What is a NetID

Most computer services ask you to log in using a name and password. In order to simplify things at Rutgers, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) has adopted a single University-wide identifier, called the NetID. Most OIT services expect you to use this NetID when you log in.

The NetID may be from two to eight characters in length and is chosen by you. Most people use some combination of a name, nickname, or initials. If you have a common name, you may need to add some numbers to get a name that hasn't been taken by anyone else. Here are the rules for choosing a NetID.

Passwords

When you create a NetID you will also create a password. This lets us verify that you are really who you say you are. Services that ask for a NetID also ask for your password. Here are rules for choosing a password.

You may have two different passwords, one for student services and the other for faculty/staff services. If you are just a student or just faculty/staff, you don't need to worry about this. But if you are both, you'll need to use the right password. Web applications will generally tell you whether they want your student password or your faculty/staff password. Some services work for both students and faculty/staff and will expect your faculty/staff password to be entered.

Creating a NetID/Email Account

For most people, the best way to get a NetID is to create an email account on one of our central systems. With this account you'll get the full set of OIT services, including email, web hosting, storage space, and Unix timesharing. The account creation webpage will take you through the process of creating your NetID and the associated email account that uses the NetID as the username. To create a central account (and a NetID if you don't already have one), see our account creation webpage.

The following services require a central account:

* Email services
* Use of computers and printers in the public labs (and, public printers)
* Central webpage services
* Access to storage for data/files
* Access to a command prompt on the central systems (eden, rci, pegasus, andromeda, clam, crab)

Checking your NetID and Password

To verify that your NetID and password are correctly configured, there is a webpage which requires authentication. If you receive an error message, your NetID and password may not work correctly. Otherwise, a page confirming proper functioning will be displayed.

Creating a NetID Only

If you are one of the few cases that only need or want limited services such as RIAS and/or Adminstrative Web Services, there is a webpage to create a NetID only without an email account. If you find later that you need a central account, you can still create one with the account creation webpage.