Developers can utilise this validation model via a standard LDAP interface. New users can register via public clusters or the web. All students are given an allocation of filestore on campus services which can be used for the storage of email messages and their own work in progress. Pegasus mail is the preferred email client, but POP3 support is also provided principally for remote and dialup access. We operate a centrally coordinated printing service which allows students to print to a large number of printers on campus maintaining a single account for payment.
Printing is prepaid via payment machines situated in the major public access computing clusters.
Large print jobs can be sent directly to the Manchester Computing Print Shop . The principal server platform to support campus computing is Novell Netware. We have been working towards fileserver consolidation in the past two years and have seen significant improvements in service reliability as a result. This consolidation strategy will continue, whilst retaining the ability to integrate existing departmental servers within the infrastructure where such needs exist. The principle platform for desktop computing within the University is currently Windows NT4.