Current tips and information

16/03/2020
 

How you can reach us

Availability by telephone:
from 7:30am until 6:00pm at +49 241 80 24680

Please understand that the voice transmission is not always in the usual good quality.

Currently no personal support at the IT ServiceDesk at Wendling Weg 10.
Laptop rental pool is currently closed.

 

Latest news

Current news of the IT Center as well as information from RWTH Aachen University:

 

Due to the current development concerning the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and the recommendations of the responsible authorities, the RWTH Aachen University is also forced to implement further measures to contain the spread of the virus and to relieve the health care system.

The common goal is to stop the further spread of the virus as far as possible and to slow down the speed of its spread. One measure is to work from home. For this purpose, we have compiled a selection of the most important services of the IT Center with the corresponding documentation.

 

  1. Communication
    To maintain communication, you need access to your mail, your telephone and the possibility of an video, web and audio conference.

  2. Access
    In order to do your work from home, you also need access to all university specific internet and intranet services of RWTH Aachen University.

  3. Collaboration (Digital Teamwork)
    To enable digital collaboration, you need the ability to exchange, store and retrieve files quickly and easily.

  4. RWTHmoodle (Digital Course Rooms)
    The teaching and learning portal RWTHmoodle of RWTH Aachen University enables lecturers to offer virtual course rooms for each of their courses independent of time and place. In addition, digital assessments in the form of so-called Take Home Exams can also be conducted. You do not need a VPN to use RWTHmoodle.

  5. RWTHonline
    The integrated campus management system RWTHonline supports the most important business processes around the student life cycle from application to graduation.

  6. Support
    In order to answer your inquires about the services of the IT Center, a competent and specially trained team is still at your disposal.

  7. Initial application and renewal of DFN-PKI certificates
    For the first-time application for DFN-PKI certificates, the user and server certificate applications must be submitted in person. The acceptance of the applications and the identity check take place in the service building Seffenter Weg 23 at the upper entrance. We kindly ask you to book an appointment via our online scheduling tool.

    All information about DFN-PKI certificate applications can be found on IT Center Help.

    In case of renewal, you have the option to renew your DFN-PKI certificates on-site without an appointment and without identity verification. Information on the procedure can be found on IT Center Help.

 

Communication

You want to check your e-mails while on the road? (OWA)

Outlook Web Access (OWA) is a webmail service that allows you to access your e-mail account through a browser. It is compatible with all common browsers. OWA offers the same functions as Outlook.

You want to use chat, telephone and video conferences as a substitute for work meetings, meetings etc.? (MS Teams)

In order to provide all members of the RWTH with an accompanying tool, the cloud platform Microsoft (MS) Teams will initially be made available until the end of the 2020/2021 winter semester. As far as technically possible, the software has been configured to provide only the necessary functions.

You would like to hold your event using a virtual meeting room? (Zoom)

Due to current developments, RWTH Aachen University has acquired licenses for zoom video conferences. Via RWTH Single Sign-On, all members of the RWTH can register with Zoom and automatically receive a personal license, which allows video conferences with up to 300 participants.

If problems occur or you need a license for more than 300 participants, please contact the . 

You transfer a conference to the net and do not know how it works?

The DFN conference system allows conferences to be organized without prior reservation of resources. Please note that the video, web and audio conferences only support a maximum number of 23 participants. The number of viewers of streaming lectures or conference presentations is unlimited.

  1. Instruction for Video, web and audio conferences. 
  2. Instruction for recording and streaming of video conferences. 
  3. Current information of DFN Verein about the DFNconf System and COVID-19  (German only)

Would you like to continue making calls to your colleagues, but don't know how to forward your telephone?

Option 1) Call forwarding with the existing Alcatel devices


Option 2) Call forwarding via the Jabber client with the new Cisco telephone system

The CISCO Jabber Client is the softphone of the new telephone system.

 

You want to renew or apply for a user, group or server certificate?

Certificates can be used to verify the owner, as well as other properties (e.g. e-mail or membership of an organization), of a public key.
The keys used allow digital signatures and/or confidential electronic communication using encryption.

You need quick support for distance and online teaching? (CLS)

The Center für Lehr- und Lernservices (CLS) supports you in continuing your teaching during the corona crisis with central video recordings as well as licenses for video conferencing and recording software. 
Please refer to the advices for access to the support services.

 

Accesses

You want to view your data or manage your accounts? (Selfservice)

In the selfservice you have the possibility to view and partially change your identity management data on your own and to manage accounts for certain IT center services. You can set or change your passwords in the selfservice, but also adjust your contact e-mail address.

You work from home and want to access data stored in the internal network of the RWTH? (VPN)

Virtual Private Network (VPN) enables a secure, encrypted access from outside into the RWTH network and is realized with the help of the client AnyConnect. Please note that you first have to set your password in the self-service to use VPN.

 

Collaboration (Digital Teamwork)

You want to store data on a server and share it with your colleagues? (Sciebo)

Sciebo is the free cloud service of the participating NRW universities. This service enables members of the RWTH Aachen University to store data on a server, to synchronize them between different devices and to share them with others. Furthermore, Sciebo enables the backup and access of private and professional data from different locations and devices. 30 GB storage space is available as standard. 

 

You want to use chat, telephone and video conferences as a substitute for work meetings, meetings etc.? (MS Teams)

In order to provide all members of the RWTH with an accompanying tool, the cloud platform Microsoft (MS) Teams will initially be made available until the end of the 2020/2021 winter semester. As far as technically possible, the software has been configured to provide only the necessary functions.

Would you like to organize your studies more effectively and exchange information with your fellow students more quickly? (M365)

In order to promote student self-administration and communication among students in the digital winter semester 2020/21, the Microsoft 365 service has been available to students since September 23, 2020.
The use of Microsoft 365 is voluntary, it is not used for courses. 

You want to exchange large files easily and quickly? (GigaMove)

GigaMove enables large files to be exchanged quickly and easily and is accessible worldwide.
For the login you need your user name and the password for the RWTH Single Sign-On Account.

You would like to hold your event using a virtual meeting room? (Zoom)

Due to current developments, RWTH Aachen University has acquired licenses for zoom video conferences. Via RWTH Single Sign-On, all members of the RWTH can register with Zoom and automatically receive a personal license, which allows video conferences with up to 300 participants.

If problems occur or you need a license for more than 300 participants, please contact the . 

You want to record an screen with sound?

It is possible to record an image with sound using Microsoft PowerPoint. 
Just follow our instructions and watch the tutorial on the YouTube channel of the IT Center (only in German). 

Guidline for screen recording with Microsoft PowerPoint

You would like to record your event via screencast with Camtasia?

Camtasia makes it easy to record screencasts. You can then integrate them into your RWTHmoodle learning room, for example. Unlike Zoom, there is no limit to the number of participants.

The demand for licenses is collected by the deans of studies and passed on to the Center für Lehr- und Lernservices (CLS) in a bundle. Please contact the Dean of Studies of your faculty to clarify which license is suitable for your course. Please refrain from direct requests to the CLS for the time being, so that they can concentrate on supporting you in the operation of the software.

You would like to record your event on video?

If neither a web conference nor a screencast is the right format for your event, it can also be recorded as video. Please keep in mind that the resources are very limited.

 

 

RWTHmoodle (Digital Course Rooms)

You want to create course rooms?

Course rooms in RWTHmoodle can be created via RWTHonline. Please contact the person at your chair or institute who holds the function “Course Coordinator” in RWTHonline. This person can create the course room for you in the section “Edit course” in RWTHonline. If you are registered in RWTHonline as “lecturer” or “assistant” of a course, you will automatically be authorized as “manager” in the corresponding course room.

You want to add students and other persons to the course room

Students will be automatically authorized to the course rooms as soon as they have received a so-called “confirmed place” for the corresponding course via RWTHonline. As the manager of the course room, you can also manually add persons to the course rooms. To add students manually, please add them in the role "Extra user". You can assign further rights to persons who will supervise the course room with you, such as "manager" or "editing tutor".

You want to record an image with sound?

It is possible to record an image with sound using PowerPoint. 
Just follow our instructions nd watch the tutorial on the YouTube channel of the IT Center (only in German). 

Afterwards the produced video has to be uploaded and integrated in the learning room. Just follow our instructions under the point "You want to provide videos in the learning room".

You want to import and reuse content in the course room?

You can also import and reuse content from course rooms of previous semesters in new course rooms.

You want to provide content in the course room?

In the course room, you can provide various working materials "resources" (max. 250 MB) for your students, such as lecture notes or exercise sheets. You can also create activities that enable interactive work, such as voting or forums.

Please note that videos should not be integrated into the learning room as file uploads, but should be made available via Opencast.

 

You want to provide videos in the course room?

To provide videos such as lecture recordings to your students, you can use the RWTH streaming server. Making videos available consists of two steps: Uploading the video file (max. 16 GB) to the streaming server and embedding the video in the course room.

You can also use WebVTT to add subtitles and chapters to your video.

You need quick support for distance and online teaching? (CLS)

The Center für Lehr- und Lernservices (CLS) supports you in continuing your teaching during the corona crisis with central video recordings as well as licenses for video conferencing and recording software. 
Please refer to the advices for access to the support services.

You would like to hold your event using a virtual meeting room? (Zoom)

Due to current developments, RWTH Aachen University has acquired licenses for zoom video conferences. Via RWTH Single Sign-On, all members of the RWTH can register with Zoom and automatically receive a personal license, which allows video conferences with up to 300 participants.

If problems occur or you need a license for more than 300 participants, please contact the . 

You would like to record your event via screencast with Camtasia?

Camtasia makes it easy to record screencasts. You can then integrate them into your RWTHmoodle learning room, for example. Unlike Zoom, there is no limit to the number of participants.

The demand for licenses is collected by the deans of studies and passed on to the Center für Lehr- und Lernservices (CLS) in a bundle. Please contact the Dean of Studies of your faculty to clarify which license is suitable for your course. Please refrain from direct requests to the CLS for the time being, so that they can concentrate on supporting you in the operation of the software.

You would like to record your event on video?

If neither a web conference nor a screencast is the right format for your event, it can also be recorded as video. Please keep in mind that the resources are very limited.

 

You want to make literature available digitally for your course?

To make literature available to students, you can use the literature module. The system is connected to the University Library, allowing you to place orders for the digitisation of literature and to have existing texts checked for copyright.

You want to contact students via the course room?

You can contact students directly via the course room. For this purpose you have two options: The activity "Announcements" or the block "Quickmail". We recommend to use the activity "Announcements", as through this the messages sent to the students remain visible in the course room.

 

RWTHonline

You want to know how to use RWTHonline correctly?

In the RWTHonline document portal you will find click instructions and conceptual explanations that will help you use RWTHonline.

Please note that the portal is only accessible via the RWTH network. To get access from other networks, please use our VPN service.

You have questions about theses, exams, submission of documents as well as proof of performance and certificates?

The Central Examination Office of RWTH Aachen University has compiled current FAQs for you. This information is permanently updated.

You want to enter performances?

If you have any questions regarding service recording, please refer to the information in the guide. 

Grades can be entered by all persons who have the "PV service entry" function at the relevant organizational unit, or by examiners using the "PV service entry (own examination)" function. The grades can be entered directly via the Web interface or using an export function.
Please note the respective advantages and disadvantages, which are described in the guide.

You want to publish performances?

Validation and correction of valid performances can only be carried out by registered examiners with the function "PV service entry (own test)", unless the rights have been shared with persons with the function "PV service entry" beforehand.

You would like to register or deregister students from courses or examination dates?

To register and deregister students for courses, you need the function "AV Attendee Management". For registration procedures with subprocedures, you also need the function "WL Coordination". 

To register and deregister students for an examination date, you need the function "PV Attendee Management" or "PV Attendee Management Administration".

You want to create courses and exams for the upcoming winter semester 2020/2021?

If you have any questions regarding the planning of courses and exams for the coming winter semester 2020/2021, please refer to the information in the guidelines. There you will find an overview of all necessary activities and the time schedule.

You want to report errors?

In case of errors, please refer to the list of errors and known limitations.

We would like to advise that when using the browsers Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer as well as Safari, display and authorization errors may occur. Therefore we recommend the use of Firefox or Chrome.

Please contact the if you have any questions or error messages.

 

Support

You would like to make an inquiry to the IT-ServiceDesk?

Every day, the IT-ServiceDesk receives support enquiries on a wide variety of issues. Of course, the team always tries to help you as quickly as possible. However, to make the waiting times in email, chat or telephone support even shorter for you, a guide (German only) for support requests has been created.