Get Help: Login Problems
If you can't log in to Vista at all, check the following:
Are your user name and password valid, and have you typed them both correctly?
Vista uses your Unity ID and password. If the username/password is not recognized, you may see an error message like, "There is some internal problem. Contact your Server Administrator."
Double check that you have typed the username and password accurately, and that your Caps Lock key is not on.
If you don't know your Unity ID or password, contact the Help Desk at 515-HELP or help@ncsu.edu.
Is the Vista server offline for regularly scheduled maintenance?
Vista must be taken offline periodically for regular server maintance and for the installation of system updates. Check the Server Status page for information about scheduled maintenance windows.
Is there some kind of network problem on campus not related specifically to Vista?
Check to see if you can successfully access other campus servers, such as Webmail, WolfWare, or the NC State home page. If these other sites are unavailable, there may be trouble with the campus network.
Visit http://sysnews.ncsu.edu for information about campus network outages.
Are you trying to connect from behind a firewall?
If your computer uses a firewall to restrict certain traffic (many business computers do), you may have trouble accessing some parts of Vista. Vista requires the following ports to be open: 80, 443 (for SSL), and 2304 (for chat & whiteboard).
If you can log in to Vista (you see the "My Courses" page), but you can't get to your class, check the following:
Does this class use Vista?
Your class may not be using Vista. Some course materials are only offered via WolfWare. Check with the instructor of the class to verify that the class is in fact using Vista.
Are you enrolled in this class?
If you have verified that the class is using Vista, but you do not see it in your Course List, then you may not be enrolled in the class. If you have just added the class, you should be automatically enrolled within one to two business days.
If you do not wish to wait for the one to two business days to elapse, your instructor can also add you to the class roster manually.
Has your instructor set a different start date for your class?
By default, Vista classes become available to students on the first day of the semester. Instructors have the option of choosing a different start date, which might be earlier or later than the first day of the semester. If the semester has not started yet, and you don't see your class in Vista, it may be because the instructor chose the default start date. Check with your instructor to verify your Vista class's start date.
Other Concerns
Is your browser validated for use with Vista, and is it configured properly?
On the main vista.ncsu.edu page, click the "Browser Check" button on the right side of the page. You will see the results of the Browser Check as a series of green checks or red Xs. If you see any red Xs, you may need to configure your browser properly before using Vista.
For full information on configuring your browser for use with Vista, see the Browser Tune-up pages.
Are you going to the correct URL?
To login, you should go to http://vista.ncsu.edu and enter your Unity ID and password. Click 'Submit' to log in to Vista.
You should NOT bookmark any other pages for logging in. The correct page to log in to Vista is http://vista.ncsu.edu.