Overview

Group Accounts at UWM

Overview: This document briefly describes “group accounts” and explains how to access and manage them at UWM.
Group accounts provide a single computer “host” for web site files, e-mail accounts, and e-mail distribution lists. One of the most prominent benefits of a group account is that it allows multiple users to access and to edit e-mail lists through their own accounts on the UWM Alpha System.

There is no password for the group account. Instead, access to the account is controlled through a list of authorized users.

Some related UWM documentation of potential interest:

E-mail reflectors, listservs, newsgroups at UWM

Alpha (Unix) "man" pages - Though they do not constitute a user manual per se, "man" pages provide a brief summary of the operation of a program or function and list what options or parameters can be used.

I&MT E-mail Account Usage Policy

I&MT Computer Usage Policy

I. Logging On

UWM group accounts can be accessed through the campus “alpha shell.” The alpha shell is simply an interface between you and UWM’s “alpha servers.”

The alpha servers, three powerful computers located in the basement of UWM’s EMS building, provide e-mail and web service to UWM faculty, staff, and students. The servers use “Alpha” processors instead of, for example, Intel Pentiums. They use the Unix operating system instead of, for example, Windows 98, Windows NT, Linux, or MS-DOS. The computer commands you will enter for access to, and management of, alpha-based accounts are Unix commands.

You can open the alpha shell in several ways:

First, if your desktop has an “Alpha” icon, you can simply click on that icon
Second, in the address box of your Internet browser (for example, Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer), you can enter an address with this general format:

telnet://loginname@alphaX.csd.uwm.edu

Third, you can click on your desktop’s “Start” button, click on the “Run” option, enter an address with this general format in the “Open” box,

telnet://loginname@alphaX.csd.uwm.edu then click the “OK” button.

Please note: When entering the address -- whether in your Internet browser’s address box or in the “Open” box of the “Run Program” dialogue box -- you should replace ‘loginname’ with your own personal e-mail login, and replace ‘X’ with the first letter of your login name. For example, Mary Smith (login name: msmith) would enter this address (figure 1):

telnet://msmith@alpham.csd.uwm.edu

Example:

(figure 1)

When you have successfully connected to a UWM alpha server, a “login prompt” will be displayed. At this prompt, enter your UWM e-mail login name (for example, Mary Smith would enter “msmith”) and your password. Once you have correctly entered your login name and password, the alpha server will provide you with access to your personal alpha account (from which you may access your e-mail or other personal files). If you are an "authorized user," you will also be able to access group accounts.

II. Accessing a Group Account

If you wish now to access any group account, you may do so in one of two ways.

First, from the Alpha EZ Menu (figure 2), you may enter: ‘!groupsu groupaccountname’ -- replacing ‘groupaccountname’ with the name of the group account (for example, “cie” has been entered in figure 2) you wish to access. (Please note the “!”).

(figure 2)

Second, at the Unix prompt of the alpha shell (figure 3), you may enter ‘groupsu groupaccountname’ -- replacing ‘groupaccountname’ with the name of the group account (for example, “cie” has been entered in figure 3) you wish to access.

(figure 3)

Once you have successfully entered “groupsu groupaccountname’ you will be switched to the group account. [When you have finished your work in the group account, you should logout. You will then be returned automatically to your personal alpha account.]

III. Updating E-Mail Reflectors

Once you have logged on to the group account, you can:

read e--mail in the account inbox, or
update e-mail reflectors owned by the group account.

To read e-mail: Enter ‘ez’ at the alpha prompt. This command will activate the “Alpha EZ” Menu for the group account. At the Alpha EZ Menu, enter ‘1’. This will allow you to send and to read e-mail.

To update e-mail reflectors: Enter ‘ur’ at the alpha prompt. This choice opens an option menu for updating reflectors (figure 4).

(figure 4)

The option menu is largely self-explanatory. It offers 8 different options for working with e-mail reflectors.

To add or remove addresses from a reflector: Choose option 5.

You will be asked you to enter the name of the reflector list. Simply enter the name of the reflector list (for example, "garbanzo" -- omit the "@uwm.edu"). The list of reflector subscribers will be displayed. Please note:

In order for the reflector to function properly, addresses should be listed one per line (figure 5).
You should also include the name of the person in parentheses on the same line with their e-mail address. This will avoid any confusion with ambiguous e-mail login names, and will make it easier to identify members of the list.
If the person to be subscribed has a UWM e-mail account, it is only necessary to include her or his e-mail login name. If, however, the person to be subscribed is from off-campus, that person's entire e-mail address should be listed.

(figure 5)

When you have finished making changes to the list, you will need to ‘WriteOut’ or save changes. To save your changes, pressing the ‘Ctrl’ button and the letter ‘O’ simultaneously. You will then be asked to confirm the name of the list you wish to write (or save). Press the "return" key. The reflector changes will be updated.

To exit the reflector screen: Press ‘Ctrl’ and the letter ‘X’ at the same time. This will return you to the original reflector update menu screen.

To exit the reflector update menu screen: Choose option 8. You will then be returned to the alpha prompt. To log out of the group account, enter ‘exit’ at the alpha prompt. You will thereafter be returned to your personal alpha account. From here you may:

enter “exit” to quit the telnet session, or
enter “ez” to access the Alpha EZ Menu.

Created on January 22, 2001 by Alex Dye with the assistance of Robert J. Beck
Center for International Education of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Updated: March 01, 2001