Laboratory Network

Overview

What is a Laboratory network

A laboratory networks is an isolated networks for laboratory or other equipment that benefits from being separate from the normal campus network.

A firewall is used to separate your lab and campus with only specific connections allowed. It will keep your labs isolated from Rensselaer, and also keep Rensselaer isolated from your labs, other than what is needed for the labs to work. A small (8TB) file server has also been provisioned to allow your researchers somewhere to place their data that can be accessed from the campus at large. The intent of this server (8TB) is to house lab data temporarily for transfer to a more permanent place. The server is not backed up, as it is intended for transient data only.

Details

How do I access the Laboratory network

If you would like to use this service open a ticket in ITSSC with Research Computing.

Why should I use the Laboratory network

Rensselaer performs regular security audits to ensure the safety of our computing environment. One of the criteria that defines an acceptable device connected to the campus network is whether or not the software on that device is still supported by the authors of that software. At the moment, the only supported Microsoft operating systems are Windows 11 and newer.

Scientific instruments often rely on these older versions of Windows. And those old versions of Windows need access to specific network resources for authenticating and authorizing users, usage tracking and billing, transferring results to other systems for further analysis and study, printing, software licensing, and other minor but essential connections.

Rensselaer must mitigate the threat posed by these older systems. The solution Rensselaer would prefer is to remove the systems from campus entirely, or at least disconnect them from the campus network. Luckily, there is a way to mitigate these risks and not impair research.

How much will it cost me?

There is no cost to utilize this resource.

What resources will be permitted? 

• Authentication and authorization against the Rensselaer Windows Domain, win.rpi.edu 
• Printing, through one of the two approved print servers 
• Access to the various license servers 
• Access to designated file storage that is outside the lab network 
• iLab/Calpendo billing and tracking system 
• Other, as yet unforeseen services that are required to make use of your scientific equipment 

What resources will not be permitted? 

• General internet browsing 
• Non RPI cloud storage clients (Dropbox, Google Drive, Owncloud) 
• Video Services 
• Gaming 
• Email

Can I get an exception?/I need something not listed 

The approved list is by no means comprehensive, if something is not listed, send a request to itssc@support.rpi.edu and if applicable, the office that normally supports your lab if it is not located in CBIS. 

How much storage is available? 

.CIO will be making 16 GB available per person registered in the system, and will be guaranteeing that a minimum of 1GB will be available for each person.  This is not intended for long term storage and may be purged of old data on a regular basis.  Such schedules will be announced at least one time interval before any regularly scheduled purges are implemented.  Expired accounts will be purged on the first day of classes for the fall and spring semesters. 

How do I register a user? 

Go to https://apex.cct.rpi.edu/apex/f?p=185:1  and log in with your Rensselaer credentials.  Click on the edit button LAB_Name_Results_Access group.  You can then add and remove members from your lab.  If you already have this system setup for your lab or specific components of your lab, it will automatically be used and no additional work will be needed on your part. 

How do I use it? 

On machines that have accounts assigned to individual people, you can map a network drive under the path \\results.win.rpi.edu\RCSID.  For machines with common accounts, SFTP is implemented and a client such as WinSCP can be used to access the data.  Many lab instruments connect to this network automatically mount this as the R: disk.

How can I get remote support for my instrument? 

If advanced notice can be supplied, access restrictions can be eased for a time period to allow remote support, or you can have the support people remote to a system outside the firewall and then remote desktop through results to the instrument 

Last Reviewed:   02-January-2024