How to obtain a current computer account at CERN:

1. Personal accounts:

• if you are new to CERN and need a computing account, OR;
• if you already have a CERN account but need access to other computing services.

2. Generic (non-human) accounts:

• if you want to create an account for a club, a service or other generic (non-human) account.

3. Automatic account closure

• How to avoid your accounts being closed.

Personal accounts

Prerequisite: You must be already registered in CERN's Human Resources (HR) database:

• either by HR (personnel paid directly by CERN)
• or by the CERN Users' Office (CERN users not paid by CERN, i.e. you are paid by a university or institute),
• or for external contractors by the Registration Service in Building 55.

New people at CERN without a current CERN computing account

You will need to contact your Computing Group Administrator who will give you access to the resources you need to have an account.

Your supervisor or colleague(s) should be able to tell you who this administrator is and which computer group you belong to.

You must then login to your account with the login name and password given to you by Computing Group Administrator and validate your account as follows:

1. Go to: http://cern.ch/cernaccount and select “New users: Security Training and Computing Rules”
2. Login with your temporary password and follow the online computer security course.
3. Change your password immediately after via the cernaccount link.

You must do the online computer security course AND change your password within 3 days of your account being created, otherwise the account will be blocked!

For people with a CERN account, but requiring access to a particular service

To acquire a CERN e-mail account, new login on AFS, NICE, Remedy, etc:

• Contact your Computing Group administrator who will proceed with the name reservation and accounts creation using CRA.
• The group administrator will supply you with the login name and initial CERN password.

Please note:

• The Helpdesk cannot help with account creation, and users must contact one of their Computing Group administrators (by phone or email).
• For changes to the HR database (e.g. your phone, office number, name correction, etc.) please contact:
  • either your experiment secretariat
  • or for Users/Visitors, the User's Office/a>.

Generic (non-human) account

To register a generic (non-human) account (e.g., service, CERN club, etc.)

• read the FAQ
• Then follow this "Generic Entry Request" link.

Please note that these accounts cannot obtain GRID certificates.

Account closure

Shortly before your registration expires you will receive an email warning you that your accounts will be closed.

If you fail to renew your registration, your accounts will be blocked on the date indicated.

The procedure on how to renew your registration is explained in the e-mail.

For more information on automatic account closure, see the Computing Newsletter Article.