FastStart is designed to teach you how to use the various technologies available at the UW-Madison College of Engineering from the very beginning. Follow these steps and you should be well on your way.
Step 1. Access a computer
Buying a Computer -- You can buy a computer with the help of our recommended configurations
Using our Computer Labs You can use our computer labs, some of which are open 24/7
| Step 2. Get a CAE account
If you have any affiliation to the College of Engineering you can get a CAE account. For example all Faculty, Staff, Grad Students, and Undergrad's who are taking an engineering class are eligible. You need to get a CAE account to log in and use the available resources. You will need a UW ID to continue with the process. If you don't have one, you can contact your payroll specialist. |
Step 3. Getting network access
You need network access if you plan to use the internet, read email, or use many of the other tools. If you plan on
computing in one of our labs, this will be taken care of for you so you can skip this step. If you're going using your own
machine, things a bit more complicated.
- If you plan to connect via wireless on campus, see FastStart Wireless Access.
- For wired on campus, request an IP address.
- For an off-campus connection, see Off-Campus Users.
|
Step 4. Email
Now that you're connected, reading and sending email is probably your top priority. CAE offers |
Step 5. CAE Applications
In addition to email, your new account and connection opens the world of CAE applications to you. A complete list of
applications can be found on the Software page. If you are on a lab computer, you can simply add these applications through
Start > CAE Applications > Add Applications to Start Menu.
If you are not in a lab, you have a few options. You can run these applications outside our lab one of three ways:
- Connect to a lab machine remotely via Remote Desktop or Virtual Network Computing.
- Locally install Tethered Software.
If you are on campus you can install the Novell Client 32 and access applications via the instructions
on the
Accessing Network Applications with NAL page.
Step 6. Additional Info
We strongly recommend you follow our Basic Security Practices to keep your data safe from malicious
users and programs. You should also be aware of the guidelines for Appropriate Usage of computing resources at UW-Madison.
Once connected, you not only open your machine to all the things you want on the internet but also to everything you don't
want, like viruses and spyware. The college has a firewall that offers some protection, but it is your responsibility to keep
your machine safe through the following measures:
|
Step 7. Getting Help
Computing Services in the College, a list of the different service providers in the college, is a good place to start. You'll also notice
the contact information for the CAE Helpdesk listed on the bottom of this website. The Helpdesk is
knowledgeable about the use of any of the CAE resources, from email to MATLAB.