Seebeck Computer Center

Seebeck Computer Center is the University's main computing resource. The computer center provides email accounts, Web page services, calendar and scheduling services, administrative business systems, licensed software, network access, training, and assistance for members of the University community, in addition to maintaining the campus network backbone and Internet connections. The computer center facilities are available free of charge to University of Alabama students, faculty, and staff for use in research, instruction, and service.

Centralized computing resources maintained and supported by Seebeck Computer Center include a Sun Enterprise 6000 server and an IBM 9672R53 Enterprise Server. The 9672R53 supports the University's administrative applications, such as student records and registration. The Sun Unix server is the central academic computer, providing email accounts and Web space as well as access to statistical applications, such as SAS and SPSS, and many common programming language compilers.

Personal computer labs are available in each of the colleges on campus. The hardware and software that are available in these labs vary according to the needs of students in each college or department. Seebeck Computer Center also has a small lab in 127 Gordon Palmer Hall. This lab is open almost 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be used by any University of Alabama student, faculty, or staff member.

The University is a full participant in the Internet, with a partial T3 connection for approximately 15 Mbps total throughput, as well as a charter member of the Internet2 project. Students can access the Internet in various ways while on campus. Practically all the computer labs have direct network connections. Students living in select residence halls have the opportunity to participate in ResNet, which gives their personal computers the same connection speed found in the labs. Students in non-ResNet halls or living off-campus can use a dialup Internet connection. The University supports a limited number of lines for dialup connections at speeds up to 33.6 Kbps. Those students that need or want more connectivity than the University's service can provide may use any of the growing number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the Tuscaloosa area, including Simple Communications, Inc. (SCI), the University's recommended ISP.

The University is also a member of the Alabama Research and Education Network (AREN). AREN provides universities and schools throughout the state with high-speed network access to the Cray SV1 supercomputer located in Huntsville and to other network facilities. The Visualization Lab, located in A204 Gordon Palmer Hall, has five Silicon Graphics computers, providing high-quality graphics capability and color printing as well as video input and output.

The computer center HelpDesk, located in A203 Gordon Palmer Hall, provides general information and assistance on all aspects of computer use. Any student, faculty, or staff member who wants email, Web space, dialup access, or central computing resources may obtain an account through the HelpDesk. AREN supercomputer and Visualization Lab accounts may be requested there as well. The HelpDesk also provides assistance through telephone (205-348-2435), e-mail (Help.Desk@ua.edu), and its Web site (helpdesk.ua.edu).

For more information about Seebeck Computer Center, contact the HelpDesk, Seebeck Computer Center, The University of Alabama, Box 870346, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0346.