• Introduction to WPI
• Section 1: The WPI Plan
• Section 2: Department and Program Descriptions
• Section 3: Course Descriptions
• Section 4: Academic Policies and Procedures
• Section 5: Resources and Special Programs
  • The Gateway Park
  • Special Programs for First Year Students
  • Combined Bachelor/Master's Program
  • Computer Resources
  • Music and Theatre Facilities
  • George C. Gordon Library
  • Academic Technology Center
  • Student Services
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Student Exchanges
  • Worcester Consortium Course Cross-Registration
  • Cooperative Education Program
  • Summer Session (Term E)
  • Awards and Prizes
  • Societies, Registration and Licensing
• Section 6: Career Development & Graduate School
• Section 7: Admission, Expenses, Financial Aid & Housing
• Section 8: Trustees, Administration & Faculty
• Supplement
• Search

Computer Resources

WPI’s newest academic building, Fuller Laboratories, is designed to provide dedicated space for faculty, staff and students working in the information sciences. The Computing and Communications Center (CCC) is located in this building, along with the Computer Science Department and the Academic Technology Center.

CCC provides a wide range of services and access to computer resources for the WPI community and manages an array of powerful UNIX, Linux and Windows servers. All WPI students, faculty and staff may obtain a login ID from the CCC for academic course works, research and self-education. The ID will remain in force as long as the person continues to be registered as a student or to be employed by WPI. The systems have been configured so that the user will see the same familiar environment no matter which CCC workstation is used. CCC facilities are accessible from a wide variety of locations on campus or from around the world via the campus connection to the Internet. CCC operates the campus data network and Internet connectivity, including a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access internal resources remotely. Computer systems operated by academic departments are also on the same CCC communications infrastructure, so they are accessible just as easily.

The CCC facilities offer x-terminals with Linux servers, as well as high-end PCs and several Macs. In addition to severa computer classrooms and specialized labs, the CCC supports open access labs in every academic building totaling hundreds of stations across the campus. Each of these labs offers the same user interface, software profile, and network access to personal files as does the CCC lab.

PC file servers drive laser printers in the CCC facilities and other locations across campus. Also accessible in the CCC are a color postscript laser printer and scanning devices. Since the campus network distributes computing services across the campus, network-attached PCs in other buildings can use the CCC print service to generate high-quality output for reports and resumes. The servers also provide file service for many software packages including PC-based desktop publishing, spread sheets, databases, programming languages, and department courseware.

CCC supports the residence and fraternity network services. Using their personal PCs, students in residence halls can access the same software and interface available in CCC PC labs across campus. A wireless network is available in all academic buildings as well as primary residence centers. Wireless laptops are available on loan for use in the library and campus center.

In addition to supporting the academic computing system on campus, CCC operates the administrative system that provides data processing services to WPI administrative offices. The WPI information system provides ready access to important registration information. Students update their biographical information, check grades and drop/add courses over the network via the web interface to the administrative system.

CCC manages a computer help desk to answer users’ questions on any of the computer platforms and to provide technical support for endorsed software packages. CCC also provides instruction sessions on supported software in the state-of-the-art computer-training classroom that the CCC maintains in the Gordon Library.

General Computer Science Facilities

Fuller 2nd Floor

The department is housed in the specially designed Fuller Laboratories building, providing substantial office and laboratory space. A wide variety of computing equipment is available for course work, project work, and research in computer science.

The department has multiple Sun UltraSPARC, SGI, and Intel machines running Solaris, IRIX, Linux, and other operating systems, for interactive use. These may be accessed via roughly 70 PC’s located in department offices, as well as from any of CCC’s publicly available computers.

Every classroom, laboratory and office in Fuller Labs is connected to the campus-wide high speed communications network. The network provides access to other computing resources, including the Computing and Communications Center, and the Internet.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: February 21, 2008 09:28:09