ITC Announcement/Home Directory Login Change

May 16, 2005

Attention Windows and Mac users!

On May 16th, 2005, login to the U.Va. Home Directory Service will be by use of your ESERVICES password for most users. Until this date, use your blue.unix.virginia.edu password.

This change will require that you...

  • Download a new version of the Home Directory login utility for Windows or Macs. The new version is available now on Software Central. You may download and begin using it at any time:

    Click here for Windows XP/2000 version
    Click here for Mac OS X version

  • Use your Eservices password to log into the Home Directory Service on or after May 16th. Until that date, continue to use your current Home Directory password (even in clients which say eservices).

    If you've never used your Eservices account, or you can't remember your Eservices password, get help now at

    https://www.web.virginia.edu/pswd/1

Windows XP/2000 Users:

When you start up the new Home Directory login utility, you will see that your login ID is filled in for you, and is now preceded by "Eservices\".

Macintosh Users (OS X only)

When you use the new Home Directory login utility, you will notice that the choice of protocols is no longer available. All Home Directory connections are now made using SMB.

IMPORTANT!

If you do not use one of the Operating Systems listed above (Windows XP or 2000, or MacOS X); OR you cannot update your Home Directory login utility; OR you prefer to continue using your existing one, please see the additional information at http://www.itc.virginia.edu/homedir/updateoptions.html.

Why the change?

This change is the final step in ITC’s effort to eliminate those instances where users have no choice but to send their passwords over the network in clear text in order to connect with an ITC service.

1Confused About Passwords?
As a U.Va. computer user, you probably have not one, not two, but at least three passworded accounts: one on the Central Mail Service (that you access using Mulberry, Web Mail, etc.); one on the blue.unix server cluster; and one in the Eservices computing domain. All these accounts are created for most members of the University community at the time they arrive - though you may or may not use all three of them.

Posted 4/6/2005; updated 5/2/05

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