Rules for use of DAMTP computing facilities

This document constitutes a set of general rules which are made by the Head of Department to regulate and clarify what is permissible when using DAMTP computing facilities.

All computing use in DAMTP is also subject to the rules of the University's Information Strategy and Services Syndicate's (ISSS) rules and guidelines. Please take some time to read their document: Use and Misuse of Computing Facilities.

The ISSS also have a formal set of rules. DAMTP is on the Cambridge University Data Network (CUDN). Hence any rules that refer to CUDN also refer to DAMTP.

DAMTP has some additional rules which we draw to your attention below.

When applying for access to DAMTP facilities you are required to agree to a declaration that you understand all the rules and agree to abide by them. Infringement of any rule may lead to suspension of access to facilities, recovery of costs where appropriate, and in severe cases of misuse, a fine. However, none of these sanctions should be necessary if people apply simple common sense and act responsibly when using the network.

The computer network in DAMTP is resourced from public funds for academic purposes, and may be used only for academic and related work together with a small amount of personal use (for example email or internet browsing).

Computer accounts

  • Temporary accounts are available at short notice for use by visitors; there are no guest accounts for public use. Please do not share your own passwords.
  • You should set a secure login password and keep it secret. You should not use the same password on remote computer systems (see the passwords guidelines).
  • DAMTP facilities must not be used for commercial purposes, e.g. consultancy or advertising.

Computer hardware on department network

  • Computer hardware should be used carefully and left in a condition fit for others to use. Please report all faults immediately to help@damtp.
  • Please do not move computers without making sure a computer officer has confirmed the move. The computer officers need to know which computer is using which network port.
  • Any computer connected to the network, including research group- and privately-owned equipment must be set up in a way which is compatible with the DAMTP network infrastructure, and must be approved by a Computer Officer prior to connection.
  • Strict rules on superuser privilege are necessary. All departmental managed computers must have a root password known only by the Computer Officers.

Laptops and owner managed computers

  • Those not using wireless must only be connected to network ports which are marked as " connected to the CMS laptop network ".
  • Please do not share your internet password. Temporary accounts are available for academic visitors.
  • If your laptop misbehaves on the network, for example uses excessive data, tries to spread a virus or probes other computers; the computer officers may disconnect you and/or your network connection while they investigate. Especially if they cannot contact you.
  • Please have up to date virus software installed. The University has a site license for virus checking software.

Printing

Printing costs money and environmental resources. Please only print what you need and limit personal printing.

Security of Information

Information belonging to other users is confidential. You must not read, access or modify any file not owned by you without the explicit permission of the owner. When a file is not protected (i.e. read or write access by others is allowed), it should not be assumed that permission to copy or modify the file is granted.

Please make sure you use a secure password on the DAMTP system. One compromised account could lead to another person's data becoming compromised.

Proprietary software

Proprietary software must be used correctly in accordance with licensing conditions and must not be copied or modified. If you install any proprietary software, including shareware, on DAMTP computers, you must hold a valid licence. The University or responsible members of staff may be liable to prosecution if unlicenced software is found on any computer. The Computer Officers will delete without warning any illegally-held software discovered on DAMTP computers.

Some software is licensed for academic use by people who are currently staff and students of the university. You may not use such software for commercial purposes or if you are not entitled to use it. Ability to use such software, must not be taken as permission to use it.

Legislation

Users must always abide by any legislation that applies to the use of computer systems, e.g. Computer Misuse Act 1990, and laws relating to copyright and criminal damage. Storage and use of personal data on computer systems is regulated by the Data Protection Act 1984. Departmental computing facilities should not be used for such purposes without prior registration and anyone with personal data to process must consult the departmental Data Protection Officer.

Your Files and other material on the system

Your home directory is regularly backed up, both to disk and tape. If you have anything private you don't want backed up either keep it outside of your home directory or create a folder called NOBACKUP and store it in there.

When you leave your home directory is archived and stored on disk at least 6 months.

You must remove all personal and private information out of the system when you leave the department. If your ex-supervisor or host needs code you've worked on, it is assumed it may be passed to them if you left it behind.

The DAMTP network is a research network, data is often shared. By default any files you create are readable by others on the system. We have guidance on how to create and store private files. You have a private folder to keep your private files in.

It must be remembered however that just because information may be readable this does not in itself imply permission for the material to be accessed.

When you leave

The processes followed when you leave are described in the leaving DAMTP section. It is your responsibility to make sure you are familiar with these and to initiate any action needed.

DAMTP Policies

We have additional policies. Please read these before accessing each service.

  • Disk space and backups: Home directories are backed up. Data and scratch spaces are not backed up. Your quota limits how much data you have backed up. If you need a higher quota please email the DAMTP helpdesk explaining why this is so.
  • Keep your passwowrd safe: Please read our password guidelines.
  • Unix computer reboots: Maintenance reboots happen on Wednesday mornings.
  • email policy for anyone whose email account dates back to before 2005.
  • Skype: Please follow the university skype guidelines.

  • Running long jobs: Please be considerate of others using shared facilities when running code on multiple computers. Take care not to overload computers. All long jobs should be "niced". More guidelines on running long jobs.

    Some of the public computers are in people's offices. If you are running code on any of these be careful not to overload the machine to the point where whoever is at the console cannot work. If you are writing a lot of data to a machine's scratch space (hard disk) or running intensive code during the day, it can be unpleasantly noisy for the person in whose office the machine is in. Study our guidelines on this.

Interception of communications

DAMTP computing facilities may be used only by persons authorised to do so by DAMTP, University of Cambridge. Use by others will be in contravention of the Computer Misuse Act 1990. As required by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and the Lawful Business Practice Regulations 2000, the DAMTP Head of Department draws the attention of all users of DAMTP computer networks and the Cambridge University Data Network (CUDN) to the fact that their communications may be intercepted as permitted by legislation.

In particular, but without limitation, users should be aware that their communications may be intercepted, as provided for by the Lawful Business Practice Regulations 2000, in order to investigate or detect unauthorized use of the DAMTP network, the CUDN, or networks to which the CUDN is directly or indirectly connected.

See Rules and conditions relating to network use for documents which specify the authorized use of the CUDN and JANET.

Finally please obey any IT notices issued by the Computing staff around the department.