and password pair. On the other hand, students whose user accounts are closed but newly started to Master or Ph.D., can get their password envelopes in return to the student ID card, from Computer Center, 1st floor, room no: 114. Both students should select their METU addresses from https://useraccount.metu.edu.tr address with their passwords for selecting their METU e-mail addresses since, without doing this proccess they can not proceed to do the processes that need usercode and password pair.
Special Students: It will be given to the student, in return of the Special Student ID card, from Computer Center, 1st floor, room no:114. All the users should obey to the "METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy" which is written at the back of the envelope.
The Expiration of the Student User Codes
The graduated or withdrawed students' user codes will expire in 1 (one) semester.
For the graduated students' exxxxxx@metu.edu.tr type e-mail addresses, which run on the central servers of the METU Computer Center , there is a "forwarding service" since 2003-2004 Academic Year.
Forwarding Service:
In the scope of the Forwarding Service, the e-mail addresses of graduated students in the e100001@metu.edu.tr format are left active for a term after graduation (for Spring term graduates till the March of the next year and for Fall graduates till November of the same year) and terminated and directed to an indicated e-mail address forever, at the end of that duration .
For prospective graduate students, a warning message is sent 6 months before, stating that their account will be terminated, followed by a reminding message 1 month before the termination. The students can do the forwarding 1 week before the termination or whenever they want after their account is terminated.
The forwarding of the user accounts can be done via web by using the central user account and password over, https://mezun.cc.metu.edu.tr or https://alumni.cc.metu.edu.tr adresses. As the forwarding system has been implemented for the graduates after the 2004-2005 Semester and on, the graduates before this semester have to come to the Computer Center for the application. For this, they have to fax a copy of their identity card and their student number together with their preferred forwarding address to (0 312) 210 3303. After that, to follow the procedure you may get in contact with hot-line@metu.edu.tr.hot-line@metu.edu.tr
Getting User Code for the Personnel
The METU personnel should fill the F1 form which should be signed by the Department/Unit administration. They must apply to the Computer Center 1st floor, room no:114 with the form in person. All the users are obliged to obey to the "METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy".
No user code is provided for the users whose personnel ID number isn’t assigned by the METU Directorate of Personnel Affairs.
The Expiration of Personnel User Codes
The users' accounts, which are closed due to reasons other than retirement or expired due to end of assignment, will be closed at the end of 3 months after the personnel leaves office. Back-up is available up to 1 year. The users should apply to METU CC Hotline Service (phone: 2103355 e-mail: hot-line
metu.edu.tr) with an ID card and 1 CD after specifying the date for back-up in order to getting the back-ups.
If valid reasons are stated, the user code can be prolonged for an extra 3 months.
The demands for more than 3 months (User code can be prolonged for 1 year up to approval of the head of the department/unit) should be approved by the head of department/unit by filling the F3 form. The form must be taken to the Computer Center 1st floor, room no:114.
Research assistants whose duty term is over but the MS or Phd program persists, will be given 1 year prolongation until their education period is over.
User Codes Demanded for the Departments/Units
The F2 Form should be filled by the personnel who is responsible for the user codes for the user codes which are demanded for the Departments/Units or conferences, projects and seminars etc. and approved by the Department/Unit administration. The form should be taken to the Computer Center , 1st floor room no: 114.
Renewal of the User Code Password
For the renewal of forgotten or lost password, you should enter https://useraccount.metu.edu.tr address and click on to the "Forgot your password?" link. Before that you should set your recovery e-mail from the same address.
Users who have not entered their recovery e-mail, should apply to Computer Center, 1st floor, room no: 114, with their "Student Identity Card" (if student) or "Personnel Identity Card" (if personnel) (Any identity card having photo on it is also accepted).
If the process of registering recovery e-mail address is not done by the personnel who is responsible for the user codes which are demanded for the Departments/Units or conferences, projects and seminars etc.; he/she should apply to Computer Center, 1st floor, room no: 114, with his/her "Personnel Identity Card" (Any identity card having photo on it is also accepted).
Working Hours: 09:00 - 12:30 & 13:30 - 17:00
Due to security reasons, the password should be changed with another permanent one which the user chooses after the code is taken from "User Code Registration" desk. When changing the password beware that a password which is similar to your name can easily be guessed by others.
During the use of user codes, you should be careful about not to infringe the clauses set forth in the "METU Information Technology Resources Use Policy".
In the table below, total number of user accounts provided on METU systems is given for each year between 1996-2010
| YEAR | TOTAL NUMBER OF USER ACCOUNTS |
| 2011 | 40,195
|
| 2010 | 36,499 |
| 2009 | 38,800 |
| 2008 | 34,162 |
| 2007 | 46,636 |
| 2006 | 40,675 |
| 2005 | 36,305 |
| 2004 | 32,580 |
| 2003 | 31,032 |
| 2002 | 30,592 |
| 2001 | 31,189 |
| 2000 | 26,642 |
| 1999 | 22,901 |
| 1998 | 22,468 |
| 1997 | 16,183 |
| 1996 | 13,139 |
Things you should remember when creating secure user code passwords
Every user in central servers is recognised by his/her user code and password. The password provides the privacy of the user code. "The user is responsible for every action carried out with his/her password. He/she cannot transfer the password information to someone else. Firstly, the user must keep his/her password as secret and should not disclose it to the second parties. Secondly, he/she must use a secure and strong password that cannot be easily guessed. These constitute a very sensitive issue both for the security of the user codes and security of the computer resources of METU.
The user passwords should bear some characteristics, which specify the secure and reliable nature of the combination of user code and password. Users must observe the following fundamental rules to create a strong password that prevent an easy guess:
The password must be at least 6 characters and maximum 8 characters. Passwords should not ONLY be comprised of alphabetical characters. Passwords should NOT be directly related with the user codes or be a derivative of the user codes. e.g. : e123456/e124356, e123456/123456, mehmeta/mehmet, mehmeta/mehmet12, mehmeta/1mehmet.
Such user code-password combinations are absolutely not recommended. Passwords should NOT be directly related with the personal information that belongs to the user such as date of birth, name, surname etc. or be a derivative of the same kind of information. Passwords should NOT be meaningful words or words that can easily be guessed. Passwords should include numbers and characters which do not convey a meaning and which are available on the keyboard (".", ",", "/", "&", "!" etc.). At the same time, the user should be able to remember the password easily without forcing himself/herself to write it on a piece of material. Users should be careful NOT to use Turkish characters (ı, ğ, ş, ç, ö, ü, İ, Ğ, Ü, Ş, Ç, Ö) when creating their passwords. Users should remember the fact that our systems are "Unix" systems. In Unix systems, uppercase and lowercase characters are treated as different characters.
How will you change your user code password?
You can change the password of your user account which is defined on the central servers in two ways. 1. With Horde Web Services:
Horde users have the option of changing their password via the web. After the Horde interface is run and the "Password" option at the top is clicked on you will get a screen where in the first field you will enter the password in use and in the second and third fields you will supply the new password and when the "Change Password" button is clicked your password will have been changed as explained below.
2. With SSH Software:
After you log onto the central systems with SSH program (How can I connect to central server systems?), enter the passwd command on the command line as indicated below.
When you press ENTER key, the following screen will be displayed:
$ passwd
Changing password for e123456...
Old Password: |
Enter the password you have been using (here defined as Old Password). Press ENTER key. The system will prompt you to enter the New Password as indicated below:
Enter your new password amd hit ENTER key. The system will ask you to enter the new password once again. Enter your new password once more. Meanwhile, the password characters will not be displayed on the screen.
Hit ENTER key. The system will prompt a message telling you that your password has been changed succesfully. You should use your new password, the next time you log onto the systems.
Password changed successfully for user e123456.
$ |
Please log out of the systems by entering the exit command on the command line and then hitting ENTER key.
Important Note: User passwords in central servers are updated four times a day at 09:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00. For this reason, your new password will be valid after the first update hour.
Can I change my e-mail address that consists of my name and surname in the format 'name.surname@metu.edu.tr'?
In normal conditions you cannot change the e-mail address in the format name.surname@metu.edu.tr that you have chosen from User Account Management web site on the address https://useraccount.metu.edu.tr.
However, if you change your name or surname by reason of marriage and divorce or as a result of a court decision, apply to User Code Registration desk at the Computer Center (B Block, 1st floor, room 114) with your identity card by way of a petition including your reasons and contact information. Your application will be assessed by Directorate.
If the address you will be given is in use by another user, you will be contacted in order to determine a new address.
Once your address is changed, the e-mails sent to your old e-mail address will not be forwarded to the new address and will be returned to sender. Relevant information procedure will be under your responsibility.
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