Account Information > Passwords > Common Topics
Passwords
Common Topics

 

 

Forgetting your password

Employees

Employees should contact the OIT Helpdesk to reset forgotten AU computing passwords.

OIT HelpDesk
1st Floor - RBD Library (location)
(334) 844-4944

Students

Student must visit the OIT HelpDesk in person and show a photo ID to reset forgotten AU computing passwords.

OIT HelpDesk
1st Floor - RBD Library (location)

To Top of Page

Forgetting your PIN

To have your Hold PIN reset please see your academic advisor.

 

For my assistance, employees should contact their Administrative Computing Coordinator to reset forgotten PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) and mainframe passwords. Students can also visit their academic advisor to reset forgotten PINs.

 

 

To Top of Page

PIN vs. Password

These are two different items and are used for different resources.

PIN (Hold PIN, Alternate PIN)

Your PIN, or Personal Identification Number, was assigned to you when you joined Auburn University. It is only used by faculty and student advisors.

 

Resources where your PIN is needed:

  • Removing Holds in tiger i

Password

It is alphanumeric (letters and numbers) and is used for many different computing resources throughout campus.

 

Resources where your password is needed:

  • AU Access
  • TigerMail / GroupWise
  • OIT Sun Network
  • TSM
  • Windows Domain
  • WebCT
  • OIT Computing Labs
  • AU Office / Novell
  • Restricted access sites on the OIT Windows web server (https://fp.auburn.edu)
  • AU Dial
  • AU Install from off-campus
  • IBM Mainframe

 

To Top of Page

Selecting a very strong password

Instead of a password start thinking in terms of a pass-phrase.

  • Since there is a minimum of 8 characters for passwords it's easier to think of a phrase that you can remember:

    • Example: I donate money to the 4-H
    Resulting pass-phrase: Id$2the4H

  • Take advantage of the three allowed special characters ( _ $ # ) and the length of 30 characters. In general, the longer the password the more secure.

  • It's best to avoid words found in the dictionary but sometimes combining short words for a pass-phrase is okay.

    Example: Great fun for all
    Resulting pass-phrase: Gr8_Fun_4_All

  • Use numbers as part of words but don’t substitute digits for characters such as using zero in place of the letter O or the digit one instead of the letter L or I.

    Good password: do_u_h8_NickS8n (just kidding)
    Bad password: n0tg00dpassw0rd

  • Avoid using any words associated with Auburn University such as WarEagle or Tigers.  Instead you drop the vowels, add an adjective, etc.

    Example: Tigers are number one forever
    Resulting pass-phrase: TgrsR#1_4ever

  • Don't use other easily obtained information about yourself, for example:
    • your User Name,
    • your name,
    • name of a relative or friend,
    • license plate numbers,
    • phone numbers,
    • social security numbers,
    • the make of your automobile,
    • the name of the street you live on,
    • the room number or building in which you work, etc.

      While using this information may create a password easy to remember, people that know you may easily figure it out.

  • Make sure your password follows these requirements.

 

To Top of Page

Password expiration

While we recommend that you change your password every 5-6 weeks, AU Computing passwords do not automatically expire or request renewal.

 

To Top of Page

 

Stolen passwords

Often the account owner is the first person to detect unauthorized use of their account. If this occurs, please notify the OIT HelpDesk immediately.

 

Circumstances indicating unauthorized use of your account:

  • Strange files appear and disappear in your directories.
  • Incoming e-mail messages refer to a message you did not send.
  • Last login date and location on OIT Sun Network is wrong or different than your normal activities.

 

To Top of Page

 

Sharing and protecting your data

If you need to share data and directories in your account with other users, do not share your account password. Instead, assign file permissions or group access to make this information available to other users.

 

To Top of Page

 

Password Rules

The rules for changing your password are as follows:

  • Begin with a letter
  • Minimum 8 characters, Maximum 30 characters
  • Minimum "average" strength
    • Average = Using a number and UPPERCASE & lowercase letters

Common Topic: Selecting a very strong password

 

To Top of Page

 

When to type auburn\ before your User Name

To log in to resources on Auburn Windows Domain computers, type the prefix auburn\ before the User Name, unless the computer is already joined to the auburn.edu domain. If you are not sure, use the prefix.

 

These employee systems require no prefix: AU Dial, AU Access, Banner, GroupWise, OIT Sun Network, Novell/AU Office, the Password Page, and Blackboard.

 

Employee systems that use a different password: TSM and MRE.

 

How-to: Synchronizing your AU Computing passwords

How-to: Verifying your User Name and OIT password

 

To Top of Page

Login to AU Access

AU Access requires your User Name and password. AU Access uses a "single-signon" session meaning once you log in you can click Blackboard, TigerMail, etc. links without having to log in again.

  • Your User Name is the portion of an AU e-mail address before @auburn.edu (and is printed on your ID card).
  • Your password is usually the same password that you use to login to TigerMail/GroupWise, but if you are not able to login to AU Access you may need to synchronize your AU passwords, wait 5 minutes, and try again.
  • If you've forgotten your password, you need to contact the OIT HelpDesk at (334) 844-4944.

Employees, if you know your User Name and password, but are still not able to log in, you need to contact your Administrative Computing Coordinator. Students, if you are still not able to log in, you need to contact the OIT HelpDesk at (334) 844-4944.

 

For more troubleshooting tips, please see AU Access Troubleshooting.

To Top of Page