Welcome to the Guide to Information Technology Services at Penn State
This guide is an overview of the many services ITS offers to the Penn State community and a resource to help you use the services wisely and effectively. We hope you will find the guide useful and keep it throughout the academic year as a reference to help you find answers to your IT questions.
Internet Services
Following are the major Internet services available:
- The Penn State Access Account infrastructure delivers centralized University computing services to Penn State faculty, staff, and students. A Penn State Access Account is a userid and password that enables Penn State students, faculty, and staff to use the full range of Internet services on- and off-campus.
- Electronic Mail (E-mail) (http://css.its.psu.edu/internet/email.html) is a fast, convenient way to send electronic messages from one computer user to another. Many clients are supported and Penn State's Web-based e-mail client, WebMail, which now features several new enhancements and performance upgrades for fall 2007, provides anytime, anywhere access to your Penn State e-mail.
- The World Wide Web is an easy-to-use interface to the Internet. On the Web you can find information on almost any topic imaginable, and you can access not only text, but graphics, sound and video. You can also publish your own Web pages.
- Penn State Portal (https://portal.psu.edu/) allows users to customize and personalize their Web interface by adding and removing built-in content "containers" called channels.
- Penn State Access Account Storage Space (PASS) (http://aset.its.psu.edu/ait/storagespace.html) The amount of digital storage space available to University community members is 1 Gigabyte (or 1,000 Megabytes) of space for course work, research, Web projects, portfolios, graphics, photos and more. The University's network storage system, known as Penn State Access Account Storage Space (PASS), is provided to all computer users.
- Many ITS services emphasize the use of encryption. This is because of the need to protect your digital identity (for example your Access account and password) and information (like grades) exchanged between ITS services and your desktop. Services like SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol), SSH (Secure Shell Protocol), WebMail, ANGEL, and the Portal, use encryption to protect this information from network eavesdroppers who might use the information to commit fraud using your digital identity. When given a choice, ITS recommends that you chose the service which is encrypted to protect your information and digital identity.
- VPN (http://aset.its.psu.edu/vpn/) - A Virtual Private Network is a secure encrypted network connection. When connected in this manner, you have a Penn State address and can participate in all services as if you were connected directly to the Penn State backbone. (Useful particularly for people connecting through a third party ISP and some wireless networks).
- Penn State's directory is available online through the World Wide Web and other Internet systems. In addition to information commonly found in telephone books (names, phone numbers, and addresses), the directory also contains e-mail addresses and pointers to personal Web pages if available.
- The Web-based system eLion offers services such as interactive advising, academic record access, adviser services, academic and advising references, with search features and navigational aids. Please see https://elion.psu.edu/.
- The Library Information Access System (LIAS) provides access to the University Libraries' online catalog (LIAS), numerous Internet resources and databases, electronic books and texts, maps, periodicals, special collections, and much more.
- Dial-up access to the Penn State network and Internet can be accomplished through a modem and phone line.
- For help with Internet access or other computer applications, contact the ITS Help Desks; Consultants can assist with a wide variety of computer questions and problems.
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Technical support is provided by Information Technology Services (ITS).This page was last updated on Wednesday, October 31, 2007.
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