CSL: Policies: User-Maintained OSes

Users may request to administer their CSL desktop machines to provide flexibility for their research needs. However, please contact the Lab staff before making any changes to your desktop computer.

Each user in the department if provided with a desktop computer administered by the Lab staff on the department's trusted network. Currently these machines run a recent version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution. Users may request software to be installed on these machines from the Lab staff. Additionally, users may particpate in the SST program, which allows users to maintain software to be made available to the department at large.

Users requiring more flexibility in the desktop OS choice may make a request to the Lab staff to run Windows or another Linux distribution in an untrusted configuration. Do not disconnect desktop machines from the trusted network without first contacting the Lab staff. The Lab staff will unlock the BIOS, connect the machine to the untrusted network, and turn over administration to the user. The Lab staff will help in installing OSes from a limited selection, but the subsequent administration of the machine will be the responsibility of the user.

Please note that data on user-maintained desktops will not be backed up. Users will need to copy important data to other machines which are backed up.