Linux row
From CS Wiki
LinuxRow is the row of computers running Linux in the Computer Science Lab located in the KOM room 351. The boxes are running Ubuntu Linux with a wealth of software available. You can log on remotely, or directly in the lab.
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Logging on Directly
To log on directly in the lab, first pull the machine into active mode by hitting a key on the keyboard or moving the mouse. When the log in screen appears, enter your frank username and password.
- NOTE: If someone is already logged in, you can log them out by hitting the key combination: Alt+Ctrl+Backspace
Do not be fooled by it saying Kubuntu instead of Ubuntu. We use KDM for the login manager which is offered by the Ubuntu derivative, Kubuntu. If the log in manager says your username and password are invalid, you probably need to request an account. To request an account, go to the main CS domain site located at http://www.cs.mtsu.edu. Requests usually take 1 to 2 days.
You have many options on which Desktop Environment (DE) you can use. The default is KDE but Gnome is also available. Other more simple environments include fvwm, windowmaker, and Enlightenment enabled Gnome and KDE. No matter what environment you choose, the same software is available. To choose your environment click on Menu and then Session. After you have selected your environment, you may click the button containing an arrow facing right. Your chosen environmennt will then start.
- NOTE: You do not have to select an environment if you want to use KDE. However, the system remembers your last session, so if you chose something other than KDE previously, you will have to select it again.
Logging on Remotely
To log on remotely, use ssh. If your username and password are rejected, you probably need to request an account. To request an account, go to the main CS domain site located at http://www.cs.mtsu.edu. Requests usually take 1 to 2 days.
Mac / Linux
If you are on a Mac, open up Terminal located in Applications->Utilites, or if you use Linux, just open up your favorite terminal emulator. Then issue the command:
echo "StrictHostKeyChecking=no">>~/.ssh/config
This is necessary because the linux.cs.mtsu.edu points to several different machines and ssh will not let you onto a machine who's identity seems to have changed. After that command, you will be able to log onto the linux machines with the command:
ssh username@linux.cs.mtsu.edu
It will ask you for your password. Upon a correct password, it will log you into the system.
Windows
If you are using Windows, you will need to download Putty. Save this file to your desktop. To launch, double click the icon labeled Putty on your desktop.
enter the URL: linux.cs.mtsu.edu
When the login request presents itself, provide your frank username and password. This will log you into the system.
To access all the many options available, or reconnect while the main putty window is still active, you can right click on the Title bar.
If your username and password are rejected, you probably need to request an account. To request an account, go to the main CS domain site located at http://www.cs.mtsu.edu. Requests usually take 1 to 2 days.
Special SSH Tools
X11 Forwarding
X11 forwarding allows a ssh session onto one linux system (or frank) to have any graphical interfaces forwarded to your local graphics server (X11)
Linux/Mac: used the -X flag (ssh -X <whatever other options> username@address
Windows/more info X11 Forwarding.
SSH Key Authentication
To enable authentication keys, please consult the page SSH Keys
File Storage
You can use your linux account for remote file storage. You are allowed 200 MB of space. This includes e-mail storage and any configuration files from DE use. If this limit is exceeded you will have seven days to delete some files in order to clear up disk space. If you do not reduce your disk usage below 200 MB within these seven days, your account will be banned.
The preferred method to upload and download files is with FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
Mac
In mac, you can connect to the FTP server by going to your Finder, and select the Go menu. Choose the "Connect to Server" option.
In the Address section, enter:
ftp://your_username@ftp.cs.mtsu.edu
An authorization window will appear. Enter your password. Upon successful authorization, the site will be "mounted" just like any other drive and appear in your Finder's sidebar. Click on the sidebar entry and you will see your home directory for your linux account. You may now treat this folder just like any other folder on your computer. To add files, drag and drop files into and out of the folder.
Linux
In Linux, there are several good GUI (Graphical User Interface) FTP programs. Both Gnome and KDE have FTP built into the environment.
GNOME
Open the Places menu located beside the Applications menu on your desktop toolbar. Now select Connect to Server. Enter this address:
ftp://your_username@ftp.cs.mtsu.edu
An authorization dialog will appear. Enter your password. Upon successful authorization, an icon most likely will be placed on your desktop. If not, an entry for the FTP server will now be the Places menu. Click on the desktop icon and your filemanager will open. You may now treat this folder just like any other folder on your computer. To add files, drag and drop files into and out of the folder.
KDE
Open up Konqueror, and enter this address:
ftp://your_username@ftp.cs.mtsu.edu
An authorization dialog will appear. Enter your password. Upon successful authorization, you will be taken to your linux account home directory. You may now treat this folder just like any other folder on your computer. To add files, drag and drop files into and out of the folder.
Command Line
It's actually far easier to scp (secure copy) your files to linux.cs.mtsu.edu than ftp them to ftp.cs.mtsu.edu. Note this copies files to and from your linux account and does not move them. To remove files from you linux account, you must log in to the linux machines and use the rm command to delete files.
Open your favorite terminal emulator. Then cd to the directory containing the files you want to upload or the directory where you want to download file to. Something like this:
cd ~/myproject
Enter this command to upload:
scp file_to_upload your_username@linux.cs.mtsu.edu:
Enter this command to download:
scp your_username@linux.cs.mtsu.edu:file_to_download .
- NOTE:to upload or download an entire directory, put -r after scp
It will ask your for your password if you don't have SSH Keys set up. Enter it. After the transfer is complete, your files will be copied.
Windows
Open Internet Explorer. Then enter this address:
ftp://your_username@ftp.cs.mtsu.edu/
An authorization dialog will appear. Enter your password. Upon successful authorization, you will be taken to your linux account home directory. You may now treat this like any other folder on your computer. To add or remove files, drag and drop files into and out of the folder.
Software
UML
User Mode Linux is available for users to run virtual machines without risking the system. UML loads a kernel in userspace to run virtual instances of Linux. For more information, consult the UML site.
Blender 3D
Blender 3D is a 3D modeling program. To give you an idea of how powerful it is, virtually all of the Star Wars II special effects were done in Linux using Blender 3D. To use, execute the following command:
blender
For more information on how to use Blender, consult the Blender 3D site.
