--- title: "First steps" date: 2020-08-02T21:26:25+02:00 chapter: true draft: false weight: 2 --- # First steps - How to use Matrix? Members and members of the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (of course also students) can use their **University Login** to communicate with members of the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and other universities and other Matrix users (e.g. academic partners) via chat and audio/video telephony in compliance with the relevant legal and regulatory provisions on data protection and IT security. communicate. {{% notice tip %}} We recommend using the Element desktop client, because this avoids most problems users have with Matrix, e.g. end to end encryption. {{% /notice %}} Downloads for: {{% button href="https://packages.riot.im/desktop/install/win32/x64/Element%20Setup.exe" icon="fas fa-download" %}}Windows{{% /button %}} {{% button href="https://packages.riot.im/desktop/install/macos/Element.dmg" icon="fas fa-download" %}}macOS{{% /button %}} {{% button href="/clients/install_linux" icon="fas fa-download" %}}Linux{{% /button %}} After a desktop installation, make sure to use the existing account with the University Login and not to create a new account on another server. Here the example of Element: ![Selected login button in the element matrix client](/images/01_Login_en.png) This is done by clicking on **Change**. Then you will not accidentally end up on the wrong server... ![Change login page with focus on the homeserver button](/images/02_Change-Homeserver_en.png) Now you can manually specify the home server: https://matrix.fbi.h-da.de ![Input field to change the home server with the input matrix.fbi.h-da.de](/images/03_Set-Homeserver_en.png) Afterwards the login with university login and university password must be carried out: The drop-down menu "Log in with:" should be left at "User name". Then the following entries must be made: **Username: University-Login** (only the University-Login, no e-mail address!) **Password: University-Password** An alternative login, e.g. using the e-mail address, is **NOT** possible during the first, initial login, only after the second login. After the first login there is also no e-mail / confirmation mail. Analogous to e-mail addresses, this results in matrix addresses with the following structure: @University-Login:matrix.fbi.h-da.de ![Login window with request to enter University login and password](/images/04_Username_en.png) ## Convenient use of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) Matrix not only encrypts transports to and from the home server (in the data center of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences) but also allows the use of end-to-end encryption (E2EE). For this, cryptographic keys have to be exchanged between all devices that want to write end-to-end encrypted. This technical necessity sounds and is complicated, but in the meantime it has become very convenient for the users. The many cryptographic keys created by the client are stored on the respective device. If this is a tab in a browser, for example, there is a risk that this tab will be closed unintentionally. Then all encrypted contents are no longer readable. To prevent this from happening, a key protection is offered on the home server of the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, on which (protected with a security phrase (or security key that can be calculated from it) all cryptographic keys are stored encrypted. {{% notice info %}} It is highly recommended to use this key backup (with a secure security phrase which is NOT your University password) and read on at [Other important settings]({{< relref "settings/_index.en.md" >}})! {{% /notice %}} ![Screenshot of the prompt to enter a security phrase](/images/01_Restore-Session_withoutKey_en.png) You have to skip this too, because you did not have any protection key yet: ![Confirmation of skipping the input of a security phrase](/images/03_Cancel-Restore_en.png) Key protection is highly recommended for worry-free end-to-end encryption. Therefore you have to choose "Settings/Security & Privacy". Please look for "Encryption" and choose "setup secure backup". ![secure backup of securitykey step1](/images/03_Make_Key_Backup_1_en.png) The next window will look like this: ![secure backup of securitykey step2](/images/03_Make_Key_Backup_2_en.png) Please choose "Generate a Security Key" and "Continue". In the next windows you will see your security key. This should be kept save and retrievable as an emergency key. ![Securitykey backup](/images/03_Make_Key_Backup_3_en.png) With each login to elements you will see the following window: ![help to improve](/images/01_Help_to_improve_en.png) This question you can answer as you like. ## Webclient For using the Webclient, see the manuel under [clients -> browser]({{< relref "clients/browser.en.md" >}}) A registration of accounts (as known from other matrix servers) is not possible here at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, because only persons with University login can use the service. The Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences is not a communication service provider. For scientific cooperations with colleagues without a University account there is the possibility to [apply for a university guest account](https://sd.h-da.de), which also entitles to use Matrix. However, the federation with the Matrix servers of other scientific or civil society institutions will soon be possible (analogous to the existing e-mail federation). Example servers with which communication is already possible are: * [TU Freiberg](https://matrix.tu-freiberg.de/) incl. [Docu](https://tu-freiberg.de/en/urz/dienste/chat) * [TU Chemnitz](https://matrix.tu-chemnitz.de) incl. [Docu](https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/urz/groupware/chat/doku/) * [Hochschule Darmstadt](https://chat.fbi.h-da.de) incl. [Doku](https://its.h-da.io/element-docs/) * [Hochschule Zittau-Görlitz](https://matrix.hszg.de) incl. [Docu](https://zfe.hszg.de/das-zfe/aktuelle-entwicklungen/matrix) * [HMT Leipzig](https://matrix.hmt-leipzig.de) * [Uni Kiel](https://riot.fs-infmath.uni-kiel.de) incl. [Docu](https://www.fs-infmath.uni-kiel.de/wiki/Technische_Dienste) * [Uni Hamburg](http://uni-hamburg.de/) * [Uni Bremen](https://element.stugen.de/#/welcome) * [TU Berlin](https://chat.tu-berlin.de/) incl. [Docu](https://www.innocampus.tu-berlin.de/projekte/matrixinnocampus/) * [Humboldt Uni Berlin](https://element.hu-berlin.de/) incl. [Docu](https://www.digitale-lehre.hu-berlin.de/de/lehr-und-lernlandschaft/element) * [TU München](https://matrix.tum.de) incl. [Docu](https://wiki.in.tum.de/Informatik/Helpdesk/RIOT) * [Uni Hannover](https://matrix.uni-hannover.de) incl. [Docu](https://www.luis.uni-hannover.de/de/services/kommunikation/matrix-messenger/) * [Uni Osnabrück](https://chat.virtuos.uni-osnabrueck.de/#/welcome) incl. [Docu](https://www.rz.uni-osnabrueck.de/homeoffice/riot.html) * [Uni Bielefeld](https://uni-bielefeld.de/teamchat2) * [Bauhaus-Universität Weimar](https://matrix.bau-ha.us) incl. [Docu](https://m18.uni-weimar.de/stuko/referate/digitale-infrastruktur) * [RWTH Aachen](https://riot.comsys.rwth-aachen.de/) * [Ruhr Universität Bochum](https://riot.rub.de/) incl. [Docu](https://www.it-services.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/services/issi/element.html.de) * [Uni Bonn](https://element.matrix.informatik.uni-bonn.de/) * [Uni Heidelberg](https://matrix-im.uni-heidelberg.de/) incl. [Docu](https://www.urz.uni-heidelberg.de/en/heichat) * [Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)](https://dsn.tm.kit.edu) * [Uni Augsburg](https://element.physik.uni-augsburg.de/#/welcome) incl. [Docu](https://www.uni-augsburg.de/de/fakultaet/mntf/physik/facilities/itservices/elequick/) * [Uni Stuttgart](https://chat.stuvus.de/) incl. [Docu](https://wiki.stuvus.uni-stuttgart.de/display/ITKB/Matrix+Messenger) Explizit für Studierende: * [StudiChat](https://chat.studichat.de/#/welcome) (für alle) * [Fachschaften](https://matrix.fachschaften.org/) (für Fachschaften) Weitere europäische Hochschulen: * [ETH Zürich](https://element.phys.ethz.ch/) incl. [Docu](https://readme.phys.ethz.ch/chat/) * [Universität Innsbruck](https://chat.uibk.ac.at/) incl. [Docu](https://www.uibk.ac.at/zid/anleitungen/chat/) * [University for Business and Technology, Kosovo](https://ubt-uni.net/) A map displaying these listed servers is shown at ["Why Matrix?"]({{< ref "why" >}} "Why Matrix?"). For civil use of the Matrix protocol, here is a list of public home servers that can also be used by Kolleg:innen if their institution does not yet offer a Matrix server: [https://www.hello-matrix.net/public_servers.php](https://www.hello-matrix.net/public_servers.php)