lab

The FDU computer labs provide a safe and welcoming study space for our users. The computer labs provide access to technological resources such as: current specialty software applications for a variety of majors, access to online libraries for research, internet access, and print services. Our labs are also available to faculty for instruction in both technology-intensive and non-intensive majors. The computer labs are also used as a venue for various workshops and university programs. The lab hours are flexible to meet the needs of both resident students and commuter students. The lab operations also provide on-campus work opportunities for our students to develop their skills and offer customer service and technical support to our campus community.

FDU Computer Labs Provide:

• A conducive learning space that enables students to develop the skills necessary for collaboration and teamwork.
• Hands on experience with current hardware and software applications used for a variety of majors.
• Students access to the same technology resources for the purposes of research, printing, and producing professional work.
• Customer service and on-site technical support from our student staff.
• Access and opportunities for students to develop their computer skills.
• Interactive learning opportunities between faculty and students; theory and application in one setting under the supervision of faculty with the support of student staff.

Due to the increasing demand of the academic computer facilities, a general document detailing the policies for computer lab reservations has been outlined. The purpose of the computer lab reservation policy is to provide faculty, staff and students with equitable access to campus computing lab resources. Most computer labs are used as classrooms and they are available for open-access use when there are no classes in session.

1. There are currently four Computing Services computer labs which can be used for classroom instruction on each campus. They are: D206, D207, D208, and D209 located in the Dreyfuss Building on the Florham Campus. The computer labs located on the Metropolitan Campus are: DH2163 and DH2164 in Dickinson Hall and UH Front Lab (UH22) and UH Back Lab (UH28) in University Hall. Also, there are three multimedia labs; two on the Florham campus and one on the Metropolitan campus. The multimedia labs for the Florham Campus are: D211-Animation Lab and ZEN110 – Graphic Design Lab) located in the Dreyfuss and ZEN Buildings. On the Metropolitan campus, the multimedia lab (MML) is located in Becton Hall Room 403. The multimedia labs are primarily used for courses offered by the FDU School of Arts. All labs used for classroom instruction and general use are equipped with a LaserJet printer and data projector. The Animation Lab is equipped with 3-D printers. All multimedia labs are equipped with ZOOM capability to support hybrid instruction.

2. To reserve a computer lab, a faculty or staff member must submit a Lab Reservation Request, preferably prior to the start of a semester. This form must be submitted by the instructor who will be teaching the course or department personnel. For the duration of the course or event, a faculty or department personnel member must be physically present in the computer lab with the students or participants. The Computer Lab Reservation Request form is available online at:

sami.support.fdu.edu

This form must be filled out completely and accurately to prevent processing delays.

3. Requests for the entire semester are processed on a first come first serve basis. These requests are processed by the Scheduling Officers in the Enrollment Services department.

4. Requests for specific dates during the semester are processed on a first come first serve basis. These requests are processed by the Lab & Operations Manager in the Computing Services department. If all labs are occupied during the requested time, instructors will be asked to either choose a different date or time or plan to make arrangements with other instructors who have the lab reserved during that time. If an agreement cannot be reached between the instructors, the instructor requesting to use the lab should then approach the Dean of their department with the request.

5. Confirmations will be emailed to the departments or individual instructors making the request. Requests made during the semester will be confirmed based on the preference selected by the requestor on the Lab Reservation Request Form. The processing time for all lab requests made during a semester is one week. Please keep this in mind when submitting your lab reservation requests. To ensure you receive your confirmation in time, submit your reservation one week or more prior to the day the lab is needed. For instructions on How to Reserve a Computer Lab, please see the article listed below.

6. Any changes made to the original request in day, time, or location will be treated as a new request.

7. The requestor is responsible for enforcing all lab rules during the time the lab is scheduled. If a student or faculty member is violating lab rules, the lab assistants have the right to approach the individual at that time. To prevent interruption during class time, we stress that the lab rules be adhered to by all occupants including faculty and staff.

8. Faculty and staff who reserve the computer lab are responsible for notifying the Lab & Operations Manager if the course or the request has been cancelled. This will allow the Computing Services department to keep an updated and accurate schedule.

9. If a scheduled class is absent for three consecutive weeks without prior notification, the lab reservation will be cancelled, and future reservations will be subject to further questioning before a confirmation is received.

If you have any questions regarding the lab reservation policy, please contact Denzel James via email at: d.james@fdu.edu

Computing Services has multiple computer labs available on both New Jersey Campuses for classroom instruction and student use. Computer Lab hours of operation are subject to change based upon utilization throughout the semester.

All Computing Services Lab hours of operation are:

Metropolitan Campus	Florham Campus
Dickinson Hall – Hackensack Phone: (201)-692-7111 Fax: (201)-692-7158 Rooms: Lab A (DH2163), Lab B (DH2164), Lab C (DH2165)	Dreyfuss Building Phone: (973)-443-8689 Fax: (973)-443-8886 Rooms: D206, D207, D208, D209, D211,212,213
University Hall – Teaneck Phone: (201)-692-7112 Rooms: Front Lab (UH 22), Back Lab (UH 28), UH Side Lab
Student Union Building Phone: (201)-692-2222 Room: Multipurpose Room 135

Lab Hours of Operation

Building	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Dreyfuss Building	8AM-11PM	8AM-11PM	8AM- 11PM	8AM-11PM	8AM- 5PM	9AM– 5PM	12PM- 9PM
Dreyfuss 211, 212, 213	8AM-11PM	8AM-11PM	8AM- 11PM	8AM-11PM	8AM– 5PM	9AM– 5PM	12PM- 9PM
Dickinson Hall	8AM-11PM	8AM-11PM	8AM- 11PM	8AM-11PM	8AM- 5PM	10AM- 5PM	CLOSED
University Hall	8AM- 11PM	8AM- 11PM	8AM- 11PM	8AM- 11PM	8AM- 5PM	10AM- 5PM	12PM- 9PM

Lab computers are available on a first-come-first-serve basis unless reserved for classes.

Class reservations are posted at the lab entrances.

Section – About

Part : What is FDU Anywhere?

What is FDU Anywhere?

FDU provides remote access to many software applications typically found in university computer labs. This new Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) gives users access to a Windows desktop environment along with many General Lab Software, without requiring downloading and installing programs on a user’s personal equipment. The service, called FDU Anywhere, is powered by University Systems and Networking (USAN) and can be found at anywhere.fdu.edu.

Using FDU Anywhere is like walking into one of FDU’s computer labs. Upon logging in with your FDU NetID and password, you will have access to the virtual platform. To find a list of currently available software on FDU Anywhere, use the FDU Software Catalog. A listing of available Free and Open Source software can also be found by visiting the FDU Software Catalog.

The FDU Software Catalog provides an up-to-date catalog of software available to Faculty, Staff, and Students at the university:

Part : System & Network Requirements

System & Network Requirements

System Requirements

FDU Anywhere is a powerful resource with a lightweight footprint. In order to utilize FDU Anywhere, you must have the following:

• Any device with a browser that supports HTML 5 will work. HTML 5 is supported by almost all desktop and mobile browsers including Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox
• An internet connection
• FDU NetID credentials

Network Requirements

For the best experience, while using FDU Anywhere, your network should:

• Have a download speed of at least 5Mb/s or more
• If your download speed falls below 5Mb/s, the connection could become unstable and cause issues with your stream
• Have an upload speed of 5Mb/s or higher
• An upload speed of 5Mb/s is enough to use a basic mouse, keyboard, and controller. More bandwidth-heavy devices such as webcams, microphones, and external storage devices can use up to 100Mb/s
• Wired network connections are preferred over Wi-Fi network connections whenever possible
• Wired network connections are more stable and offer more bandwidth over Wi-Fi

For graphics-intensive applications, like Adobe Creative Cloud and Autodesk, we recommend using a wired network connection instead of Wi-Fi, ideally with a bandwidth of 5 Mbp/s.

Wi-Fi networks with 5Ghz rated wireless connections are preferred over 2.4Ghz wireless routers and provide better performance.

VPN Applications and Connections

Testing your Connection

Your experience with FDU Anywhere greatly depends on your internet connection. Testing your connection can help you identify and correct most issues.

To test your Internet connection speed, click the link below:

Section – Basics

Part : Using FDU Anywhere

Using FDU Anywhere

FDU Anywhere is available to all students and accessible by following the instructions below:

Accessing FDU Anywhere

1. From any web browser, visit “anywhere.fdu.edu“

2. Use your FDU Credentials (NetID and associated password) to complete the login to the FDU Anywhere

General Lab

2. The selected app or desktop opens in a new browser tab

Log Out of FDU Anywhere

Logging out is a critical step in making sure others continue to be able to easily access FDU Anywhere services. To log out of FDU Anywhere, follow these steps:

1. Single click the Windows “Start “Button
2. Single click On your “Name“
3. Single click on “Sign Out“

4. On the upper left-hand side, click the “Hamburger” menu icon

5. Single click on “Log Out“

6. Single click on “OK” to confirm Logout

You have now been logged out of FDU Anywhere.

Automatic Session Logout Policy

In order to help make FDU Anywhere as available as possible to all students, accounts that have been inactive (or idle) for 15 minutes will automatically be logged out.

Part : Accessing and Using OneDrive

Accessing and Using OneDrive

There are many ways in which you can access and save files within FDU Anywhere. Fairleigh Dickinson University highly recommends saving all files on your FDU Microsoft 365 OneDrive which is accessible within FDU Anywhere. There will be a first-time setup and initialization process required in order to use OneDrive within FDU Anywhere.

Setup and Initialization Process

Accessing your Microsoft 365 OneDrive account is done easily by following these instructions:

1. From the FDU Anywhere General Lab, single click on the “OneDrive” icon from the system tray

2. Single click the “Sign In” button

3. Enter your FDU NetID and single click “Next“. Follow the FDU standard single sign-on prompts to complete the login process

4. Once the login process is completed, you will be asked to register your device or single click “OK“

5. It will take a moment to register the application, it will automatically proceed to the next screen

6. Single click on “Done“

7. You have now successfully logged into OneDrive, single click “Next“

8. Microsoft OneDrive may prompt you to backup your folders, make sure you toggle “Desktop” and single click “Start Backup“

9. A brief overview will be given on OneDrive, to begin, single click “Next“

10. When the tutorial is finished, single click “Later“

11. OneDrive setup is complete and ready to use. Click the “X” to close the window or “Open My OneDrive Folder” to access files

Using OneDrive

Using Microsoft OneDrive within FDU Anywhere is very similar to accessing, saving and opening files on a computer. Just open up File Explorer and look for OneDrive – Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Part : Working With Files

Zipping Files

if you need to zip files in order to submit them to Webcampus, please follow these instructions:

1. Single click the file or folder

2. Right click on 7-zip then click “Add to Archive“

3. Change Archive Format to “zip” like in the picture below then click “OK” to zip your files

The zip archiving process could take some time depending on the size of the file. Once completed, the file will be in the same location as the folder is. You can then email or upload your file to your professor.

Alternate Way to Zip Files

1. Click “Start” on the taskbar on the left-hand side
2. Type “7zip” and 7-zip File Manager will appear. Click on “7-zip File Manager“

3. Click on “7-Zip File Manager“
4. Navigate to the location of your saved file/folder and click to highlight, then click the “Add” button at the top

5. Change Archive Format to zip and then click “OK” to zip your files

The file will now be zipped and you will find your file in the same folder as the project folder or file you wanted to zip.

Submitting Files to WebCampus

In order to successfully submit your coursework to WebCampus, it is best to use the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge web browser located on the desktop of FDU Anywhere.

In order to submit your coursework to Webcampus, you can log on from within FDU Anywhere. For more information on Webcampus visit:

Part : Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts

Sometimes you may want to copy and paste content from your own computer to an FDU Anywhere desktop or application. You can do this using the copy-and-paste menus or keyboard shortcuts, for example, “Ctrl+C” and “Ctrl+V“.

If you are unable to copy and paste for any reason, we recommend using our FDU OneDrive service to access any files not found in FDU Anywhere.

Windows OS to FDU Anywhere

1. Highlight the text you want to copy from your computer
2. Press “CTRL+C” to copy the selected text
3. Move the cursor to the paste location in FDU Anywhere
4. Press “CTRL+V” to paste the text

Your macOS to FDU Anywhere

1. Highlight the text you want to copy from your computer
2. Press “COMMAND+C “to copy the selected text
3. macOS also supports “CTRL+C“

4. Move the cursor to the paste location in “FDU Anywhere“
5. Press “CTRL+V” to paste the text

Section – Support

Part : Getting Support

Getting Support

Part : Network Optimization

Network Optimization

If you are experiencing issues while using FDU Anywhere, please use the following tips as guidelines to help improve your experience.

Power-cycle your Modem / Router

Power cycling your modem and router allows them to reset and re-establish a connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Shut down your computer and unplug your modem/router. Plug them back in after 60 seconds and watch the lights on your modem/router. Once the lights are on and steady, start your computer.

Keep all your Local Components Up-to-date

Check that your modem/router and your local computer are totally up to date. This includes the operating system, driver, and browser updates.

Disconnect / Turn off any Devices that are not in use

Some devices could be using bandwidth while on standby. Gaming consoles, for example, might download and install updates. Turn off these devices to keep your bandwidth free.

Use an Ethernet Cable

Using a wired Ethernet connection will make your connection more stable and eliminate additional latency compared to a wireless connection.

Change your Wi-Fi Configuration

If a wired Ethernet connection is not possible or your device requires a wireless connection:

• Connect to a 5GHz wireless network. Some routers offer both 2.4GHz connections and 5GHz
• Place your devices (such as a computer or smartphone) and your router closer to each other

Reserving a Computer Lab for an Entire Semester

Lab reservation requests for the entire semester, (i.e. January through May or September through December) are processed by the Office of Enrollment Services. To make a lab reservation request for the Summer, Winter, Fall, or Spring semesters, please contact the Scheduling Officers in Enrollment Services for the Florham and Metropolitan campuses. The phone and fax numbers are listed below:

Florham Campus
Ph. (973)-443-8600
Fx. (973)-443- 8604

Metropolitan Campus
Ph. (201)-692-2217 / 2517
Fx. (201)-692-2209

Reserving a Computer Lab for Specific Dates within a Semester

Lab reservation requests for specific dates within a semester, (i.e. 2/1/, 3/25, 4/21) are processed by the Computing Services department. To make a lab reservation request for dates within a semester for the Florham and Metropolitan campuses, go to: samisupport.fdu.edu. Scroll down and click “Computing Services Lab Reservation Request“. Fill in all of the fields below pertaining to the course or event you would like to schedule. If the event does not have a course number, simply type 0000 in the course number field. All fields must be filled in before submitting the request. If the request is made during the semester, you will receive a confirmation within 3-5 business days of your request via the method selected when making the request. If the request is made prior to a new semester, your request will be confirmed once all “Entire Semester” courses have been processed by Enrollment Services. Processing times for lab reservations should be taken into consideration when making requests. Please submit one request per course or event. If you have questions regarding the Computing Services computer labs, the Computer Lab Reservation policy, or the status of your lab reservation, the phone, fax number, and email address for inquiries are listed below:

Florham Campus
Ph. (973)-443-8689
Fx. (973)-443-8886

Metropolitan Campus
Ph. (201)-692-7111
Fx. (201)-692-7158

Email: d.james@fdu.edu

Cost and Billing

To prevent excessive printing, the Department of Computing Services charges students a small fee for printing in the FDU Computer Labs. Black and white printing costs $0.05 per page and color printing is $0.25 per page.

Each student pays a technology fee which includes $10.00 of lab printing for each of the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Printing charges above the $10.00 per semester will appear as a Printing Fee on the next tuition bill.  

The $10 per semester printing credit is a standard allotment that expires each semester and has no cash value. No refunds will be given for pages not printed and unused prints for each semester’s allotment do not carry forward.

FDU staff and faculty members can use lab printers on a limited basis without charge for the purpose on conducting FDU business. Please use your department’s printer(s) as your primary printing resource. Faculty and staff members are limited to 200 pages per semester. Any attempt to print past this quota will result in an error message stating that the account does not have enough credit.

Note: You are responsible for all activity on your account. If you share your password with others or forget to log out, you will be held responsible for any activity done via your account, including printing charges. Computing Services strongly recommends that you use non-trivial passwords and log out completely before leaving a workstation.

View and Manage your Lab Printing

1. Hovering your cursor on the Papercut tray icon shows the Balance

2. When you click on the Papercut tray icon, it opens a new window as seen below:

3. Clicking on the “Details…” button on the lower right of the Balance within the Papercut window opens a web browser that will let the user log in and see their job history

Receiving Credit for Printing Errors

Credit will be given for errors caused by the printer (paper jams, toner problems, etc.) In such situations, please take the bad printouts to a Lab Assistant in Dreyfuss, Dickinson Hall, or University Hall. Your information will be taken, and reimbursement will be made in the form of a credit applied to your total charge for the semester. Situations which could have been prevented before printing, such as extra blank pages at the end of a document, will not be reimbursed.

Can I Use My Own Paper in These Printers?

No. Jobs are printed as they are received. There is the possibility that after loading the printer with your paper someone will print a job that will then be printed out on your paper. Transparencies and mailing labels are not allowed in the lab printers due to the high heat that laser printers use and the potential for damage to the equipment.

In accordance with FDU’s Acceptable Use Policy for Computer Usage, no employee shall copy or distribute software that violates copyright laws. All employees shall be aware that software and the accompanying documentation is generally owned by the manufacturer and the license only grants the user the right to use the software. Unlicensed software installations, also known as software piracy, are unacceptable at FDU.

The primary user of each computer shall take responsibility of keeping records of licenses for which software is installed. The University’s Computing Services Department shall also track licenses for software installed by the Computing Services Department though the purchase of high volume or site licenses. Users are advised that the software installed on University-owned computers may be audited internally (by the University) or externally (by software manufacturers or other anti-piracy software firms) at any time. Software found not to be in compliance with copyright laws will be removed and replaced with a licensed copy.

Computing Services will provide certain software that is commonly used by the majority of the University’s employees, including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet, and anti-virus software. Some software manufacturers allow for non-concurrent use of a license on an office computer and an employee’s home computer. Computing Services will not provide non-concurrent licenses at off premise sites due to the inability to track these licenses.

In order to provide the best possible service and support, and to reduce the cost of software site licenses, Computing Services, in conjunction with the Center for Learning and Teaching with Technology, has standardized on Microsoft Office Professional and Symantec Endpoint Protection.

Popular Software Titles and Guidelines for Faculty and Staff to Obtain:

• Microsoft Office for Windows or Macintosh: Available through standard deployment of leased or owned equipment or by request for any University-owned PC or Mac.
• Microsoft Visual Studio: Installed in Labs. Available by request for staff and faculty machines.
• Adobe Acrobat: Available by request for staff and faculty machines.
• SAS: Installed in Labs. Available by request for staff, faculty and student machines.
• SPSS (Base): Installed in Labs. Available by request for staff and faculty machines.
• SPSS Advanced Modules: Available by request for staff and faculty machines.
• Adobe Products: Faculty and staff may purchase Adobe products at level three pricing with the University’s CLP Membership No. 4400062846.
• Symantec Endpoint Protection: Available through standard deployment of leased or owned equipment or by request for any University-owned PC or Mac.
• Other products: Faculty and staff may obtain pricing and submit orders to Purchasing. If assistance is needed, contact Computing Services.
  

Software Quality Assurance and Compliance Policy for Network Server & Lab Installations

It is no longer possible for individuals to install software on staff or faculty desktops or lab computers. Laptops or Macintosh users have administrative rights and individuals can install additional licensed software to laptops.

Instructors wishing to have a software application installed in a lab for use by 20 or more people simultaneously must provide Computing Services the original installation media, installation guide, and the appropriate proof of license. Note that the licenses for some software may limit our ability to install it on the network. These materials must be provided a minimum of sixty days before the software is needed. Because it is impossible to predict how the software will interact with our network and other software already installed, we cannot guarantee that a program will work on our system.

For programs that will be used by less than 20 people, the instructor may install the application on up to 5 machines in a lab not normally used for classroom instruction, plus an “instructor’s machine” in one of the teaching labs. If fewer licenses are owned, then only that many licenses may be installed. The instructor will be told which machines to install the program on and will be given a password which can be used to disable the security on the machine for the duration of the installation procedure. Software installed in this way will only be available on those designated machines. Computing Services will make a reasonable attempt to keep these designated systems functioning with the additional software, but in the event that the machine needs to have it’s base configuration and software restored from backup, the instructor will be contacted and will need to reinstall the application.

In all cases, software must be owned or licensed by the University, even if the application is only to be used for demonstration purposes. No software owned by an individual will be installed on the systems.

Departments wishing to obtain software, whether it is for use by the department or to be installed in the FDU computer labs and/or FDU Anywhere, should plan appropriately to provide adequate time to acquire the software and make it available to users.

The following steps should be used as a guide when planning to obtain software for instructional or business use: