Overview

SBGrid provides comprehensive system administration support for all Linux and Mac computers for the Hogle and Sliz labs at HMS, and for all Linux systems for the Liao lab. The Liao lab should contact HMS-IT for assistance with Mac & Windows systems.

New SBGrid computers need to be registered to access the network.

All SBGrid-supported systems are located on an integrated, private network segment. To reach this network for access to local resources from an external location, please ssh to crystal.harvard.edu.

Get Help

For general questions, email SBGrid at help@sbgrid.org and include your name and the name of your lab. Email questions about your software installation to bugs@sbgrid.org.

New lab members should contact help@sbgrid.org to complete their initial setup.

The Liao lab should contact HMS-IT for assistance with Mac & Windows systems.

Email Access

Sliz Lab members use a Google Account at hkl.hms.harvard.edu to access email (Sliz lab members should not use a crystal email).

Hogle and Liao lab members have a Crystal Google Account with access to email and other Google services, including Google Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and more.

Using your @crystal.harvard.edu email address

Using webmail

There is an email associated with your Linux account at <username>@crystal.harvard.edu. You may access the webmail at:

• http://mail.crystal.harvard.edu.

You can set a vacation responder in the webmail client by clicking Personal Settings and then clicking the Vacation tab.

Crystal email is currently hosted through Google's GSuite

Configuring a Mail Client for IMAP

To configure your address in a client such as Apple's Mail Application or Thunderbird, Select mail type GMail

• Username: yourusername@crystal.harvard.edu
• Password:
• Your GSuite username@crystal.harvard.edu is different from your Linux account ##
• Set up 2FA for Crystal GSuite

See faq-using-crystal-google-apps for more detailed information on how to use your email and calendar.

If you do not have an account, email help@sbgrid.org and cc your PI in the request.

Email Lists

Hogle Lab

We use a private Google Mailing List for communications with the Hogle lab.

To view the Hogle lab Google group go to:

• https://groups.google.com/a/crystal.harvard.edu/forum/#!forum/jh

To post to the Hogle lab Google group, send your email to:

• jh@crystal.harvard.edu

Liao Lab

We use a private Google Mailing List for communications with the Liao lab.

To view the Liao lab Google group go to:

• https://groups.google.com/a/crystal.harvard.edu/forum/#!forum/liaolab

To post to the Liao lab Google group, send your email to:

• liaolab@crystal.harvard.edu

Sliz Lab

We use a private Google Mailing List for communications with the Sliz lab.

To view the Sliz lab Google group go to:

• https://groups.google.com/a/crystal.harvard.edu/forum/#!forum/slizlab

Sliz lab members should use HKL mailings lists, which are managed by Professor Sliz, for internal communications.

• all@hkl.hms.harvard.edu
  • To email all members of the Sliz lab including SBGrid Staff
• it@hkl.hms.harvard.edu
  • To contact SBGrid Staff

Computers

SBGrid supports Linux computers in the Hogle and Liao labs, and supports Linux, Mac, and Windows systems in the Sliz lab.

Linux

Most Linux computers use network accounts, meaning that your home directory is located on a network storage server and is backed up. If you accidentally delete important files, please let us know as soon as possible and we may be able to restore the file for you.

Linux systems have network home directories and access to the SBGrid programs tree (via /programs). See this link for information on how to access the software.

Mac

Mac computers rely on either network accounts or local accounts. We will soon transition all Mac computers to local accounts because of problems many people have encountered Macs & network accounts.

For Macs with local accounts, users will have administrative access with permission to install and update software. The SBGrid Installer will be used to access the SBGid software tree and will allow users to install and update the software independently. These computers are backed up via Crashplan, hosted by HMS. If your Mac is not backed up, or you receive warning messages about Crashplan backup failures, please contact us immediately to ensure that no data is lost.

Windows Computers

SBGrid offers support for some Windows systems in the Sliz Lab, but HMS-IT provides primary support for these machines. Windows computers used to run instruments in the labs should not be used for browsing the Web. If you encounter any problems with these machines, please contact SBGrid as soon as possible. If SBGrid is unavailable, please contact HMS-IT with details about your problem and the buiding and floor where where the machine is located. Be sure to notify SBGrid that you have contacted HMS-IT so that we can liaise with them.

EM Facility

To access the EM Facility in the basement of SGM, please contact Zongi Li or Melissa Chambers.

If you need a data directory created on the EM systems, please email SBGrid and cc Zongi Li. Please remember that data directories on the EM systems are not backed up. It is essential that you store your data elsewhere.