Category Archives: News

MAINTENANCE (2025/5/25)

2025/5/25 (SUN) 10:00 – 20:00

1. Web servers, CGI servers
– Suspended for a few minutes between 10:00 and 18:00.

2. License management
– Between 10:00 and 18:00, unavailable for approximately 30 minutes.

– The License Management Server will be suspended; therefore the applications below cannot be used:

ArcGIS Desktop
Mathematica
MATLAB
SPSS
FICO Xpress
VectorWorks

Note:
Regarding the campus site license, the following applications installed on computers not belonging to the Zengaku Computer System will also be unavailable during this time:
SPSS, ArcGIS, Mathematica (Comprehensive Program) and Vectorworks.

3. Printers
– Between 10:00 and 18:00, unavailable for approximately 30 minutes.

4. Remote servers (Windows : view-con00, Linux : icho01, icho02, kiri)
– Unavailable between 10:00 and 20:00.
Note:
Services will be resumed in the order in which maintenance work is completed.
If you are using a remote desktop when the maintenance starts, a pop-up message will appear; please log off from there.
(Please be aware that the system will log you off automatically in 10 minutes.)

E-Learning Course “INFOSS Information Ethics”

To Students,

The University of Tsukuba has introduced self-instructive e-learning course “INFOSS Information Ethics” as part of information security education. This e-learning course provides students with knowledge and manners related to information and communication technology so that they will not cause a problem or will not be victimized in this information society. Undergraduates will be prompted to take the course in common fundamental subject course “Information Literacy”, and students with other statuses should take it as well voluntarily.

For more information about “INFOSS”, visit the following website:
INFOSS Information Ethics Course’ e-Learning Course

Installation of Anti-Virus Software on Your PC

Recently, incidents such as information leakage caused by malware infection has been occurring.
If you own a PC, you must have anti-virus software installed.
In our university, we distribute a brochure “Safe and Secure Use of the Information Systems”. We also distribute anti-virus software available for your PC. Please refer the pages below.

* Safe and Secure Use of the Information Systems

* Trend Micro Antivirus Software Site License Offer

 

Partial suspension of the upgrade of the Ubuntu (Linux) servers of the Zengaku Computer System

Ubuntu (Linux) on the Zengaku Computer System was scheduled to be upgraded from 20.04 LTS to 24.04 LTS.
Linux on terminals was upgraded to 24.04 as planned, but Linux on servers (icho01, icho02, kiri) was upgraded to 22.04 because the system became unstable when upgraded to 24.04 LTS.
We are currently investigating the cause of the system instability and the possibility of future upgrades.

Provision of a server to try out a new version of Ubuntu on the Zengaku Computer System

As previously announced, Ubuntu (Linux) on the Zengaku Computer System will be upgraded to version 24.04 LTS. We have been providing terminals at the ACCC Satellite as a trial environment for this new version of Ubuntu, but we have now also prepared a server. The server name is
 icho03.u.tsukuba.ac.jp
You can log in to this server from any terminal or server of the Zengaku Computer System using SSH or Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc), so please use it if you would like to try it out.

Upgrading Ubuntu to 24.04 LTS on the Zengaku Computer System

Ubuntu (Linux) on the terminals and servers of the Zengaku Computer System will be upgraded from the current 20.04 LTS to 24.04 LTS. The upgrade will take place on February 15-16, 2025 (Saturday-Sunday) (a weekend when regular maintenance of the Zengaku Computer System will be carried out). This is a measure to address issues such as the expiration of OS support.

As a result of this upgrade, the screen and operation of Ubuntu may change. Two terminals (GA207-PC069 and GA207-PC070) have been prepared in Room A207 of the ACCC Satellite to try out the new version of Office before the above date.

Upgrading Microsoft Office to 2024 on the Zengaku Computer System

Microsoft Office on the Zengaku Computer System terminals and remote desktops will be upgraded from the current 2021 version to 2024. The upgrade will take place on March 22-23, 2025 (Saturday-Sunday) (a weekend when regular maintenance of the Zengaku Computer System will be carried out). This is a measure to address issues such as the expiration of Office support.

As a result of this upgrade, the screen and operation of Office may change. Two terminals (GA207-PC069 and GA207-PC070) have been prepared in Room A207 of the ACCC Satellite to try out the new version of Office before the above date.

To @u.tsukuba.ac.jp E-Mail Address (Zengaku Computer System) Users Leaving University of Tsukuba

You will no longer be able to use the @u address at the Zengaku Computer System after retirement.
If you continue to be a member of the University after retirement, you can continue to use the @u address by applying for the use of the @u address.
For more information, please refer to the following information.

1. If you do not remain as a member of the university after resignation or retirement

  1. When you are no longer a member of the University, you will not be able to use the @u address and you will not be able to read your email.
    It is possible to forward emails for 90 days (may be shortened) after retirement by setting the forwarding process received at the @u address to your personal email addresses before retirement.

    Please refer to the following page for how to set up forward for @u addresses.
    ■Mail forwarding setup for @u

    Please refer to the following page for how to move the emails in your INBOX.
    ■How to move your email data to another location

  2. You can use the Lifelong Email Service (@alumni.tsukuba.ac.jp) provided by the University of Tsukuba.
    This service is a free e-mail address that can be used by people related to the university, such as graduates, current students, former faculty members, and faculty members.
    This mail service can be used even if you are no longer a member, so it can be used as a forwarding address for @u address mail.

    For more information about the University of Tsukuba Lifelong Email Service, please refer to the following page.
    ■Alumni Tsukuba Mail address (in Japanese)
    ※Operated by University of Tsukuba Supporters Community(Office of Development)

2. If you continue to be a member of the university as a professor emeritus or another position after resignation or retirement.

You can continue to use the @u address by applying after the Professor Emeritus Awards Ceremony or after your new employment has started.
However, it will take a couple of days to process the application.


Your account to date will remain for 90 days (may be shortened) from the date of resignation. After that time, various data including emails will be deleted.
Emails that you have received with the @u address will be retained.
Also, emails sent to the @u address will be received while the application is being processed.

  1. Those who will become Professor Emeritus

    Please submit an application within 30 days after the Professor Emeritus Awards Ceremony. Otherwise, please apply at [2. Those who are Professor Emeritus] below.
    If you wish to continue using the @u address, please apply for the continuous use of the Zengaku Computer System within 30 days after the Awards Ceremony.
    Please obtain the application form for “Professor Emeritus” from the following URL, fill in the necessary information, and bring it or send it by mail or Fax to the ACCC with a copy of your driver's license or other identification.
    If you would like to apply online, please do not attach the file to the email and contact us first at the bottom of this page.

    ■全学計算機システム<継続>利用承認申請書(名誉教授用)(Application form of Zengaku Computer System for Professor Emeritus <Continued>) – PDF 版 –

    ■全学計算機システム<継続>利用承認申請書(名誉教授用)((Application form of Zengaku Computer System for Professor Emeritus <Continued>) – Word 版 –

  2. Those who are Professor Emeritus

    If you wish to use the @u address, please apply for the use of the Zengaku Computer System.
    Please obtain the application form for “Professor Emeritus” from the following URL, fill in the necessary information, and bring it or send it by mail or Fax to the ACCC with a copy of your driver's license or other identification.
    If you would like to apply online, please do not attach the file to the email and contact us first at the bottom of this page.

    ■全学計算機システム利用承認申請書(名誉教授用)(Application form of Zengaku Computer System for Professor Emeritus) – PDF 版 –

    ■全学計算機システム利用承認申請書(名誉教授用)(Application form of Zengaku Computer System for Professor Emeritus) – Word 版 –

  3. Those who will become Lecturer (Non-Full-Time), Specially Appointed Professor, Visiting Associate Professor, and Researcher (Non-Full-Time)

    If you wish to continue using the @u address, please apply for the use of the system to the ACCC as soon as possible after your new employment has started.
    Please obtain the “Application Form” from the following URL and submit it with a copy of your ID issued by the university (such as a notice of employment, Staff ID, etc.). Application forms are also available at the Academic Service Office.
    If you would like to apply online, please do not attach the file to the email and contact us first at the bottom of this page.

    ■学術情報メディアセンター システム利用申請書(Application form of ACCC Computer Account) – PDF 版 –

    ■学術情報メディアセンター システム利用申請書(Application form of ACCC Computer Account) – Excel 版 –

  4. Those other than the above

    For those other than the above, if you have any questions or confirmations regarding the @u address, please contact us at the following address

< CONTACT >

Academic Computing & Communications Center Office

Operation Schedule of Zengaku Computer System during the New Year’s holiday

Zengaku Computer system will be operated during the new year’s holiday.

  • Use of terminal PC in satellite room and the library
    For details on entering and exiting each satellite room and the library, please follow the notices posted in each satellite room and the library.
  • Closing period of Academic Computing & Communications Center
    ACCC office will be closed from Saturday, December 28, 2024 until Sunday, January 5, 2025.
  • Support
    Problems and inquiries that may occur during the period will be addressed from Monday, January 6, 2025.

Responses during Summer Holidays

The Academic Computing and Communications Center will be closed from 8/10 (Sat) to 8/18 (Sun) and will not be in operation.

During this time, the Zengaku Computer System will be operational in principle, but the use of each satellite will be based on the opening policy of each building.

There will be maintenance work on the network system on 8/12 (Mon), so the Zengaku Computer System will also be unavailable during that time in principle.

Please see below for details.
End of Publication : ACCC Services during University Closure Period (August 13 – 16, 2024)

PuTTY Vulnerability Alert

A vulnerability has been discovered in older versions of the SSH client PuTTY.
Users who are using or have generated keys using versions from PuTTY 0.68 (released on February 21, 2017) to PuTTY 0.80 (released on December 18, 2023) should update their PuTTY to the latest version (currently 0.81) and regenerate keys using the latest version of PuTTY or another tool.
Software that uses PuTTY, such as WinSCP, may also be affected and should be updated appropriately.

For more information on the vulnerability, please see the following web pages.

PuTTY vulnerability vuln-p521-bias
https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/wishlist/vuln-p521-bias.html

CVE-2024-31497
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-31497

(provisionally supported) Regarding email accounts for March 2024 graduates (update 2024/4/12)

(Updated 4/12/2024, 16:30)
Due to a system malfunction, the email accounts of those graduating at the end of the 2023 academic year were locked. We were worked on a temporary solution. Accounts will be made available in due course.

As this is a temporary solution, only email will be available from 2024/04/20 onwards.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.


Due to a system malfunction, the email accounts of those graduating at the end of the 2023 academic year were locked. We are currently working on a temporary solution.
Sorry, please wait until it is available.

As this is a temporary solution, only email will be available from 2024/04/20 onwards.

Attention on use of Dropbox etc. on the Zengaku Computer System

Users can install and use online storage client software such as Dropbox. It is useful, but there are some points that you should be careful. Please use it at your own risk.

  1. Be careful for the capacity difference between the online storage and your home area of the Zengaku Computer System. When data on online storage are synchronized with your home area of the Zengaku Computer System, the usage may reach the upper limit without noticing it, and causes trouble such as losing your files.
  2. For the reason described above, we recommend that you do not use it synchronously on the Zengaku Computer System but only upload and download through a browser. If you want to synchronize, please set the online storage client software carefully so that there is no problem. Especially make sure of folders to be synchronized.
  3. ACCC will not deal with troubles related to online storage client software installed individually. Please use it at your own risk.

Warning: Do not use outlet in satellite computer rooms

There were smoke emission and ignition accidents of personal devices plugged into electrical outlets in satellite computer rooms. Except for permitted devices such as satellite terminals and projectors, do not use power taps and outlets in computer rooms.

Do not remove connected plugs without permission, because removing them causes to interfere with classes and maintenance works.

On Measure against Account Abuse

Recently, yet more news articles report damage caused by phishing or account hijack. In fact, also here in our university, we receive reports about such damage caused by account abuse. We’d like our users to be very careful about managing accounts.

As an emergency action against incidents such as supposedly abnormal transmission of mail messages, we may temporally lock user’s account without notifying the owner of the account. Under such circumstances, we will interview the user for more information.

We ask for your kind understanding and cooperation.

Regarding the termination of MATLAB on the Zengaku Computer System

The Campus-Wide License contract for MATLAB installed on the Zengaku Computer System will end in March 2024.
As a result, MATLAB will no longer be available on the Zengaku Computer System after April 2024.
However, MATLAB can still be used in the terminal rooms of the College of Policy and Planning Sciences and the College of Engineering Systems, wh ions Center does not plan to install or support MATLAB.

Operation Schedule of Zengaku Computer System during the New Year’s holiday

Zengaku Computer system will be operated during the new year’s holiday.

  • Use of terminal PC in satellite room and the libraryFor details on entering and exiting each satellite room and the library, please follow the notices posted in each satellite room and the library.
  • Closing period of Academic Computing & Communications Center
    ACCC office will be closed from Friday, December 29, 2023 until Thursday, January 4, 2024.
  • Support
    Problems and inquiries that may occur during the period will be addressed from Friday, January 5, 2024.