• Schedule
• Documentation
• Resources
• Thanks

Using Linux: A Collection of Resources

John Kerl • Nov. 14, 2007

Contents:

• Text mode: getting in
• Text mode: what to do
• Graphical mode: getting in
• File transfer
• But how do I ...

Text mode: getting in

The math department server machines run Linux. Your own computer, though, may or may not be. How you connect depends on your platform.

On a Linux or Mac machine, bring up a terminal window and then the above SSH command (use your own username, of course). You may connect to hosts gila and iguana.

The putty program for Windows has a point-and-click installer. Just google for it, download it, and follow the directions.

For more information on SSH, please see http://support.math.arizona.edu/account/remoteshell.

If you're as old as I am, you may recall rsh, rlogin, and/or telnet. We don't support these access methods — only ssh. The reason is that the former three methods transmit information (including your password!) completely unencrypted along the wire between your place and the math department. SSH (for secure shell), on the other hand, uses encrypted communication between you and the department servers. A similar remark applies to scp and sftp, which are discussed below.

Text mode: what to do

Using one of the previous methods, you should have been asked for a password. Once you log in, you are looking at a shell prompt.

Now what? Please see this link for lots of information: Getting Started with Linux.

Graphical mode: getting in

Please see this link for how to use VNC: http://support.math.arizona.edu/account/remotedesktop.

If you use VNC, you'll see a full desktop. If you use ssh -X, you'll be able to do run programs one at a time as you need them, e.g. xterm &.

File transfer

scp/pscp; sftp/psftp

Examples:
scp myfile.tex kerl@gila.math.arizona.edu:thesis/myfile.tex
scp kerl@gila.math.arizona.edu:thesis/figure.png .

Example:
sftp kerl@gila.math.arizona.edu
(Provide your password)
cd thesis
put myfile.tex
get figure.png
quit

If you're as old as I am, you may recall rcp and/or ftp. We don't support these access methods — only sftp. The reason is that the former two methods transmit information (including your password!) completely unencrypted along the wire between your place and the math department. SFTP (for secure file transfer protocol), on the other hand, uses encrypted communication between you and the department servers. A similar remark applies to rsh, rlogin, and telnet, which are discussed above.

But how do I ...

Linux wasn't invented here in the University of Arizona math department ... there are many grizzled souls who have trod your path before you. Almost anything you want to do, someone has done before, and much of it has been documented — in fact, has been documented far beyond my meager abilities. For general Linux questions, google it. For department-specific things, check support.math.arizona.edu.

• Q: How do I get Matlab to print more decimal places?
  A: Google it!
• Q: What do the letters cd and pwd stand for in the familiar Unix commands?
  A: Google it!
• Q: How do I change my e-mail password?
  A: http://support.math.arizona.edu
• Q: How do I use a proxy to access the UA math intranet from home?
  A: http://support.math.arizona.edu
• Q: I've surpassed my disk quota. What do I do?
  A: http://support.math.arizona.edu

Using these techniques, you can get yourself an answer to your question and be on your way in a matter of minutes. Alternatively, send e-mail to system@math.arizona.edu, where the turnaround time is a bit longer.