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NetID - NetID 101: Complete Guide
This document explains what a NetID is and how it can be used.
Contents
What is a NetID?
Your NetID and your NetID password allow you access to many university systems. Your NetID is a combination of your initials and numbers (e.g. abc123) and is not the same as your Rice ID or Owl ID.
Eligibility for NetID
- Faculty and Staff: after acceptance of employment (Contact Human Resources for any questions regarding eligibility.)
- Undergraduate: within 24 hours of your undergraduate student status (late April or early May after deposits are received) (Contact the Office of the Registrar for any questions regarding eligibility.)
- Graduate: after completion of acceptance process (Contact the Office of the Registrar for any questions regarding eligibility.)
- Retirees: university retirees as defined by Human Resources have access to email only.
Computing Systems Linked to NetID
- ADRice: logging into most office and lab computers on campus
- Esther: system that integrates student services and academic-related activities (student records, grades (input by faculty), etc.)
- iO: enterprise system that integrates financials, human resources, procurement and related reporting in the Oracle Cloud
- Canvas: learning management system
- Google Workspace for Education: cloud-computing tools such as Email, Calendar, Drive, Docs, etc.
- Duo: Two-factor authentication system
- Box: Cloud-based storage
- Some software available to current Rice faculty, staff, and students:
- Cisco AnyConnect VPN
- Zoom Video Communication
Activate NetID
Go to the Online Account Management System. The My NetID page is divided into two parts: Sign In (for current account holders) and Activate Your NetID (for new members of Rice community). Select the link, Start by activating your NetID. You will be asked to provide your Rice ID number (which is on your Rice ID card or in your welcome letter), your birth date, and your first and last name (should match the name given to the Office of the Registrar or Human Resources). Then select Submit. If you already have an active NetID: clicking Submit will tell you that "Your NetID is already activated. It can not be activated again." You can click on the link at the top of the page: I already have a NetID to log in to your NetID Account. After successfully setting up your NetID password, you will receive a Congratulations message that identifies your name and NetID. IMPORTANT: Be sure to make a note of your NetID. Once your password is set, you can access your Rice email through Rice Google Mail.
Two-Factor Authentication
Installing AnyConnect VPN Software
What is VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and its purpose is to provide additional digital security. Rice's VPN system allows secure transportation of data between the university network and a remote computer connected to the Internet outside of Rice. For security reasons, many Rice resources can only be accessed from the Rice network– either from an on campus location or using VPN.
Setting Up VPN
You need to download the necessary software, AnyConnect VPN, for your computer (also called client). See the next section for links to download the software, which will require you to use the Duo authentication service. If you have not set up Duo previously, see the section below, Duo Authentication.
Before you download the software, you must agree to certain conditions to using Rice's VPN software, including:
- you acknowledge that the software and your account are for your personal use only and may not be used by any other person or entity anywhere in the world for any purpose
- you will not give anyone access to the VPN software or your account in order to access the Rice University network.
- that taking your computer with installed VPN software outside of the United States is viewed by the U.S. government as an export of the VPN software and may require prior government authorization for several specific countries (for example Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria). Email exportcontrols@rice.edu at the Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance for more information.
Installing AnyConnect VPN Software
Use the links (campus login required) below to access information about how to install and use the VPN software for specific devices:
VPN: AnyConnect VPN for Windows using Duo Authentication
VPN: AnyConnect VPN for Mac OS X using Duo Authentication
VPN: AnyConnect VPN for iPhone and iPad using Duo Authentication
VPN: AnyConnect VPN for Android using Duo Authentication
VPN: AnyConnect VPN for Red Hat Linux using Duo Authentication
VPN: AnyConnect VPN for Ubuntu Linux using Duo Authentication
Duo Authentication
To get started with Duo, read All about Duo. This document will explain how to use Duo for managing and enrolling devices as well using the authentication service while traveling.
Need help?
If you need assistance setting up VPN or Duo, contact the OIT Help Desk.
Password
Password Criteria and Best Practices
Effective May 17, 2021, new Rice Google account holders will use their NetID password to login to Google. Individuals with Rice Google accounts that were established prior to May 17, 2021 will continue to have a separate Google password that differs from their NetID password until they change one of the passwords and then the passwords will automatically be synchronized. If individuals would prefer to have one less password to remember, they may synchronize them by resetting their password at https://mynetid.rice.edu.
Password Criteria
- Passwords should be 8characters or longer in length (pass phrases are highly recommended)
- Be secure and memorized. (Writing down passwords is not recommended)
- Contain at least 1 character from each of the following character sets:
- Upper case letter (A-Z)
- Lower case letter (a-z)
- Digit (0-9)
- Special character (! ?. )
- Be secured and private.
- Passwords should not contain a common proper name, NetID, email address, initials, first, middle, or last name in forward or reverse format.
- Passwords should not be or contain a dictionary word if less than 12 characters.
- Has not been used previously in the last year.
Best Practices
- Each password chosen is new and unique for each account.
- Don't share it with anyone.
- Don't write it down.
- Do change the password if it is shared or if you think someone else may know it.
- Do change the password regularly. (Suggestion: change your password when you change your clocks for Daylight Savings Time)
Change your NetID Password
Effective May 17, 2021, new Rice Google account holders will use their NetID password to login to Google. Individuals with Rice Google accounts that were established prior to May 17, 2021 will continue to have a separate Google password that differs from their NetID password until they change one of the passwords and then the passwords will automatically be synchronized. If individuals would prefer to have one less password to remember, they may synchronize them by resetting their password at https://mynetid.rice.edu.
If you are already enrolled using Duo Authentication, proceed to the Online Account Management System.
Step 1: Log on to: Online Account Management Page.

On the mobile phone, a notification for a login request will appear. Select Approve.

Note: if you do not Approve the notification promptly, your Login can time-out.

Step 3: Select the Change Password option for NetID option. (Note: When you change your NetID password, if you had a separate Google password before, it will become the same as your NetID password. Read more.)
Account Maintenance
Change Password
This page allows you to change your password credentials associated with various campus resources. Select the password that you wish to change.
• It must be at least 8 characters or longer.
• It cannot be based on your NetID.
• It must not contain your name or common words (e.g. Rice or Owls).
• It must contain at least three of the four character classes:
• Uppercase letter
• Lowercase letter
• Special character
• Numeric digit
• It must be composed of characters in the Roman alphabet or symbols on the US keyboard.

How to Reset a Forgotten NetID Password
Effective May 17, 2021, new Rice Google account holders will use their NetID password to login to Google. Individuals with Rice Google accounts that were established prior to May 17, 2021 will continue to have a separate Google password that differs from their NetID password until they change one of the passwords and then the passwords will automatically be synchronized. If individuals would prefer to have one less password to remember, they may synchronize them by resetting their password at https://mynetid.rice.edu.
You will then be asked to select your preferred notification method. After you make your choice, click Submit. A password reset token will be sent to you via your selected method. This token is only valid for 24 hours and can only be used once. If needed, you can generate another token.
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What to do if Locked Out of Account
Keep calm if you are locked out. The lock automatically expires if no other failed authentications occur. While you are waiting, check your phone and laptop for places where you may have saved an old password and change those to use the new password. If you've done this and you still are unable to figure out what is causing your account to automatically lock, please reach out to the OIT Help Desk.
- WiFi/Wireless Network Settings: Select Forget this network for Rice Owls WiFi and re-authenticate with credentials
- Email Client (Thunderbird, Exchange, Apple Mail, Outlook)
- iOS / Android
- Cached credentials / stored passwords in a web browser: Clear the browser cache
- Windows stored credentials
- Windows Mapped Drives: Disconnect Mapped Drives and reconnect with proper credentials
- MacOS X/ MacOS Keychain: Remove password from Keychain and re-authenticate with credentials then add correct password to Keychain
Automatic account lockouts typically activates after multiple consecutive failed login attempts to a specific authentication system. To better understand the automatic account lockouts, it's important you understand that we have two independent authentication systems with auto-lock protection:
- Active Directory
- RiceNet Wireless
- Rice Exchange Mail
- Workstation/Kiosk Logins (Windows, Mac)
- LDAP / Kerberos / Web Single Sign-On
- Rice Campus Mail
- Rice Authenticated Web Sites (Canvas, Box, Subversion, Webmail, etc.)
- Server/Desktop Logins (Linux)
Manage NetID Account
Changing your Published (Primary) Email Address
Creating an Email Alias (also known as Vanity Email)
- NetID address: sto77@rice.edu
- Official full name address: Samson.The.Owl@rice.edu
- Example Vanity email address: Sammy.Owl@rice.edu
To create a new email alias, login to https://mynetid.rice.edu. Accessing the Online Account Management System (https://mynetid.rice.edu) requires using Duo Authentication.

Create Email Alias
An Email Alias is also called a Vanity Mail Address or a Vanity Alias.
An email alias allows you to personalize your @Rice.edu address. Your NetID automatically assigns you two email addresses: your NetID address and your official address (usually your full name). You may create up to three email vanity aliases. All addresses deliver messages to your NetID email account. NOTE: you cannot delete or modify alias addresses after you create them.
Email Alias Requirements
• Must contain at least 3 characters.
• Must contain only lowercase letters, numbers, dashes (-) and the period (.)
• Alias addresses must begin with a letter and end with a letter or a number.
You have 3 vanity mail alias remaining.
Changing Contact Information in MyNetID

Enter your personal email address and your SMS capable phone number along with the service provider name. Then select Save.

Account Summary

- NetID Information - use your NetID to log on to Rice classroom and lab computers and campus systems.
- NetID Account Status - the status is indicated.
- Primary Email Address - this is your published email address in the Rice online directory. You may select your preference for published email alias.
- Email Alias or Vanity Email Alias - You may personalize your Rice address by creating up to only three email vanity aliases. All addresses deliver to your NetID email account.
Account Maintenance
Account Summary
Questions? Contact the OIT Help Desk.
NetID Information
Your NetID is a combination of your initials and number. In this document, the example NetID is mlm1.
Use your NetID to log into Rice classroom and lab computers, as well as the university systems, applications, and resources shown below.
Type | Status | Description |
---|---|---|
Campus email system (Cyrus) |
Ready |
Used for by employees not migrated to Google email |
Google email |
Ready |
Used for email by students and many employees |
VPN |
Ready |
Used for off-campus access Rice-only resources including storage, printers, and plotters. |
Google Apps |
Ready |
Used for university calendaring and file sharing |
PC & Mac Access |
Ready |
Allows access PC and Mac computers in campus labs and offices. |
Web Authentication |
Ready |
Used for access to general CAS protected websites |
Email Information
Your published email address is Michelle@rice.edu
To access your Rice email, you must log in using your NetID account name, mlm11
Primary Email Address
Mail Alias | Account Type | Status | Mail Account |
---|---|---|---|
Michelle@rice.edu | Vanity | Ready | mlm11@mail.apps.rice.edu |
Michelle.Munroe@rice.edu | Official | Ready | mlm11@mail.apps.rice.edu |
amolu@rice.edu | Vanity | Ready | mlm11@mail.apps.rice.edu |
mIm11@rice.edu | User | Ready | mlm11@mail.apps.rice.edu |
New vanity mail alias | Vanity |
You have 1 vanity mail alias remaining. Remember, you cannot delete or modify alias addresses after you create them.
Create a new vanity mail alias for your mail account