1. Introduction
2. Your username and password
3. Changing your password
4. Using your mailbox
5. Creating a web page
6. Computer lab access
7. Using Internet dialup
8. Getting software
9. Using other GatorLink services
10. Getting help

Introduction

GatorLink is the primary computer network access account for the University of Florida which allows access to a variety of computing resources, including an Internet mailbox, Internet dialup, web space and campus computer labs. This handout will get you started using GatorLink services and give you some tips to avoid common problems. You can find out more about GatorLink and apply for a GatorLink ID online at http://www.gatorlink.ufl.edu, in CIRCA labs or in CSE E214 or CSE E520.

Your username and password

Your GatorLink ID is also called your GatorLink username.  Your username identifies you to GatorLink computer services.  It is a public name in that it is part of your Internet email address.

Your password should be something only you know. Do not write your password down or store it in your dialup software. More information about passwords is at UF Bridges.

Changing your password

You can change your password in myUFL under My Account.

Using your mailbox

Your GatorLink email address is your username and  ufl.edu separated by the @ character:

username@ufl.edu

You can use your GatorLink mailbox to receive your email or to transfer your mail to another email system.  If you want your GatorLink email forwarded to a different email system, select Modify at the GatorLink web site and choose the option Email forwarding.

You can access your GatorLink mailbox from a web site or from email software. Follow the directions on the UF Software CD or GatorLink web site to set up specific software for email (e.g. Netscape, Eudora). You have the option of using POP3 mail handling (transfers the mail to the hard disk of the computer you are using) or IMAP (allows you to keep some mail on the mail server, accessible from more than one location.) To use GatorLink web mail go to http://webmail.ufl.edu. Login using your GatorLink username and password. WebMail is similar to other free web-based email services.

However you choose to check mail, learn how to manage mail (delete messages, file mail to folders) using that method. One of the most frequent problems people have with email, is that they run out of mailbox space. Under this circumstance your account will no longer accept mail. You can periodically check your use of mailbox space by displaying your GatorLink account status. To do this, choose Modify at the GatorLink web site.

Creating a web page

You may create web pages using your GatorLink account. 20MB of web space is available for this purpose. Your web pages are viewed by going to http://plaza.ufl.edu/username.

Web pages are placed into your GatorLink web space using Internet file transfer software like WS-FTP or Fetch or other client software that supports the FTP protocol (e.g. Netscape Composer). This software can be obtained on the UF Software CD. You cannot logon to this web space using Telnet software. To create GatorLink web pages, first activate web page service on your GatorLink account. Go to the GatorLink web site, choose Modify, and follow instructions on the Web Page menu. You only need to do this step once.

After web space is created for your account, develop web pages and transfer them to the space. A web page can be created in a variety of ways. You can use Netscape Composer, Microsoft FrontPage or other web page editor software. Your web page or pages are stored on your personal computer and transferred to your GatorLink web space for viewing by others. You can get started creating a simple page by referring to tutorials in the software. For an introduction to coding HTML, refer to the CIRCA Handout Getting Started with HTML. You can also take non-credit courses to learn about creating web pages.

Once your initial page has been created, save it somewhere on your computer. This file should be named index.html. You may create additional web page files that are linked from this file.

To transfer your files to your GatorLink web space, use the host name (i.e., computer name) plaza.ufl.edu. Your new web page is located at http://plaza.ufl.edu/username. For specific file transfer instructions refer to the web services information at http://help.gatorlink.ufl.edu.

Computer lab access

CIRCA has computer labs in CSE E211, Architecture 118, Weil 408, Bryan 232 and Norman G514.  Your GatorLink ID provides access to the microcomputers (PCs and Macs) in the labs.  To log on to a Mac or PC in a CIRCA lab, type your username and password.

Once you logon to the CIRCA lab network, you can access the Internet, check your email, use word processing and other microcomputer programs, and submit charged black and white or color laser printing.

It is imperative that, when finished using a lab computer, you log off and reboot the computer. If you are unsure of how to do this, ask a Lab Operator. Failure to log off gives others access to your account and email. You may be unable to log in later, as only one login is allowed at a time. If this happens, see a Lab Operator.

Using Internet dialup

Your Internet dialup service gives you an allocation of free connection time per month through the GatorLink dialup server.  Undergraduate students and staff have 15 hours per month, graduate students have 60 hours per month, and faculty have 105 hours per month. You can authorize additional charged dialup beyond your monthly allocation at $.008 per minute of connection time from the Gatorlink web site. Dialup charges are billed through University Financial Services.

To use University services and the Internet through dialup, you need a modem (recommend 14,400 bps or faster), PPP or SLIP modem software and a web browser.

The PPP dial-up software is included on newer Windows and Macintosh computers. Dial-up software for older operating systems, and instructions to configure dial-up, are included on the UF Software CD. Follow the configuration instructions step-by-step. See the section on Getting Software below.

When you dialup using your GatorLink ID, be sure to type your GatorLink username followed by a  /i.  For example, if your username is johndoe, you would type:

johndoe/i

The /i is only needed in the dialup dialog box.

Once the dialup software is set up properly, the most frequent problems that users experience with dialup are: an expired password, forgetting to type a /i after their username, running out of free monthly dialup without having authorized charged dialup, and outstanding charges at Student Financial Affairs. To avoid unintentional dialup use, be sure to close your dialup connection after each session. You can periodically check accumulated dialup time by displaying your GatorLink account status. To do this, choose Modify at the GatorLink web site. If you think that you may have an overdue bill at Financial Affairs, check the ISIS web site at http://www.isis.ufl.edu or call 392-0181. Free dialup access to ISIS is described in the handout TeleGator and ISIS Computer Access, available at CSE 520 and online at http://www.circa.ufl.edu

Getting software

CIRCA distributes a collection of Internet software and utilities for Windows 95/98/NT and Macintosh computers.  Software is available on CD-ROM at the UF Bookstore ($3-$4), from the web and CIRCA labs.  Refer to the handout How to Obtain UF Software, available from CSE 214 or CSE 520 for instructions. Check the web site http://www.software.ufl.edu for available software.

Using other GatorLink services

If you have activated the Unix computer service (Grove), refer to the handout Using Grove.  A number of other Grove handouts are available, as well as, documentation on the Grove web site at http://grove.ufl.edu.

Getting help

If you need help with your account or password, call the UF Computing Help Desk at 392-HELP or visit the GatorLink web site at http://www.gatorlink.ufl.edu. If it is outside of Help Desk hours (8am-5pm M-F, 6pm-10pm S-R) and you have an account problem, your call can be routed to Computing and Network Services.

Most information about GatorLink is found on the GatorLink web site. If you need consulting help with any aspect of GatorLink services, however, call 392-HELP, walkin CSE 520 or email helpdesk@ufl.edu.