FAQ

Support

CSIL is comprised of several rooms with computers, most with Internet access. Students registered in one or more Computing Science courses can use CSIL to do course work, access their SFU Mail accounts, and access the World Wide Web.

CSIL is supported by the Computing Science Technical Support (CSTS) group. The fastest and most efficient way to reach us is: email helpdesk (@cs.sfu.ca). Note we normally only provide service Monday to Friday, 0900 hrs - 1600 hrs (9:00am - 4:00pm).

ITS Lab FAQs

Who Can Access ITS Labs?

All SFU students can access the ITS Labs when they're open, and not already booked by someone else. Check the schedule to make sure the lab you want is available at the time you want.

Go to the ITS Computer Labs page; click the link to a specific campus. Follow links to see a lab's see reserved times.

What hardware is in the ITS Labs?

Go to the ITS Computer Labs page; follow links to find out more about the labs.

Can I have access to SFU VPN?

If you are a CMPT student or a student taking CMPT courses, you can access SFU VPN.

The SFU networks are protected by a firewall that prevents direct connection from off-campus to on-campus computers.

All students currently enrolled in a CMPT course are granted access to SFU VPN.
The students in CMPT Majors have access to SFU VPN as well.
Once connected to the SFU VPN you can remote into CSIL via SSH and/or RDP.

Please be sure you have SFU VPN configured on your own computer as described in SFU's documentation.

Although it is not officially supported, users connecting to SFU VPN from a Linux computer have had some success with openfortivpn.

SFU VPN requires SFU MFA - please sign up now! If you have any difficulties, please feel free to contact us.

CSIL Lab FAQs

How Do I Get In To CSIL?

BURNABY AND SURREY CAMPUSES

CSIL is accessible by security fob or card at both campuses. Any undergraduate student registered in a CMPT course (or MACM 101), all CMPT graduate students, and all CMPT instructors can obtain a fob/card for CSIL. Read the Door Access FAQ for more details. No valid CS access fob, no access, no exceptions.

What Is My User ID And Password?

The user ID and password you use in CSIL are the same as your SFU Computing ID and password. You also use this credential to access your SFU Mail.

How To Select A Specific Operating System On A CSIL Computer?

To provide most flexibility to our users, our CSIL workstations dualboot Windows and Linux (Ubuntu).

All of the computers in the following rooms/areas are dualboot:

Burnaby: ASB 9700, ASB 9804, ASB 9820, ASB 9838 North, ASB 9808, ASB9810, ASB9814 and ASB9816
Surrey: SRYE 3024, SRYE 4013, and SRYE 4024

If you are in these rooms/areas, you could easily switch between Windows and Linux.

ASB 9840 is also usually dualboot, but in Fall 2022 (1227) it is Windows only.

If the computer is off, please push the power button on the case and make your selection on the OS select screen (GRUB).

When you see the Windows logon screen and you would like to use Linux (Ubuntu):

hit key combo Ctrl-Alt-Del
left-click the arrow right to the red power button on the bottom-right corner of the screen
left-click "Restart"
wait till the OS select screen shows (this may take about 90 seconds)
use up-arrow key to highlight "Ubuntu" (the default OS) and hit Enter key to select it.
login when the Ubuntu login screen shows

When you see the Ubuntu logon screen and you would like to use Windows:

left-click the small power button on the top-right corner of the screen
left-click the "Restart" button
Wait till the OS select screen shows
use down-arrow key to highlight "Windows" and hit Enter key to select it.
logon when the Windows logon screen shows

Just a reminder: The instructor of a specific course decides which OS will be used for this course. Please confirm the choice of OS with the instructors in advance.

Can I Use My Laptop In CSIL?

Yes. But you may NOT disconnect the network cable from any CSIL workstation and plug it into your laptop. To get access to the Internet for your laptop, use the SFU wireless service.

You may hook up your laptop to an unused VGA cable where these are available. Just remember: put the LCD panel back to working order before you leave the spot, i.e. make sure LCD is set to the correct input and the computer is displaying the CSIL login screen. It is prohibited to use other methods to connect your laptop to any LCD monitor in CSIL.

Warning: If you disconnect the network cable from any CSIL machine, your account will be suspended.

Warning: Playing games in CSIL is prohibited - even on your own laptop. Your account will be suspended if you play games in CSIL or on any CSIL computer.

Please note: these restrictions apply to MPCS labs in SECB as well. No exceptions.

When I'm Logged Into A CSIL Machine, Where Is My Home Directory?

You will be able to mount your SFU Campus Home directory when you log on to any CSIL workstation.

ON WINDOWS:

After you sign in to a CSIL Windows system, your SFU Campus Home directory will be auto-mapped to your Windows session. Your SFU Campus Home directory should be mapped as your U: drive.

** Your files must be saved to your U:\ drive. The local hard drives and other network shares on CSIL Windows systems ARE NOT BACKED UP, AND MAY BE ERASED BY CMPT HELPDESK STAFF AT ANY TIME, WITHOUT NOTICE.

You may find more details here.

ON LINUX:

/home/{userID}/sfuhome/

- This is the place to save all your files, it will be auto-mounted for you when you log on to a CSIL Linux system. This is your SFU Campus Home directory provisioned by SFU IT Services.

After you log on to a CSIL Linux system, your session will set your Linux home directory to /home/{userID}/. The purpose of this folder is to allow your login profile to follow you between machines. Please be aware: this folder should be considered TEMPORARY STORAGE ONLY. This space may be cleared out without advanced notice. DO NOT USE it for any important files.

Again, please save all your files to: /home/{userID}/sfuhome/

To Demo My Project In CSIL, I Need Some Extra Software Packages; May I Have Them Installed?

No.Only the instructors could request software installation at the beginning of the semester. We strongly suggest all CMPT students to use CSIL for their course work. The helpdesk could not help on any issue related to a specific user's personal computer.

How Much Data Storage Space Do I Have?

You have a fixed amount of space in your SFU home directory (sfuhome). For details, see the ITS Web site - this space is provided by IT Services, not the School of Computing Science.

Can I Access CSIL Computers From Off Campus?

Yes. You may access certain Windows and Linux/Unix systems from off campus.

From Fall 2023, CSIL VDI is in service. Please click here for details.

Prequisite: you must connect to SFU VPN to remote login into any CSIL system from off-campus.

In general, you CANNOT access other CSIL Linux/Windows workstations remotely. But to provide better user experience since the pandemic began, many CSIL Linux/Windows workstations are now available for RDP.

For Windows users:

For remote access to CSIL Windows systems, Windows users may connect to the CSIL Windows Terminal Server (TS) via a Remote Desktop Connection (aka RDC, or RDP). Read the How to Use CSIL Windows Terminal Server page to find out all the details.

For Linux users:

Please see "How to access (remote login to) the CSIL Linux computers" page for information and instructions.

What Hardware Is In CSIL?

At both Burnaby and Surrey campuses, CSIL has a variety of Dell computers in separate study areas, as well as an enterprise grade multi-function device for general printing, photocopying and scanning. Note that areas of CSIL are sometimes reserved for selected classes, tutorials and events; and certain equipment is reserved for students from particular courses. Login to see CSIL layouts.

What software is in CSIL?

For all software, visit our undergraduate facilities page.

Which CSIL systems have GPUs?

Each workstation in ASB 9700, ASB 9804, ASB 9820 and ASB 9840 has 1 GPU installed. For MPCS students only: each workstation in SECB 1010 and SECB 1013 has 1 GPU installed.

Since we have a few different models of GPUs in CSIL, please click here to know more about them.

SIMS/goSFU shows that I should be using ASB 9838; which study area should I use?

When SIMS/go.sfu.ca shows a lecture or lab session will be held in ASB 9838, it means the lecture or the lab session will be held in one or more study areas of CSIL@Burnaby. The instructor and/or the TA of the specific course should inform you about the study area information before the session.

You could also check out the latest Lab Schedule for CSIL@Burnaby for details.

How To Use The Team Rooms?

The Team Rooms (ASB 9812, ASB 9814 and ASB 9816) are intended for meetings of teams from CMPT courses with assigned team projects. TAs can allocate specific time slots for teams via our TA Booking system.

When a Team Room is not booked, it can be used on first come basis - maximum 2 hours/day per person or group. CMPT course project teams have priority over other users.

Please tidy up the Team Room after use. Please take out extra chairs to the hall way line up along the glass wall - 4 chairs are reserved for each Team Room so they should be kept inside the room.

Faculty of Applied Sciences

FAQ