Every computer you see on this page is available for UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff to use. All you need is an OCF account which is free and fully activates after one week. If you have any questions about our 100% volunteer student-run, ASUC-funded lab, please email .

.:: Open Computing Facility & Heller Lab Information ::.

Location

King Student Union 2F, Upper Sproul Level Map: South side of campus Photo: MLK Student Union Building (taken before the lab was built in 2000-2001)

Hours & Usage

Our OCF Lab Open Hours were 24x7 during Spring/Fall semesters* But this is dependent on ASUC Funding. Due to the relocation of the Heller library to Eshleman, there is no longer any publications staff or overnight security to secure our lab. Therefore, our lab hours are equivalent to MLK's building hours. Please take a look at the staff_hours link for more details. You need an account to fully use our resources. >> Sign-up for an OCF Account here.

Lab Resources

Hardware 10 Gateway Select 1GHz Athlon PCs - Windows 2000 SP3 9 Sun Blade 500MHz workstations - Solaris 9 8 Sun Ultra 1 167MHz workstations - Solaris 9 (will be replaced 2003) 3 Sun Ultra 5 270MHz workstations - Solaris 9 1 Apple iMac 800MHz workstation - OS X - out for repairs 1 HP 8150DN Laserprinter 32ppm Software Windows2k(Gateways)&XP(Dells): Office 2000SB (no powerpoint: use OpenOffice intead that is installed on the machines), Internet Explorer, SSH client Solaris9: StarOffice, AbiWord, Netscape, gaim/gicq, gimp, full unix shell

Are there any creature comforts?

Yes! We offer the following amenities: flat panel LCD displays (on Gateway PCs), battery powered UPS units (on Gateway PCs), microwave oven, whiteboard, A/C unit, free printing (with account), UNIX as well as Windows, we let users eat & drink in the lab (we aren't your mommies; please use the trash), easy to read analog wall clocks; Christmas lights usually in season, volunteer staff opportunities. Our tinted windows keep UV rays in check and let you see outside without being seen during the day. At night though the effect is reversed, making a mirrored box. We don't have miniblinds for our vast windows yet. However, we are actively searching for a replacement ComfyChair. We've even picked one out in the big yellow and blue building in Emeryville. Coming soon!

What's going on in the lab right now?

Most likely people are checking email (hotmail/yahoo), chatting (they aren't supposed to be, on the PCs), talking too loud (ditto), day trading (ditto), retyping the occasional paper, printing said paper, learning UNIX & Solaris, jobsearching, catching up on CS61A or MCB lectures online. Basically three things: relaxing in general, schoolwork, or socializing... Live: Streaming Video webcam Live: Status of all lab computers

Who built the lab and maintains it?

The volunteer staff members of the Open Computing Facility operate Heller Lab. To learn more about the OCF in general, click here for our homepage. Our lab officially opened in October 2000 as a work in progress. Credits, History, Et cetera. Many people made the lab possible. Contruction began in February 2000. Photography is available courtesy ceugene.

* Open lab hours are dependent on Heller Lounge being open -- which is controlled by MLK Building Operations.

Heller Lab server room phone: 643-9888 (not always answered)