D-Term FAQ

As students prepare for the end of the academic year, they have many questions regarding computing issues. Below is a compilation of answers to common questions posed to the Helpdesk at this time of year.

General Questions

I am graduating. What will happen to my E-mail account?
Academic Network Software

Accessing WPI Resources During the Summer

How can I use WPI resources while off-campus?
Can I map to my network drive from my home PC?

E-Mail Questions

What is the easiest way to check my e-mail while away for the summer?
What are the configurations for checking my mail outside of WPI using a mail client?
I would like to forward my mail to another account over the summer. How can I do this?
I will be unable to access my e-mail. How can I inform people using an automatic response that I am away and will not get their e-mail until I return?

General Questions

I am graduating. What will happen to my E-mail account?

May graduates will be e-mailed a warning one week before account removal in mid-September. February graduates will be e-mailed a warning one week before account removal at the end of May. Please watch your e-mail for that warning since account logins cannot be restored once they are removed. For more information, please see the CCC's Help For Graduating Students & Alumni page.

Academic Network Software

This summer, if you do not plan to use the Academic programs which you installed during the school year, we recommend that you uninstall them. Since software updates are highly likely for most applications, you will need to install the new versions upon your return to campus.

If you intend to continue using network software over the summer, you will need to install the VPN in order to map the drives necessary to access the license server. The VPN can be downloaded and installed from the Netops VPN page.

Accessing WPI Resources over the summer...

How can I use WPI resources while off-campus?

The Virtual Private Network (VPN) client will provide access to most network resources normally accessible while on-campus. For example, connecting to the VPN from an off-campus computer will allow a user to map a network drive and continue to use the Outlook client to access mail via the STUDENT Exchange server (exchange.wpi.edu). The VPN can be downloaded and installed from the Network Operations web site.

Can I map to my network drive from my home PC?

Yes. Using the VPN and your home Internet connection, you can map to your WPI network file storage. For directions on mapping a network drive while off-campus, visit the Network Drive Mapping page.

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E-Mail Questions

What is the easiest way to check my e-mail while away for the summer?

The easiest way to access your e-mail while away from WPI is via a web-based e-mail client. All of the WPI web e-mail clients can easily be accessed from: http://webmail.wpi.edu

UNIX E-mail: https://webmail.wpi.edu/squirrelmail/
Exchange: http://exchange.wpi.edu

What are the configurations for checking my mail outside of WPI using a mail client (Outlook, Eudora, Netscape Mail, etc)?

The Helpdesk suggests that you setup Outlook for RPC over HTTP. This method only requires the VPN during the initial setup process & will function with normal Internet access afterwards. Otherwise, your mail client should be configured to receive mail from the pop.wpi.edu system. E-mail can only be sent through smtp.wpi.edu from outside of WPI if you install and use the VPN. If you cannot use the VPN or would like to use your ISP's SMTP server, you are welcome to do so, but keep in mind that while some ISPs will allow use of username@wpi.edu as the sending e-mail address, others require that theirs be used when mailing through their servers (Verizon for example).

I would like to forward my mail to another account over the summer. How can I do this?

Well, this depends on which server handles your e-mail delivery. Choose the option below that applies to you:

WPI e-mail users of the UNIX server
. . . can choose to forward their e-mail to another account using the CCC E-mail Forwarding Management page.
WPI e-mail users of the Exchange servers (STUDENT or ADMIN)
. . . should use Outlook Rules to setup mail forwarding. Contact the Helpdesk for assistance with setting up rules.

I will be unable to access my e-mail. How can I inform people using an automatic response that I am away and will not get their e-mail until I return?

If you are using UNIX e-mail (imap.wpi.edu), you can setup the Vacation feature. This will send an automatic e-mail reply to anyone who e-mails you and inform them that the message has been received, but that you will not be able to read it until you return. This may be done online on the CCC Vacation Message Management page.

If you use Outlook through an Exchange server (STUDENT or ADMIN), then the Out of Office Assistant feature can be used. For help with creating an Out of Office Assistant rule, see Outlook Help for your version of Outlook. Help for this feature in Outlook can be obtained by:

Help Menu -> Microsoft OfficeOutlook Help -> and searching for "Create an Out of Office Assistant rule". For additional assistance, contact the Helpdesk.

Can I still get Help over the summer?

Yes, the CCC Helpdesk is open all summer! The Helpdesk is open during normal business hours (generally 8 AM - 5 PM Monday-Friday). The Helpdesk can be reached by phone from off-campus by dialing (508) 831-5888. Questions can be submitted via e-mail at any time by e-mailing helpdesk@wpi.edu.

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Last modified: Jun 08, 2011, 11:06 EDT