Computer Laboratory

Special resources for CST projects

Access to Computer Laboratory computers other than PWF machines will only be given if there is a good reason, e.g.

  • collaboration with a particular research group;
  • use of software not available on the PWF facility.

If you need a Computer Laborarory account then the signature of the owner of the machine is required on your Project Resource Form (pdf). In addition you must estimate your file space requirements and write this on the form. This is likely to involve asking the project supervisor for advice and discovering the size of any pre-existing stuff that needs to be copied. Failing to specify file space requirements may result in you not getting a Computer Laboratory account. Note also that if your project involves experiments on human subjects, then you must tick the appropriate box in the Project Resource Form and attach a short justification of these experiments.

Some Special Resources and the people who can authorise their use:

  • For substantially more file space than you have been allocated on the PWF use the web form
    • please state in your application that you are Part II CST
    • requests for small increases of PWF space will need a very brief justification (but please don't send your proposal)
    • requests for substantial increases should also be accompanied by a brief supporting e-mail from your Supervisor to user-admin@ucs.cam.ac.uk

  • Requests for resources involving a Computer Lab research machine should be authorised by a member of staff who has jurisdiction over it. A partial list of Computer Lab research machines (and other equipment) and their owners is given below (if there are several owners, then the signature of any one of them is sufficient):
    • Comms, Architecture, and Operating Systems:
      Jon Crowcroft, Steven Hand
    • Automated reasoning:
      Larry Paulson, Mike Gordon
    • Altera tools and boards:
      Simon Moore
    • Rainbow Group motion capture system and projected displays:
      Peter Robinson, Neil Dodgson
    • Lecture Theatre audio-visual systems:
      Peter Robinson

Any resources that you need which are not part of the standard software provided on the PWF should be included in the section "Any other request" under "Non-standard PWF resources" in your submitted Project Resource Form. For example, users of MATLAB must ensure that access to the required toolkits is available - most are not on the PWF.