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Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory (Code 614)

For Our Colleagues
Scientific/Technical Information

Accounts Information

We can provide login access for scientific colleagues who are engaged in active collaborations with Laboratory scientists. Because of NASA's increased emphasis on computer security, the process for creating such accounts is more formal and requires some paperwork.

The process is also changing and becoming lengthier and more intrusive. NASA headquarters has mandated that anyone applying for any computer account must be registered and approved at the Agency level. Apparently, soon you will not fill out our form and send it to us, but you will go to a NASA headquarters web site, fill out their application, and submit to some kind of national security investigation. We will then be told when and if we can grant you login access to our machines.

In the meantime, if you need access, try to follow this procedure:

Step 1: Read these documents

These links point to information that you should be familiar with before you begin using our systems. They reflect both NASA policy and the local rules of our Laboratory. They describe the boundaries of what constitutes appropriate use of our systems, as well as what actions you need to take if you suspect that a computer security violation has occurred.

Step 2: Fill out the summer students form, if needed

If you are a student working in Code 614 for the summer please print out, read, and fill out the summer student form. Otherwise, skip this step.

Step 3: Fill out the on-line application form

Please fill in all items.

(If you cannot use the on-line form for some reason, download this version, print it out, and fill in all informtion.)

Step 4: Print out and sign the PostScript form that you get when you submit your on-line application.

Sign the application form on the line within the box labelled "ALL USERS MUST READ AND SIGN THIS STATEMENT". Unfortunately, we do need your signature on the application, so you must send us the piece of paper. (Yes, we do know about electronic signing, and someday perhaps we will be able to support that. But not today.)

Step 5: Send the completed form(s) to us.

Send your signed application form and your signed rules-of-behavior form (along with the foreign nationals form, if you are not a U.S. citizen, and the summer student form, if that is applicable) by regular postal mail to your contact here in Code 614, or by fax to 301-614-6780.

Step 6: Wait until all the official approvals have been signed

We will let you know when this is done. Note: foreign nationals will need an extra signature, from the GSFC Center IT Security Manager. (But they no longer need to fill out a separate form for Foreign Nationals.)

Step 7: Start using your new account

  • If you are logging in from a remote location, you must use SSH (Secure Shell) with its version 2 protocol. If you do not have this software, there are free versions around for Unix , Windows, and Apple Macintosh. (Do a web search to find them.) We suggest that you set up "crypographic key authentication" (with your key protected by a good passphrase!), because it is (a) more secure for us and (b) more convenient for you.
  • If you are local, we will try to have you set your account password yourself. But if you are not available, and we make up a password for you, you must change it when you first log in.
  • All accounts have to be renewed at least once a year. If your need for the account ends before then, please let your system administrator know.