Solutions - Customer Services
Thursday, February 21, 2013

Student Quicklinks


STUDENT QUICKLINKS & CONTACTS

2012-2013 Academic Year


UAB Information Technology strives to provide consistent, accessible, personalized and collaborative environments to enhance the student experience. The quicklinks below provide a ‘get-started’ list of the most common services students ask about. For even more information and resources available to the student community visit uab.edu/it/students.

BlazerID and Password

Most of UAB's secured online resources require you to log in using your BlazerID and password.  You probably already have a BlazerID; however,  if you are not sure or if you need to change your password, you can visit BlazerID Central at uab.edu/blazerid.

BlazerNet

Using your BlazerID and password, log into BlazerNet, UAB's student portal - uab.edu/blazernet. From there you will be able to link to class registration, grades, financial aid and other academic resources.

E-mail

Quicklinks EmailYour UAB e-mail address ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) can be forwarded to any UAB-hosted e-mail account. To check or update your e-mail preferences, visit BlazerID Central at uab.edu/blazerid. To register a UAB Microsoft Exchange Account, click “Get A UAB E-Mail Account” on the left side of the web page.

UAB Microsoft Exchange

ExchangeThis service, which is available at no cost to all active students, provides up to 1GB of mail storage.  You can access your Exchange account with any Microsoft Outlook client or through the web by visiting the following website: mail.ad.uab.edu. For help with client configuration, visit the FAQ link: uab.edu/it/email.

File Size & UAB Dropbox

Your mailbox has 1GB of space, and the size limit for attachments is 30MB.  Large attachments should be sent via the UAB Drop Box at uab.edu/dropbox.

Wireless Networks

Stay connected on campus by accessing the UAB WiFi network using your BlazerID and password: uab.edu/wireless.

Mobile Users

Have an Apple or Android mobile device? Download the free UAB Mobile app which provides access to class schedules, maps, Campus Directory, news and athletics, and Blackboard Mobile Learn:  uab.edu/app.

Online Classroom/Blackboard

Online courses are available via UAB’s online classroom, Blackboard (log in with your BlazerID and password at uab.edu/bb). For support, check out the Blackboard self-help options at  uab.edu/bblearn/student-support.  Students generally have access to their specific Blackboard courses on the first day of the term, but faculty may arrange for earlier or later access.

Recommended System Specifications & Computer Setup

UAB IT provides recommendations on computer specifications for Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows PC laptop and desktop systems, and guidance on how to prepare your computer for use at UAB (before you arrive on campus). Visit uab.edu/it/students and select from the available resources for more detail.

Software & Computers

UAB IT offers an extensive library of software for free or at discounted pricing, including antivirus software, Microsoft Office products and more. Through UAB's relationship with Dell, many computer products are available at a discount to students (and parents on behalf of students).  Visit uab.edu/it/students and select from the available resources for more detail.

Computer Labs

computerUAB maintains several student computing labs which are open to all current students with a valid BlazerID. For locations and hours, visit uab.edu/it/labs.

Campus Directory

The online directory contains contact information for students, faculty, staff and all UAB entities: uab.edu/directory.

Higher Education Opportunity Act & Digital Rights Compliance

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) includes provisions to reduce the illegal uploading and downloading of copyrighted works through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing of movies, videos, music, etc. More information, including how UAB detects and responds to illegal downloading activity, can be found at uab.edu/it/heoa.

IT Policies

policiesIndividuals who use UAB technology resources are required to read the Acceptable Use Policy in its entirety. This and other IT policies, standards and best practices can be found on the UAB IT website: uab.edu/it/policies.

Help Desk

help deskFor support with all things IT contact AskIT, UAB's IT help desk. Many self-help articles and FAQs are available on the AskIT website.  To access the FAQs, open a ticket or chat with an agent visit uab.edu/askit, or call AskIT at 205-996-5555.  Hours of operation vary and are posted on the website.

eNotify

Students can register their cell phone for various notifications from around campus.  From notifications about postings in Blackboard, to reminders about registration deadlines, to being able to reset your BlazerID password remotely (24x7)...it all starts with registering your cell phone and selecting which services you want to take advantage of. Visit uab.edu/enotify and sign up today.

 

 
 

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

VMWare Academic Software

vmap

 

The VMware Academic Program, provided as a service to the UAB STEM Community through UAB IT, accelerates instruction and research in the rapidly expanding area of virtualized infrastructure by providing faculty and students involved with science, technology, engineering, and math courses (STEM) with access to the virtualization technologies most widely used in commercial production environments.

  • STEM Faculty can use VMware software under specific usage guidelines in a variety of areas of academic research and classroom instruction.
  • STEM Students can use this software free of charge for one year with yearly renewals as part of qualified coursework or research projects.

 

With UAB's annual subscription qualified members of the academic community in a STEM course can utilize the VMware Academic Program in the following areas:

Instruction – STEM Faculty within member institutions gain access to VMware software licenses free of cost for the purpose of classroom instruction.  STEM Students taking qualified courses can also install program software on their personal computers.

Research – STEM Faculty within member institutions gain access to VMware software licenses free of cost as a part of their research projects. Program software can be installed in research labs (open a ticket with AskIT (uab.edu/askit) to inquire about lab installations) as well on the personal computers of faculty and students involved in research projects.

Use of VMware software for instruction and research is governed by specific program guidelines and the conditions described within the VMware Academic Program EULA (End-User License Agreement) and all faculty/students installing VMWare products should be familiar with the licensing and comply. The use of software for infrastructure purposes is governed by the VMware Commercial EULA and not included under this Academic Program.

VMWare maintains strict compliance guidelines for the Academic Program and the following links are provided to ensure that specific licensing details are always the most up to date version and available to the UAB Community.  Each user of this program is responsible for ensuring they understand and are in compliance with the licensing requirements at all times.

Usage Guidelines 

End User License Agreement

Examples of Acceptable Use

  • The free single use licenses provided through The VMware Academic Program may be used for instruction and non-commercial research only. Please refer to the definitions of instructional and research use below
  • Lab licenses may only be installed in lab environments where the lab is primarily used for instructional and research purposes.
  • Program software installed in shared lab environments can be used across different courses offered by different faculty members. 
  • Faculty members as well as staff directly involved in administering systems and providing support for program software may install the software on their personal computers
  • Students taking qualified courses or conducting research can access program software within lab machines or download programs software on their personal computers. Students receiving licenses through a qualifying course or research project may use the licenses after the course or project is concluded.
  • Multiple academic groups in an institution may join the Program if each group meets the eligibility requirements.
  • Every copy of the software must be a true and complete copy and it must include all copyright and trademark notices. All software made available must include all of the files.

 

Examples of Unacceptable Use

  • Students who are in an approved department but are not taking courses that lead to credit or a certificate or who are not involved in relevant research projects are not eligible to use the software.
  • Students, faculty members, or other parties that received a license under the program but no longer attend or are employed by the institution.
  • Staff members who are not directly involved with system administration related to the program, such as administrative assistants, may not install the software on their personal computers.
  • Software that is part of the program may not be shared with non-approved departments. However, it may be installed on shared labs if the approved department's students regularly use that lab.
  • The designated Program Administrator for the member approved may not be a teaching assistant or a student. However, teaching assistants or students may help the Program Administrator with the program.
  • The software provided by VMAP may not be sold, rented, leased, or transferred to any third party including contractors, consultants, other companies, and other department personnel.
  • Software cannot be used for infrastructure purposes. Licenses acquired through the VMware Academic Program are for instructional, research and personal use only.
  • The software provided by VMAP may not be used for any purpose outside of instructional, research and personal use.
  • vSphere licenses provided under this program may not be used for desktop virtualization.

 

Use of free VMware software for instruction and research is governed by the specific program guidelines and the conditions described within the Academic EULA and the use of software for infrastructure purposes is governed by the VMware EULA for each of the products.

 

Definitions of Instructional, Research and Infrastructure Use

  • Instructional use is defined as conducting educational classes, labs, or related programs for teaching or learning concepts related to the products that are part of this program.
  • Research use is defined as conducting not-for-profit research projects.
  • Infrastructure use is defined as use of software as a part of the institution's or department's infrastructure that's not intended for specific classroom instruction or research project

 

IMPORTANT: These guidelines are provided for your convenience only. Please refer to the VMware Academic Program EULA for specific license rights.

For STEM students and faculty/staff

  • VMware Workstation
  • VMware Fusion
  • VMware Player
  • VMware eLearning
  • VMware Sales Professional Certification

 

For STEM faculty/staff only

  • VMware vSphere Enterprise
  • VMware vCenter Server Standard
  • VMware vCloud Director

Software is available by download only to faculty/staff/students via the website below. Logon using your BlazerID and Password.  UAB will validate your participation in the program and pass the appropriate information to the web store. All UAB users can logon to the site, but only those faculty/staff/students validated as STEM will be allowed to actually order products.

VMAP - VMWare Academic Program logon  Order NOW

 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Dell Home-Use Purchases

Dell Products for UAB Students & Faculty/Staff Home Use

Through UAB's relationship with Dell, many products are available to students (and parents on behalf of students) and faculty/staff for purchase for home use.  Check this page often as Dell regularly provides notices of sales and discounted items and they will be posted here.  Remember, these are Dell's prices and are not negotiated by UAB, but simply discounted offerings that Dell is making available to the education community. You will need the UAB Member ID provided below. 

URL: www.dell.com/dellu/uab

Member ID: US116018898

Phone Dell's sales team: 800-695-8133

University of Alabama at BirminghamDell MPP May Flyer 1


 University of Alabama at BirminghamDell MPP May Flyer 15


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Microsoft Dreamspark

DreamsparkMicrosoft Dreamspark Premium is now available to all UAB STEM programs at no cost. The Dreamspark program supports technical education by providing access to Microsoft software for learning, teaching and research purposes for faculty & students engaged in a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, math). UAB will be working to make a limited selection of products available to non-STEM programs, but current access to the Dreamspark products is for STEM programs only. For more guidelines on the appropriate rights for installation and use of products under the Dreamspark program click here.

According to Microsoft "DreamSpark is simple: it's all about giving students Microsoft professional-level developer and designer tools at no cost so that students can chase their dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on their career."  While most of the software is free, some items are at a small cost and if ordered you must provide a valid form of payment.  However, those fee-based products should not be required as part of any course at UAB.

DreamSpark helps educators teach the latest technologies and experiment in research. To make learning more motivating, relevant, and engaging for today's students requires a diverse set of resources. DreamSpark gives educators the resources to ensure their classrooms always have the latest technologies to challenges, motivate, and keep students engaged in new ways.

Access to the Dreamspark program is through an external webportal managed by UAB IT.  Login using your BlazerID and strong password (don't worry, the authentication takes place using a secure connection back to UAB...your password is never provided to the external website).

NOTE: While anyone with a valid BlazerID can login to the Dreamspark site, only those students and faculty engaged in a STEM program are currently authorized to order/download any software.  Your ability to participate in the program is based on the information UAB passes to Dreamspark during the login process.

For more guidelines on the appropriate rights for installation and use of products under the Dreamspark program click here.

 

Step 1: Get Started Here >>> Order Now - DREAMSPARK Website (see instructions below...login using Single-Sign-on option)

Step 2: Click Sign-in (top right)

dreamspark-signin2

 

Step 3: Sign In using your BlazerID via Single Sign-On (box on the left)

Friday, October 26, 2012

Oracle Software

UAB's Oracle agreement includes both site-licensed product available to the UAB community (for installation on UAB owned systems) and limited-use products based on a specific number of installations, users, or use.  The current agreement renews each August and requires an annual payment and an annual true-up (purchase of additional licenses) to cover additional FTEs over the base FTEs covered the previous year. 

The following Oracle products are covered under a site license and are available to the entire UAB system at no additional cost. They may be downloaded directly from Oracle by clicking on the product below. Server products are for use on Solaris, AIX, OS/390, UNIX, and Windows. Client products are for use on Windows and MAC.

 

Software may be downloaded directly from Oracle via their TechNet site or media purchased through AskIT (phone 205-996-5555 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You are only authorized to download product from the Oracle site that is listed in the Products A"vailable section above.  Both current versions and archived versions of Oracle DB are available on the Oracle web site.  In general, all versions of the referenced database products are authorized under the UAB agreement including the most recent release.  Should the link not point to the most recent release of a product, please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for assistance.

Friday, October 26, 2012

SPSS

UAB has purchased an IBM SPSS Campus Wide license that will provide UAB users free access to analytics.

The IBM SPSS Statistics is a comprehensive system for analyzing data. SPSS Statistics can take data from almost any type of file and use them to generate tabulated reports, charts, and plots of distributions and trends, descriptive statistics, and complex statistical analyses. It makes statistical analysis more accessible for the beginner and more convenient for experienced users. Simple menus and dialog box selections make it possible to perform complex analyses without typing a single line of command syntax.


The IBM SPSS Statistics Base offers a wide range of statistical procedures for basic analyses and reports, including counts, crosstabs and descriptive statistics, OLAP Cubes and codebook reports. It also provides a variety of dimension reduction, classification and segmentation techniques such as factor analysis, cluster analysis, nearest neighbor analysis and discriminant function analysis includes the following key capabilities:


 Linear models offer a variety of regression and advanced statistical procedures. They are
designed to fit the inherent characteristics of data describing complex relationships.
 Nonlinear models provide the ability to apply more sophisticated models to data.
 Simulation capabilities help analysts automatically model many possible outcomes when
inputs are uncertain, improving risk analysis and decision making.
 Customized tables enable users to easily understand their data and quickly summarize
results in different styles.
The IBM SPSS Campus Wide license also includes the following modules:
 Advanced Statistics focuses on techniques often used in experimental and biomedical
research. It includes procedures for general linear models (GLM), linear mixed models,
variance components analysis, loglinear analysis, ordinal regression, actuarial life tables,
Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and basic and extended Cox regression.
 Custom Tables creates a variety of presentation-quality tabular reports, including complex
stub-and-banner tables and displays of multiple response data.
 Regression provides techniques for analyzing data that do not fit traditional linear statistical
models. It includes procedures for prohibit analysis, logistic regression, weight estimation,
two-stage least-squares regression, and general nonlinear regression.

This software is FREE to download from the UAB IT Software Library to full-time faculty, staff and students. ORDER/Download NOW You will be required to enter your Blazerid, strong password and accept the “License and Usage Terms”.

To inquire or purchase additional modules, you may go directly to the SPSS web store at www.SPSS.com/Academic; or go online to www.uab.edu/AskIT and submit a “new issue” with your request and/or questions.

IBM SPSS Campus will upgrade every year and the latest version of this software will be available by November 1. You must either upgrade to the latest version or install a renewal key to continue to use the previous year's version. Only 1 previous version year will be supported by SPSS. If you choose, you may continue to use the version that you currently have downloaded, but SPSS will not support that version should you encounter any problems or purchase a new machine.

Friday, October 26, 2012

SAS

UAB has purchased a SAS Campus Wide license that will provide University users free download access to analytics.

The SAS Campus Wide license is an integrated system of software products which enables large-scale solutions and allows programmers to perform the following and more: Retrieval, Data Management, and Data Mining; Report writing and graphics; Statistical Analysis; Business Planning, Forecasting, and Decision support; Operations Research and Project Management; Quality Improvement; Applications Development; Data Warehousing (extract, transform, load); Platform Independent and Remote Computing; IT Management; Human Resource Management; Business intelligence; Customer Relationship Management. 


SAS requires that this software be used for Teaching/Research only as described here:
Software used for purposes of classroom instruction, academic research and course work primarily related to customer's post-secondary degree requirements. If you need a SAS administrative license, please contact AskIT for more information.

For additional information regarding this software, please go online to http://www.uab.edu/askit and submit a “new issue” with your request and/or questions.
 
This software is available for download from the UAB IT Software Library to full-time faculty, staff and students on the Software Resources page ( Order Now logon and select SAS from the dropdown menu). You will be required to enter your Blazerid, strong password and accept the “License and Usage Terms”.  SAS requires that this software be used for Teaching/Research only as described here: software used for purposes of classroom instruction, academic research and course work primarily related to customer's post-secondary degree requirements. If you need a SAS Administrarive license, please contact AskIT for more information. 

SAS will provide upgrades every year to the latest version; this software should be available for download by November 1st. SAS licenses expire annually on December 31st; if the version is not upgraded to the latest verstion.SAS downloads 1 thru 3 (on the IT Software Library download site) have the images needed for your installation. SAS “4 of 4” will provide the INI File needed to license the software. Installation instructions are provided with the software download documentation.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Matlab

Matlab

MATLAB® is a high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming. Using MATLAB, you can analyze data, develop algorithms, and create models and applications. The language, tools, and built-in math functions enable you to explore multiple approaches and reach a solution faster than with spreadsheets or traditional programming languages, such as C/C++ or Java.

You can use MATLAB for a range of applications, including signal processing and communications, image and video processing, control systems, test and measurement, computational finance, and computational biology. More than a million engineers and scientists in industry and academia use MATLAB, the language of technical computing.
 
For more information and installation instructions click below:
Friday, October 26, 2012

LabView - National Instruments

LabVIEW is a powerful graphical development environment, for signal acquisition, measurement analysis, and data presentation. LabVIEW also provides the flexibility of a programming language without the complexity of traditional development tools. LabVIEW is an open environment designed to make interfacing with any measurement hardware simple. With interactive assistants, code generation, and connectivity to thousands of devices, LabVIEW makes gathering data as simple as possible. LabVIEW has more than 500 built-in functions designed specifically for extracting useful information from any set of acquired data and for analyzing measurements and processing signals. LabVIEW also provides tools for data visualization, user interface design, Web publishing, report generation, data management, and software connectivity. For more info on the LabVIEW product see the National Instruments web site.

As a current subscriber to the National Instruments Academic Site License, UAB receives:

  • Unlimited installations of all NI software included in the NI Academic Site License for teaching or research across campus (see below for products included)
  • Unlimited one-on-one technical support by NI applications engineers via phone/e-mail [ni.com/support]
  • Automatic semiannual updates with new and upgraded software (May and November)
  • The following products are included unless noted otherwise:
  1. Control Design, Simulation, and Mechatronics
  2. LabVIEW
  3. Control Design Toolkit
  4. Simulation Module
  5. System Identification Toolkit
  6. State Diagram Toolkit
  7. LabVIEW FPGA Module
  8. LabVIEW Real-Time Module
  9. NI SoftMotion Development Module
  10. LabVIEW PDA Module
  11. Signal and Image Processing
  12. LabVIEW
  13. Digital Filter Design Toolkit
  14. LabVIEW DSP Module
  15. Adv. Signal Processing Toolkit
  16. Sound and Vibration Toolkit
  17. Modulation Toolkit
  18. Vision Development Module
  19. LabVIEW FPGA Module
  20. Spectral Measurements Toolkit
  21. Measurements and Instrumentation
  22. LabVIEW
  23. SignalExpress
  24. DIAdem
  25. LabVIEW PDA Module
  26. Sound and Vibration Toolkit
  27. Circuit Design and Simulation (This software is not included in the UAB site license.)
  28. RF and Wireless Communications
  29. LabVIEW
  30. Modulation Toolkit
  31. Spectral Measurements Toolkit
  32. Advanced Signal Processing Toolkit
  33. Embedded Systems Design
  34. LabVIEW
  35. LabVIEW Real-Time Module
  36. LabVIEW FPGA Module
  37. LabVIEW PDA Module

The media can be ordered through AskIT at 205-996-5555 or via e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), but is not available for download.  Documentation (guides and manuals) is available on the LabVIEW web site - DOCUMENTATION.

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