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Logging in to a UNIX computer requires you to know your username and
password. Many people have problems logging in because they are using the wrong
username, rather than the wrong password. Logging in as
newuser on Polaris or any Northstar workstation will give you your
username if you already have an account.
If you are sure you have the correct username and have forgotten your
password, then send e-mail from your BlitzMail account to
admin@northstar requesting your password be reset. Password
reset requests must be sent from a BlitzMail account, since this
allows us to verify the origin of the mail message. Alternatively, you can
request a password be reset in person at the Academic Computing offices in 178
Berry Library.
In the event of a problem sending mail to manager, send
e-mail to research.computing@dartmouth.
Your initial password and subsequent resets will be a combination of your
Dartmouth ID number and a random set of characters that will be mailed to
you. You should change your password to one of your own choosing as soon as you
are able to log in, using the passwd command at the shell
prompt.
Good passwords should be as random a sequence of characters as you can
create and still remember. Some systems limit you to eight characters, but
longer passwords are recommended (the SGI workstations have an eight character
limit). Some systems may also vet your password and reject simple words.
- Do not use your username or something closely related to
it.
- Do not use your birthday, Social Security Number, a pet's
name, or other personal information that could easily be discovered by
others.
- Do not use a word in the dictionary.
- Do use a mixture of letters, numbers, and punctuation, and
upper- and lower-case characters.
The recommended method of selecting a password is to think of a phrase that
has some meaning to you, then use initial letters or numbers from the phrase.
You can remember a password phrase more easily than a random sequence. For
example, Raindrops and Roses and Whiskers on kittens:
R&RaWo.
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