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NetID: Complete Guide to NetID
This document is comprised of all the KnowledgeBase documents on NetID.
Contents
Getting Started
What is a NetID?
Your NetID and password allow you to access 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 the 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: a 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 MyNetID page is divided into two parts:
- Left section: Sign In (for current account holders)
- Right section: Activate Your NetID (for new members of the Rice community).
In the right section, 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 (which 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 respond with "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. Your NetID is created automatically and is a combination of your initials and numbers.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to make a note of your NetID. In the example below, mmf11 is the example NetID.
Once your password is set, you can access your Rice email through Rice Google Mail. Read more in Google Workspace for Education
Duo Authentication
Duo is a tool used to improve access security by using two-factor authentication (2FA), also called multi-factor authentication (MFA). Individuals are required to verify their identity by sharing something they know (i.e. userid and password) along with something they have (i.e. a smartphone app). This type of authentication protects Rice systems against cyber attacks.
Duo prompts you to enroll when you enable Duo Two-Factor Authentication within MyNetID (Online Account Management System).
Supported Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.
Step 1: Login to the Online Account Management System with your NetID credentials. Select the Sign in button.
Step 2: Select Two-Factor Authentication under Account Maintenance menu or the lock icon on the main screen.
Step 3: Select Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
Step 4: Click Start setup to begin enrolling your device.
Step 5: Select the type of device you'd like to enroll in and click Continue. We recommend using a smartphone for the best experience, but you can also enroll in a landline telephone, a universal two-factor authentication (U2F) token (currently only works on Chrome browsers), or iOS/Android tablets.
Step 6: Select your country from the drop-down list and type your phone number. Use the number of your smartphone, landline, or cell phone that you'll have with you when you're logging in to a Duo-protected service. You can enter an extension if you chose Landline in the previous step.
Double-check that you entered it correctly, check the box, and click Continue.
If you're enrolling a tablet you will not be prompted to enter a phone number.
Step 7: Choose your device's operating system and click Continue.
If you do not have a compatible smartphone device or decide not to install the Duo Mobile app: choose Other > Continue > Continue to Login > Enter a passcode. Click Text me new code at the bottom of the window. Enter in the passcode you received from Duo via text message and select Log In. Skip to Step 11.
Step 8: Install Duo Mobile
Follow the platform-specific instructions on the screen to install Duo Mobile. After installing Duo Mobile, return to the enrollment window and click I have Duo Mobile installed.
Step 9: Activate Duo Mobile:
Activating the app links it to your account so you can use it for authentication. This will require access to your camera. The application will request access to the camera, which you can temporarily allow. This can be disabled after enrollment.
On your smartphone: activate Duo Mobile by scanning the barcode with the app's built-in barcode scanner. Follow the platform specific instructions for your device:
After you scan the barcode successfully, select Continue.
Can't scan the barcode? Click has an activation link emailed to you instead and follow the instructions.
Step 10: Configure Device Options (optional):
You can use Device Options to give your phone a more descriptive name or select Add another device to start the enrollment process again and add a second phone or another authenticator.If this is the device you'll use most often with Duo then you may want to enable automatic push requests by going to the When I log in: option and changing the setting from Ask me to choose an authentication method to Automatically send this device a Duo Push or Automatically call this device and click Save. With one of the automatic options enabled, Duo automatically sends an authentication request via push notification to the Duo Mobile app on your smartphone or a phone call to your device (depending on your selection).
Select Continue to login to proceed to the authentication prompt.
Your device is ready to approve Duo authentication requests. Select Send me a Push to give it a try. All you need to do is tap Approve on the Duo login request received at your phone.
Step 11: Congratulations, you can now use Duo Authentication!
If you encounter issues during setup, contact the OIT Help Desk.
Passwords
Password Criteria and Best Practices
New Rice Google account holders use their NetID password to login into 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 8 characters or longer in length (passphrases are highly recommended)
- Passwords should be secure and memorized. (Writing down passwords is not recommended)
- Passwords should contain at least 1 character from each of the following character sets:
- Upper case letter (A-Z)
- Lowercase letter (a-z)
- Digit (0-9)
- Special character (! ?. )
- Passwords should 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.
- Passwords should have 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.
Changing your NetID Password
New Rice Google account holders use their NetID password to login into 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.
On your mobile phone, a notification for a login request will appear. Select Approve.
Note: if you do not Approve the notification promptly, your Login request can time out.
Step 3: Select the Change your account passwords option. In the next screen, select the option for Netid Password.
• It must be at least 8 characters.
• 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.
Resetting a Forgotten NetID Password
New Rice Google account holders use their NetID password to login into 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.
RESET vs. CHANGE: If you know your NetID password but want to change it, follow these directions: NetID: Changing your NetID Password
Select Forgot Password on the Rice University Online Account Management System.
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.
What to do if Locked Out of Account
How do I know that my account is locked out?
There is no simple answer to how do you know if you are locked out.
- Did you have access to this system or service recently?
- When you try to authenticate to the system or service, do you receive a message saying the "invalid password," or "account locked," or does it fails silently with no response?
- Are you able to log into https://MyNetID.rice.edu with the same password?
If the answers to all of these questions is YES, then at least one of your accounts may be locked.
Why am I locked out?
Have you changed a password recently? Automatic account lockouts typically activate after multiple consecutive failed login attempts to a specific authentication system. An old password on an active device could be the cause of the lockout.
What to Do
If your account is locked, keep calm. 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 an old saved password and change it to the new password. Did you get a new laptop and phone but still have the old devices? Check those older devices. Read more about places to check below.
If you still are unable to figure out what is causing your account to automatically lock, please reach out to the OIT Help Desk.
What triggers the automatic account lockout?
Common places with passwords stored:
- WiFi/Wireless Network Settings - perform "forget this network (Rice Owls)", 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, add to Keychain)
Rice's Authentication Systems
- Active Directory
- RiceNet Wireless
- Rice Exchange Mail
- Workstation/Kiosk Logins (Windows, Mac)
- LDAP / Web Single Sign-On
- Rice Campus Mail
- Rice Authenticated Web Sites (Canvas, Box, Subversion, Webmail, etc)
- Server/Desktop Logins (Linux)
Auto-lockout affects access to everything within that authentication system. For example, if you trigger the auto-lockout by entering your password incorrectly into Webmail (Rice Campus Mail), you will be unable to access any Linux computers that are also using LDAP for authentication, but your RiceNet Wireless would continue to work normally because it uses a different authentication system.
Preventing Future Lock Outs
Before you change a password:- To prevent mobile devices from causing an auto-lockout event, is to disable wireless and/or enable "airplane mode" on the device before changing your password. Enable the wireless or disable "airplane mode" once the new password has been stored on the device.
- Identify devices where your password is saved and know what devices that you are currently logged into, whether on campus or at home.
- If you use a smartphone or other mobile device, "forget" the Rice wireless network in network settings.
- If you use multiple computers, log off of all of them except one.
- Save your work and close any open applications.
Need help?
Reach out to the OIT Help Desk if you need assistance.
Managing Your NetID Account
Changing your Published (Primary) Email Address
Creating an Email Alias (also known as Vanity Email Address)
- NetID address:netid@rice.edu
(Example: sto77@rice.edu) - Official full name address: first.lastname@rice.edu
(Example: Samson.The.Owl@rice.edu)
- Example Vanity email addresses:
- NicknameForFriends@rice.edu
(Example: Sami@rice.edu) - FormalNameForJobSearch@rice.edu
(Example: Sam.Owl@rice.edu)
- NicknameForFriends@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.
Updating 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
Getting to the Account Summary Display
To view your MyNetID account information, login to mynetid.rice.edu using Duo authentication. Once logged in, click the Account Summary link in the left menu.- 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 a published email alias.
- Email Alias or Vanity Email Alias - You may personalize your Rice address by creating up to three email vanity aliases. All email addresses delivered to your NetID email account.
NetID Information
Your NetID is abc123. (Your NetID is a combination of your initials and numbers.)
Use your NetID to log into Rice classroom and lab computers, as well as the university systems, and applications.
Email Information
Your published email address is youraddress@rice.edu.
To access your Rice email, you must log in using your NetID account name, abc123.
Primary Email Address
(Learn more NetID: Changing your Published (Primary) Email Address
Email Alias or Vanity Mail Alias
An email alias or vanity mail address allows you to personalize your Rice 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. (Learn more NetID: Creating an Email Alias (also known as Vanity Email Address)
When you are on the account summary page, it will show all the addresses that can deliver messages to your NetID email account and if you have any vanity mail aliases remaining.