Updated: Oct 26, 2026
This page contains what you need to get started. If you are new to Computer Science, please refer to the brief Introduction to the Computer Science Computing Resources. Access to our resources must adhere to an acceptable use policy.
Note: Throughout this document, “Computer Science” refers to the Rutgers University New Brunswick Computer Science Department.
1. Types of Accounts
There are different computers or sets of computers for various groups of people. Here are the systems that New Brunswick computer science students are most likely to be interested in. In the list below, the first few (labeled “CS”) are run by the Computer Science department and are available primarily to CS faculty, staff, and students. The University runs the other available services to members of the University community.
A. Computer Science resources
Computer Science faculty and researchers use a wider array of computing resources. We recommend looking in the left margin for computer systems, storage, and networking. Below is a list of CS computing resources run and managed by the Laboratory for Computer Science Research staff.
- CS iLab Linux Computing
This resource is called the “Instructional” or “iLab” cluster. This resource aids all students enrolled in the Department of Computer Science for a degree, students enrolled in a Computer Science course, and CS faculty in their coursework. Only students who are registered for CS Classes other than 110, 170, or 494, or are officially CS majors, can access this resource. The newly admitted student has to wait until they are formally registered for classes to use this system. For more details on the names, makes, models, and types of machines, see the list of machines in the iLab cluster. - CS Faculty Linux Computing
Faculty cluster aids CS faculty and administrative staff in their work. For more details on the name, make, models, and type of machines, see the list of machines in the Faculty cluster. - CS Research Linux Computing The “Research” cluster is used by CS faculty, Students, and guest researchers in their research work. This cluster is owned by specific research groups in the CS Department who control access to their resources.
For more details on the name, make, models, and type of machines, see the list of machines in the research cluster.
- CS iLab Linux Computing
B. University Resources
Below is a list of important University computing resources run and managed by the Office of Information Technology (OIT). These resources are available to eligible members of the University community.
- Email System for Faculty/Staff
All faculty and staff at Rutgers (including student employees) are expected to use Rutgers Connect (@cs.rutgers.edu), an Office 365-based email system, for all work-related emails. You can activate this account when you activate your services during the NetID creation process at https://netid.rutgers.edu. Students who later become university employees will need to activate their Connect account from the netid.rutgers.edu site. When you no longer have a role at Rutgers or after a deactivation notice from OIT, your Connect email will go away, and it won’t be easy to get any data out of it because of University policy 70.1.7. must be followed. See the section about Leaving Rutgers for more details. - Email System for Non-Faculty/Staff
The university also has an email system called ScarletMail. It is a rebranding of the Gmail system made available for all educational work for all University members. Note that faculty and staff (including student employees, TAs, RAs, etc) are required by University policy to use Rutgers Connect for all University business. Graduates do not lose their ScarletMail accounts after graduation unless the account is left dormant for a period of time. See https://oit.rutgers.edu/scarletapps/faq for more info - Remote Technology Resources for Students and Faculty. The university has a collection of resources for remote learning. These include learning management systems such as Canvas and Blackboard, web conferencing software such as Zoom, WebEx, and Microsoft Teams; virtual computer labs; and software portals that provide everyone with site-licensed software such as Microsoft Office.
- Digital Classroom Services.
This group helps faculty with classroom digital resources
University resources to help faculty with teaching and learning - Top Level netid@rutgers.edu email address
To simplify email delivery, many people prefer to have an netid@rutgers.edu address. This address will work whether you are faculty, staff, or a student. You can control where mail sent to the @rutgers.edu address is delivered by managing your email from the netid.rutgers.edu site - Forwarding Email Policy
Faculty and staff cannot (by policy) forward email. It must be sent to the Rutgers Connect address. However, students can have mail sent to NETID@rutgers.edu forwarded to any mail system they want, including non-Rutgers mail systems. - Personalized Email account
You may add “personalized addresses,” such as john.smith@rutgers.edu. Mail sent to one of your personalized addresses will be sent to the same place as NetID@rutgers.edu. - For more IT services at Rutgers, please see it.rutgers.edu.
- Email System for Faculty/Staff
2. Sponsoring a CS Account for a Student or Guest
Only people with a university NetID can create an account on any Rutgers system. If the user does not have a NetID, you must sponsor and request a NetID for your guest.
If a faculty member needs an account for a student or collaborators on a specific cluster, add their netid to your group on a particular system. See How to Manage Your Guest Users on CS Computer System if you need guidance.
Once added, please notify your guests to log in. Account activation is done automatically on the first log-in. The user can log in using University NetID credentials.
3. Changing your password; Forgotten Passwords
- University Password: You can change your password at https://netid.rutgers.edu
- For people required or opt to use CS Password: You can change your password by going to https://services.cs.rutgers.edu/accounts
4. Activating a CS Linux Account
Computer Science Linux systems use the same passwords as the University NetID. An account will automatically be created and activated upon your first login.
- If you need more security than a simple password can afford, you must use CS Password and add two-factor authentication
- Set or reset your Computer Science password. This is needed if you are using CS two-factor authentication. It will show you a University login screen. So, as long as you remember your University password, you can set or reset your CS password. By default, all accounts use the university credentials, but technical staff with privileges must use CS Passwords with OTP for security reasons.
IMPORTANT: Only people with a university NetID can create an account on any Rutgers system. If the user does not have a NetID, you must sponsor and request a NetID for your guest.
Note: Only students registered for CS Classes or officially CS majors can log in to their CS Linux account. The newly admitted student must wait until they are formally registered for classes before they can log in to the CS Linux account.
5. Account Deactivation
Your University role controls access to resources at Rutgers. Examples include students, faculty, staff, alumni, and retirees. When your role at Rutgers changes, you may lose access to certain resources. This role is verified nightly by OIT.
CS Accounts
Your CS Linux account is typically deactivated when you are no longer affiliated with Computer Science or enrolled in CS classes. Normally, account deactivation is done a few weeks after the end of a semester.
If you take a gap semester (no registered CS classes), your account will be closed. You can reopen when you return. Make sure you back up all your data. A warning will be sent to your NetID@rutgers.edu address that the account will be closed before deactivation. Make sure your email is set up correctly.
If you are working with a faculty member on a project and are out of role, please contact the faculty member to sponsor you as a guest in his group with iLab access.
Rutgers Accounts
OIT controls university resources. Such resources include your email, VPN, Canvas, Sakai, WebEx, OneDrive, Box, Zoom, Teams, and software licenses. These resources are removed as soon as your specific role for the resource ends, typically within 4-6 weeks after the semester ends. Please ensure you back up everything you want to keep at the end of the semester. If you graduated or retired from Rutgers, you can keep only your ScarletMail account as long as it is not dormant. Please forward your NetID@rutgers.edu email to this ScarletMail account before the Connect account is closed.
Other Rutgers Resources that will go away
Please visit the OIT Access to Rutgers technology resources for graduating students page to see which resources will be removed immediately after graduation. See Access to Rutgers technology resources for graduating students
We also have additional info, including our Introduction to CS Resources, General Computing Info, and How-To pages.
For help with our systems or immediate assistance, visit the LCSR Operator at CoRE 235 or call 848-445-2443. Otherwise, see CS HelpDesk. Don’t forget to include your NetID along with descriptions of your problem.
