IT services for students

For you to be able to focus on the most important thing – studying – we collected the most important instructions for using computer classrooms, remote use of software, and collaboration platforms into this handy guide.  

Computer classrooms can be used remotely  

The university is responsible for prevent spreading the COVID-19 corona virus at the campus and that safety is taken in account when using campus spaces and equipment. For safety reasons, teaching and operations are arranged mostly online, and also computers in the classrooms are in remote use mode. 

Some of the computers for the remote use locate physically in the classrooms. Some of the computers are virtual computers. 

Connecting remotely to the classroom computers 

With remote connection to the classroom computer you have access to the software installed to that physical computer. Generally, all the computers in a classroom have the same software setup. For example, Adobe software are installed in some specific classroom computers. The software setups by classrooms can be found in computers.aalto.fi and booking.aalto.fi. 

The computers in the classrooms are reserved for teaching during 8 am – 8 pm on the weekdays. Remote use of the computers by one’s own works also by the instructions below. 

1. When the teaching begins, the students who have registered for teaching connect to the classroom computer in https://mfavdi.aalto.fi. More instructions on the remote use of the computer in the classrooms can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/remote-access-to-windows-classroom-computers 
2. After the teaching everyone (including the teacher) logs out from the computer, so that the next user can access the computer without hassle. For logout, go to Start -> click the user icon -> Sign out. For teacher: This is to be instructed to students after every teaching session to help us all in optimal use of the resources. 
3. In case that the student needs to get into the computer classroom physically, contact [email protected] for the permission. 

Connecting to virtual computers 

VDI desktops (virtual desktop infrastructure) are fully virtual. They are suitable for so called light weight computing and with VDI you have access to remote Linux and Windows operating systems. In virtual desktops you can find e.g. Microsoft Office tools and other applications. Virtual desktops are available to students to be used on their own. 

Virtual desktop can be found here: https://vdi.aalto.fi/. 

Instructions for using the virtual desktop can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/vdiaaltofi-how-to-use-aalto-virtual-desktop-infrastructure.  

Printing and scanning 

There are some PrintingPoint-printers in the campus for small scale black-and-white printing and scanning. Instructions for mobile printing can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/mobile-printing. Due to the corona virus situation, please use on premises printing and scanning only if you definitely must and don’t have any other options. 

Locations of printing devices (PrintingPoint)

Software available for downloading 

Some applications are available as downloadable software on one’s own computer. The list  with the links can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/softwares-for-staff-and-students-homeuse. 

Collaboration platforms in Aalto 

Remote teaching and remote studying in Aalto is conducted in collaboration platforms in Teams, Zoom, and MyCourses. 

Teams 

Both teachers and students can form teams, chat, have remote meetings, collaborate on documents and maintain common task lists in Teams. Instructions on how to take Teams in use can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/microsoft-teams-meetings-guide.  

Microsoft’s instructions on how to use Teams can be found here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-teams-video-training-4f108e54-240b-4351-8084-b1089f0d21d7. 

Zoom 

Both teachers and students can organize remote meetings and remote teaching sessions in Zoom. Instructions can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/zoom-quick-guide  

MyCourses 

MyCourses is the eLearning platform for Aalto courses, with respective course workspaces. The students get access to the workspaces by registration into the course in Oodi. 

More information and instructions about MyCourses: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/mycourses-learning-environment  

Computers: What to look for when purchasing a computer for studying in Aalto 

Laptop with core i5, 8GB ram, 265GB SSD is adequate for most students during the studies. If one has participated in Finnish digital matriculation examination, the same computer is usually quite adequate. Don’t forget to ask for student discount when purchasing. 

It is expected that the students bring their own laptops. In the case that it is financially impossible to get one, please contact [email protected].  

• Communication channel for the whole Aalto University​ https://aalto.fi​

• https://into.aalto.fi  all studying information ​

• IT instructions you´ll find on https://aalto.fi/it​

• Activate your account e.g. with banking credentials https://password.aalto.fi/​

• One Aalto password for all your needs (email, workstations, wifi,  ...)​

• Password policy​:

1. Minimum 12 characters​
2. Password maximum lifetime 730 days​
3. Password minimum lifetime 24 hours​
4. Complexity: must contain both uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers​
5. Åäö should not be used​
6. Math marks do not work on all servers, as also å,ä,ö​
7. You can use the same password only once​

• Change guide https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/changing-a-password​

• Never tell anyone your password​

1. IT Services personnel will never want or need your password​
2. Your account is personal, not for sharing​

• Try to remember​

• If you have to write it down, hide it and keep it away from your username​

• Phishing​

1. If you get an email from anywhere asking for your password, do not reply​
2. Instructions on reporting phishing attempts on aalto.fi (https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/how-to-report-a-malicious-or-suspicious-email)​

• If you forget: password.aalto.fi (with banking credentials, mobile certificate or HST card) or come to IT Service Desk with your ID. Must be done in person.​

• Change all your passwords regularly and also when you suspect it’s no longer secret​

• More information about good passwords on aalto.fi.​

Cyber Security for students (link to training)

• Do not use the same password in other services!​

• Email inherently suspicious: do not trust the Sender field or attachments​

• Check your URL when entering passwords​

• Always log out from your workstation when stepping out​ or lock if you are returning soon​

• Take care of the security of your own PC as well​

• USB memory sticks​ are easy to lose or break​ and can contain viruses

• Respect other users’ privacy​: email, files, passwords, sessions​

• Personal data (e.g. email addresses, student numbers) not to be distributed​

• Confidential research/business data​

• You are responsible for the activity on your account​

• Commercial, political, sectarian activity forbidden per Usage Policy​, but exception: student union activity​

• We back-up most of the data, but you have the ultimate responsibility​

• Second, private email address convenient​, because you will lose your university address upon leaving/graduation​

• Secondary email address easier to throw away​

• Use common sense​

• More policies and instructions: ​
  https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/information-security-at-aalto-university ​

• Usually f[email protected] (sometimes middle initial)​

• Microsoft Exchange – based email with 5 GB of space​

• webmail  https://mail.aalto.fi (or http://office.com if Microsoft 365 cloud email in use)

• You can use Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, iPhone, Android, etc.

• Instructions to configure at aalto.fi/it​, eg.  Aalto email for your phone

• Official IT reminders (password expiring etc.) to Aalto address, forwarding possible for students​

• Uses same password as other services​

• Spam filtering, Junk e-mail folder​

• Will be erased after you leave Aalto University

• more information: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/email-calendar

• “Good old office” (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) with secure cloud services (One Drive)​

• Also for your own device at home!​

• Works with your Aalto account​

• File sharing and teamwork​

• https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/microsoft-office-365-services

• Home directory automatically visible as Z: drive when you log on to a Windows workstation in a classroom​

• Also visible on Aalto Mac and Linux workstations​

• Accessible also via SFTP on our Linux servers (kosh.org.aalto.fi and lyta.aalto.fi)

• More information: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/data-storage-file-services​

• Aalto home directory quota 100 GB for your own files on network drive :Z​

• Remember! Your files from network drive will be erased when you graduate.​

• Use also a memory stick or USB hard disk to backup all your important files. Computer can crash, network does not always work, etc. All very important files should be saved to 3 places.

3 networks: Aalto Open, Aalto and  Eduroam​

Aalto Open: Unsecured network!​

• No authentication, just connect and browse, but traffic is not encrypted!​
• NAT in use beginning January 2014​

Aalto ​

• Safe and encrypted​

Eduroam: pan-european network of wifi networks, secure​

• You can use any eduroam network in Europe, in Finland eg. Helsinki University​

• Traffic encrypted​

• Needs configuration and Thawte root certificate, check  https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/installation-instructions-for-eduroam​

• Most services allowed, SMTP blocked​

• Terms of Use for wireless network​

• Printing not possible​

• Lots of Access Points at the campus, notify IT Services if there is lack of coverage

• AnyConnect VPN links your laptop or mobile phone to Aalto Network /storage drive https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/establishing-a-remote-connection-vpn-to-an-aalto-network
• You can access an Aalto virtual workstation from your own device from anywhere​ using VDI https://vdi.aalto.fi/. More information: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/vdiaaltofi-how-to-use-aalto-virtual-desktop-infrastructure​

• Classroom BW printers​

• Instructions: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/printing-at-aalto-university​

• Professional print jobs etc. provided by Unigrafia, costs money, prices available at Unigrafia’s site​

• Out of toner / printer jammed?​

1. Ask help from janitors​

2. Send email to [email protected]​

3. Visit the service desk on the campus

• Remote access to Windows classroom computers

• Almost in all buildings in Otaniemi​: computer availability http://computers.aalto.fi

1. Maarintalo, open 24/7 (excl. Midsummer and Christmas)​

2. A lot of workstations (Win / Linux) in classrooms and group work areas​

3. Student card required in classrooms! ​

4. Also other 24/7 classrooms with separate access cards​

• Windows 10, Linux and Mac classrooms​

• Different applications depending on the classroom​

• All workstations have basic software (Windows: MS Office, Firefox, etc.)​https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/default-applications-on-windows-workstations​

• Scanners in Maari lobby, Kandi building hub and Kandi building 3rd floor printing point​

• Some departments’ classrooms​

• Student hubs and group work spaces

• Softwares for staff and students homeuse
• Special software purchased for the University for which license terms enable the installations in staff and students home computers can be downloaded from download.aalto.fi.
• Purchase a new PC with student discount

Teams

• Microsoft Teams is an Aalto Office 365 application, and it enables efficient teamwork.

Cloud storage - OneDrive & Google Drive

• OneDrive for Business and Google Drive offer almost unlimited online storage space and offer the possibility to share and modify files, for example directly from the browser.

Wiki.aalto.fi​

• Create your own workspaces for collaboration, sharing information, etc.​

• Control who can edit, read, administrate​

Blogs.aalto.fi​

• students Start writing your own blog​

• Follow other blogs and comment

• First point of contact for all issues​

• Possible problems elevated to proper address by IT Service Desk​: +358 50 513 2000 and email [email protected]​

• Check opening hours and locations: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/it-service-desk-contact-information-and-service-hours 

• Check for news, exceptions, maintenance breaks, etc: https://www.aalto.fi/en/it-help ​

• Aalto Space mobile application allows you to book conference and group work facilities and helps you navigate the campus https://aaltocre.fi/en/aaltospace/