user studying a map on a computer display

Modeling Lab: Using The Lab

Hours of Operation

The Lab is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with the exception of certain University holidays.

Basic Rules of Equipment Use

  • Do not download, e-mail or store anything in the lab or on the lab file systems that is illegal or inappropriate. For additional information go to the UCLA IT Policy Resource website.
  • Do not engage in behavior in the lab that is illegal or inappropriate. For additional information go to the UCLA IT Policy Resource website.
  • When you are finished with a workstation, please log off.
  • Please keep in mind that the workstations in the lab are to be used by anyone authorized to be in the lab and are not the dedicated workstation of any one user.
  • Do not let anyone into the lab unless you know that they are authorized to be there, or that they are scheduled to meet someone who is authorized to be there.
  • Food and drink are allowed in the lab but take every precaution to keep the screens, keyboards, and mice clean.
  • If you wish to listen to music be sure to bring headphones so that you do not disturb other lab users.
  • If you are running a process of any kind on a workstation and will not be present to attend to it, please put a notice on the keyboard that the workstation is being used. Do not monopolize the workstations with your processing or tie up any workstation for a prolonged period of time without checking with lab staff. If the lab is busy and workstations are locked up with processes without prior arrangement having been made, the lab staff will terminate the process and log off.

Workstations – Hardware and Software

All of the workstations in the lab are identically equipped and configured and have identical application suits installed on them so that no matter what station you sit at you will have access to the same resources. The only exceptions to this are the few workstations that have scanners attached to them which have additional software for scanning and processing files. For more information go to Hardware And Other Resources for hardware and Supported Applications for software.

Workstations – Local Hard Drive Space

The "C:" drive is designated as the system drive on all of the lab workstations. Do not save any files to the "C:" drive. There are applications that prompt you to save to "C:" every time you save a file. Save to the remote file system instead. Change the default location of the prompt if you are able to. Any user information, files or data saved onto the "C:" drive will be deleted by staff.
If you want to save files locally or if your application requires the improved performance of a local disk you can use the User Data or "D:" drive. To use the "D:" drive: Create a folder on "D:\Users" with your login id as the folder name. Files on the "D:" drive will be deleted periodically so be sure to move them over to or back them up on the remote file system as soon as you can work without the local disk space.

Remote Filesystems – Workspace, Backup and Retrieval

All registered lab users are issued work space on remote large- capacity file systems accessed through gigabit network connections. This is where users would normally save and access all of their work and other project data. The hierarchy of directories, including project directories, texture and image directories, map and site plan directories, archive directories and production directories, are all located on remote file systems that are fast, monitored, backed up regularly, and kept in good working order.

Retrieving files that are lost or have become corrupted is a matter of contacting lab personnel and arranging to have the files retrieved from the backup system. This should be done as soon as the files are discovered to be missing or unusable to ensure that their retrieval is quick and possible.

Downloading Programs

Downloading and installing programs onto workstations is permitted providing the programs are obtained legally and are not used to engage in illegal activity. Keep in mind however that the stations are rebuilt several times each year and that any software that is not in the designated Modeling Lab suite will be deleted. If you would like an application to become part of the Modeling Lab suite, please contact lab staff.

Reporting Problems

Should you run into any problems using hardware or software, notice any computer behavior that might indicate a virus or worm, or have any trouble accessing either your files or the lab itself, be sure to report it immediately to lab staff, either in person or by e-mailing modeling-lab@ats.ucla.edu. Be as specific as you can in reporting the problem. We will respond as soon as is possible.

Changing Passwords

To change your lab account password, please refer to Modeling Lab: Changing Passwords.