The term "account" is used in two contexts in relation to Waisman Center services. The first is a "computing account" that provides a single person or user with a username and password in order to authenticate their identity or logon to the servers that supply network services throughout the Center. A username can be up to 12 characters long and typically is a person's last name. Examples of network services that require authentication or logon with a username/password are:

• Logon to a networked computer (workstation)
• E-mail (to have an address ending in @waisman.wisc.edu)
• Storing files and/or data that's automatically backed up
• Access to shared storage that has data you need.
• Using network printers
• Running pre-installed licensed applications software
• Hosting your individual web page on our server
• Using other center services such as copying

The second context is a "billing account" to which several people may use to bill charges for services. Billing accounts are names that are up to 8 characters long and can contain letters or numbers. For example, there can be several different people, each with their own server account and a different username/password combination, all billed to an account called PKU. The funding for the billing account PKU can come from several different UW fund/accounts. The tie between billing accounts and UW funding is handled by the Waisman Business office.

How do you get a computing account? You or your supervisor contact the Waisman Computing Services helpdesk to set up a computing account. There is no charge to setup and use a computing account. We do ask that you provide a valid billing account name (or fund/account) so should you need to purchase supplies or additional help we can bill the appropriate funding source.