Log in

There are three computers in the Mudd Lab running Linux that we will be using for this class. If you are running Linux on your own computer, you will be able to use it for this class, although there might be some software that you have to install.

I am writing these instructions with the assumption that you are sitting at one of the machines in the Mudd Lab. You can also log in remotely from a Macintosh, Wintel or other Linux machine, but if you are doing that, you are on your own.

The three machines are named earl, otto, and arthur (there is a label on each to identify it). The other machines you should know about is alma, which is the departmental server. Alma lives in my office.

1.

Get a piece of paper from me that has your account name and password on it. The account names should be the same as your Colby logins. The passwords were invented by our system administrator, and they are generally not very secure (we'll talk about why not). One of the things you will do on this homework is change the password.

2.

Log in to the machine. It will ask you for your login and password and then give you a UNIX prompt. You can use the computer in this mode (called ``console mode''), but most of the time you will want to use the windowing environment, which is called X. To start the window manager, type startx. The default window manager is called Gnome.

3.

The default desktop includes a Gnome help browser and a file browser. The help browser includes information about Gnome, which you should survey, and information about the system and all its commands, including both man pages and info pages.

In general, info pages are easier to read than man pages, but you will often want to read or print both. Both sets of pages are organized as an alphabetical list of commands, which is less than useful when you are trying to figure out how to do something.

In general this semester I will tell you the names of the commands you want to use and leave it up to you to find out about them.

The file browser should start you out in your home directory. The name of your home directory has two parts: the name of the machine where your home directory resides and your login. In general, you will get the best performance and reliability if you log in to the machine where your home directory resides, but of course that will not always be possible.

There are also a column of icons along the left side of the screen and a row of control widgets across the bottom. I will leave it up to you to explore them at your whim.

4.

If you press the right button with the mouse over the background, a menu will appear with a number of options, including ``New...''. Use this menu to select ``New...Terminal''. A new window should appear with a UNIX prompt in it. Most of the time you will use windows like this to interact with UNIX in ``command line mode.''

5.

Read the UNIX tutorial I handed out in class and perform as many of the activities it describes as you care to.