Computing @ CERN

ATLAS TWiki Access

To access the protected pages on the central ATLAS TWiki you must have a CERN computer account. This requires being registered on the CERN HR database, for which see Craig Buttar (Room 482, c.buttar@physics.gla.ac.uk). Once you are registered with CERN you must contact the Computing Group Administrator (for our group, ZP, this is Connie Potter, Connie.Potter@cern.ch, or you can use Atlas.Secretariat@cern.ch) and sign the electronic Computer Centre User Registration Form. You will then receive a login and initial password (which should be changed), and these will allow you to access your account almost immediately. You have three days to complete the CERN computing security course and confirm that you have read and accepted the CERN Computing Rules, after which your account will have been fully activated.

If you wish to check whether you are on the ATLAS members' list (before attempting to activate your account) you may check the full members list or this search utility. If you are asked for a login, the "generic ATLAS credentials" are to be used (ask if you do not know what this means).

Once you have your CERN (lxplus) account, you can visit the CERN TWiki registration page and fill in the form, using your CERN account information. You can check your CERN email by using Pine (simply type ssh YOURNAME@lxplus.cern.ch and then pine in a terminal window) and entering your address/password when prompted. Be sure to enter the code you have received in your email into the box you will see after submitting the form (or alternatively visit the URL given in the email, either method will work to activate your TWiki account).

If there is any confusion, refer to these pages:

• Account Registration (where you can find out how to determine who the Administrator is, if this has changed)

• New procedure for account registration (guidance on electronic registration process)

• All about accounts and passwords at CERN

• CERN IT helpdesk (including email and telephone number)

-- GavinKirby - 16 Jun 2009

Running at CERN, on lxplus is an alternative to running Athena jobs locally.

Getting an account (on lxplus)

Everything you ever wanted to know about setting up an account on lxplus but were afraid to ask, can be found here:

• ATLAS Workbook - Getting an Account

It's pretty important that you register as an Atlas user with the Atlas Secretariat by sending them a mail, as this will ensure you can use all the necessary forums, and send emails requesting help etc. There are several forms that you need to complete in order to become a member of ATLAS, all the information is available on the Atlas Registration Page. The two forms are namely:

• Atlas Registration Form (.pdf)
• CERN Registration Form

For new group members, Craig Buttar will sign your registration forms. If you are a student, your Funding Council Contract and a letter from the head of group, Tony Doyle should be evidence enough of your association to the department.

Using your lxplus account

Everything else you want to know about running at CERN, on lxplus, can be found on the Atlas Beginner's Workbook. This tends to be kept up-to-date, for latest releases etc, and is maintained by Steve Lloyd . You can log in to lxplus as follows:

ssh [CERNusername]@lxplus.cern.ch

then you can check your mail there (and forward it if necessary back to Glasgow) by typing pine

-- CatherineWright - 28 Jul 2008