It is possible to log into Linux machines in the ECE
workstation lab remotely using a computer running Microsoft Windows
and Unix variants such as Mac OSX and Linux, and from any other
machine with an SSH client. Detailed instructions on logging in
remotely appear below for Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows machines.
A remote login can be graphical or nongraphical. With a graphical
login (one in which your computer provides an X11 server for graphics
and your connection tunnels X11 protocol messages) programs can
provide familiar GUIs, though they may be sluggish. Most ordinary GUI
programs will run, exceptions include some code used in the GPU
programming and microarchitecture courses. If your connection is slow
you might choose to connect non-graphically or to run programs in
character mode.
Setting up non-graphical remote access is easy on all systems
mentioned. Graphical access is easy for Linux and Mac OSX. Nevertheless,
don't be so foolish as to first set up remote access with
only a few hours left before an assignment deadline.
For EE 4755 (Digital Design using HDLs), GPU Microarchitecture, and
EE 4720 (Computer Architecture) it should be possible to complete most
assignments non-graphically. For GPU Programming, it will be possible
to edit and compile, but probably not possible to run your code.
This section describes how to connect graphically to ECE
Linux computers from another Linux computer. You will be
able to run many graphical applications, including the GUI
interfaces to Emacs and EDA software. However, programs written
for EE 4702-1 (GPU Programming) will not run (in principle they should
and one day I'll figure it out or they will start working again).
Depending on the bandwidth and especially the latency of your connection,
applications may be sluggish. If that's true for Emacs run
it nongraphically by starting it using emacs -nw.
This section describes how to connect graphically to ECE
Linux systems from a computer running Mac OSX. You will be
able to run many graphical applications, including the GUI
interfaces to Emacs and EDA software. However, programs written
for EE 4702-1 (GPU Programming) will not run (in principle they should
and one day I'll figure it out or they will start working again).
Depending on the bandwidth and especially the latency of your connection,
applications may be sluggish. If that's true for Emacs run
it nongraphically by starting it using emacs -nw.
Set Up VPN Client If not already done,
install the Palo Alto GlobalProtect VPN client
and configure it for LSU access by
following
these
instructions.
Connect to LSU VPN If off campus, connect to the LSU VPN using
your VPN client. Connect to gateway
gp.vpn.lsu.edu. Provide your myLSU (not the same as your
class account) userid and password when prompted.
Check for an X11 Server X11 came with earlier versions
of OSX. To see if you have it click the Launchpad icon and
open the folder, and start . It
should open a command-line interface to OSX. From there try
to run
xterm:
Last login: Sat Sep 17 16:46:47 on ttys000
Deborahs-MacBook-Pro:~ $ xterm
If X11 is working another window should pop up. If it does
type exit in that window and proceed to the Connect step
below.
Install an X11 Server In the launchpad
menu look for an X11 (or X) icon. Click the icon and follow
the instructions for downloading and installing XQuartz. You
will need to log out and in. Do so and repeat the Check for an X11 Server
step.
Connect to an ECE Machine Choose an ECE machine on
this list.
Make sure the VPN client is connected to LSU.
Start a terminal by clicking on the which may
be in the folder under Launchpad. From
the terminal window use
ssh (which should come with OSX)
to log in to your account. In the example below
replace
xyz with the name of the machine you want
to connect to and replace
ee470201 with your class account
userid.
Deborahs-MacBook-Pro:~ ssh -X xyz.ece.lsu.edu -l ee470201
ee470201@xyz.ece.lsu.edu's password: 2@Wmypassword
Last login: Sat Sep 17 16:36:49 2016 from ip72-207-192-52.br.br.cox.net
[xyz.ece.lsu.edu] %
Start working You might start Emacs and then load your
assignment. If you are off campus or on a slow connection try starting
Emacs with the command
emacs-lucid. This will start a graphical
version of Emacs, but one which is less sensitive to connection
latency than the version of Emacs started using
emacs. If you
don't want to run Emacs graphically (perhaps because it's too slugish)
start Emacs with
emacs -nw.
[xyz.ece.lsu.edu]% emacs-lucid
Notes For using Emacs it might be useful
to tell XQuartz that the Mac command keys should work
like Alt keys which Emacs calls Meta keys. To do
so locate and from that dialog
switch to the tab and check the item.
This section describes how to connect non-graphically to ECE Linux
systems from a computer running Microsoft Windows. You will not be
able to use graphical applications. It will be possible to run Emacs
and other text editors, to compile programs, and to run Verilog
simulation and synthesis programs.
Set Up VPN Client If not already done,
install the GlobalProtect VPN client
and configure it for LSU access by
following
these
instructions, or use some other AnyConnect-compatible VPN client.
Connect to LSU VPN If off campus, connect to the LSU VPN using
your VPN client. Connect to gateway
gp.vpn.lsu.edu. Provide your myLSU (not the same as your
class account) userid and password when prompted.
Set up an SSH Client The following instructions are for
PuTTY, a popular SSH client.
From the
PuTTY site find and download the Windows MSI
installer package. Run the installer.
PuTTY is one of
many SSH
clients. It is widely used on Windows and so hopefully will
have the fewest compatibility issues.
Connect to an ECE Machine Choose an ECE machine on
this list. On
your Windows machine locate and click the link to start
PuTTY. A dialog should pop up. In the
field enter the name of the computer you would like
to log into, for example,
xyz.ece.lsu.edu (change
xyz
to a valid name). The should be set to SSH and
the should be set to 22. Click the button, at
the bottom. A command-line interface window should pop up. In response
to the
login as: prompt enter your ECE account userid,
Enter, then your password and
Enter:
login as: ee475501
ee475501@xyz.ece.lsu.edu's password: 2@Wlowercse
Last login: Sat Sep 17 14:24:01 2016 from 10.0.28.244
Start working You might start Emacs and then load your
assignment. If you are off campus or on a slow connection try starting
Emacs with the command
emacs-lucid. This will start a graphical
version of Emacs, but one which is less sensitive to connection
latency than the version of Emacs started using
emacs. If you
don't want to run Emacs graphically (perhaps because it's too slugish)
start Emacs with
emacs -nw.
[xyz.ece.lsu.edu]% emacs
When Emacs starts non-graphically it will replace the contents
of the window. Menus can be accessed by pressing F10 and
using arrow keys to navigate the menu items.
Some Notes. When using Emacs you might need to use the left
Alt key for the meta key (the right Alt won't work). (For
example, to start Emacs' built-in psychologist: Alt-x
doctor Enter).
Establishing a remote graphical connection will let you run
programs with their GUIs and to run graphics-only programs. In Unix
parlance, you will be running an X11 server on your Windows
computer which will let your run X11 clients (graphical
programs) on an ECE (or other remote) machine and have them use your
X11 server for output. The X11 protocol messages sent between
the client and server are usually tunneled through the same SSH
connection that is used to log in to the remote machine.
The most convenient way to set this up is to have one program act
as both an X11 server and as an SSH client, or a set of such programs
designed to work together. Otherwise, a separate X11 server and SSH
client must be set up to work together. At some point detailed
instructions will be posted here to do this. Those with time to spare
might try setting up
xming.
Emacs, at its core, is a text editor, however surrounding that core
are many commands and modes to help with programming tasks of all
kinds and other activities from the practical, such as editing files
on remote computers (look for Remote Files in the documentation), to
the amusing, such as inserting keywords designed to attract the
attention of counterespionage agents (M-x spook). Emacs
has commands for
practically anything.
These steps show how
to use Emacs to edit a file.
The first step shows how to start Emacs graphically, which is
what you'd want to do if you were not connecting remotely.
Connecting non-graphically is the better option if you were
connecting remotely (say from your PC at home).
To run Emacs graphically type
emacs &
in a command shell or start using the menu items.
A window should pop up, the frame will be labeled Emacs.
To run Emacs non-graphically type
emacs -nw in a command shell.
Emacs should start, there should be a character-mode
menu across the top.
Load a file by selecting from the menu.
If running non-graphically press F10 to access the menus.
Enter a file name. Note that text may appear in the bottom
of the main window in an area called the minibuffer,
or in a dialog box.
(Once loaded, the file name will appear in the mode line near the
bottom of the window.)
Enter text in the buffer to try out the editor.
Select from the menu to save.
When done with editing for the day
select from to exit.
Many users prefer to leave Emacs open with multiple files
rather than exiting and re-starting Emacs for each file edited.
The tutorial is an introduction for first-time users.
Info provides detailed documentation for Emacs and other programs.