Q: Can I have a Silicon account?
Students need faculty sponsor for Silicon account. Whether you need an Silicon account for research or course work, you'll need a faculty to make the account request for you.
Does my Silicon account expire?
Yes, your account expires after you graduate, or after 12 months of inactivity, whichever happens first.
I have never used Linux before. Is there any tutorials for new users?
Here are some resource links for beginner: