Here you will find the steps to create and access the SCS Linux network

Linux Account eligibility:

• Any SCS student taking a computer course that requires linux
• any BCS or SCS graduate student

If you need to create a linux account or simply want to change your linux password (online account system link):

http://www.scs.carleton.ca/webacct/

More information on creating a linux account can be found here: Account Creation Instructions

The SCS XP labs runs a Linux emulator called xwin32 that allows you to access the zeta-linux network. You will be able to remotely login to the linux host and it will be just like you are sitting infront of the actual machine (console). There is a desktop icon called “SCS Linux Network” that will launch xwin32 with the zeta 'chooser'.

• Which Computer Science labs can I use?
• I do not have an xwin32 ('SCS Linux Network') icon on my desktop
• When I start xwin32 the chooser does not start automatically
• I do not have a zeta session, how do I create it manually?

Once the chooser starts choose a zeta host that has the least number of users and the least load. Choose the zeta host and then click on 'Connect'.

Load is a variable that defines the average number of CPU cycles of a system. On the chooser you will see the number of users on that zeta as well as three 2 decimal place numbers. Those three numbers define the load average over the past 1, 5, and 15 minutes. Zero (0.00) load is ideal - no load, a load of 3.00 or more is considered a high load.

You can us the same username and password as the SCS Windows lab machines. The default window manager is Gnome but you can also use KDE (Select the Session menu item on the login window).

The beauty of linux is that you can run anything you like from a terminal (in windows it would be the command or DOS window). To launch a terminal window you can go to the Gnome main menu - Accessories - Terminal.

To logout of linux click on the main Gnome menu - System - Log Out. Then close the X-Win32 application by clicking on the top right hand corner of the window.

Please note that there is an gdm-bug that sometimes will 'hang' your xwin32 session. In this case you will need to exit X-Win32 by killing the X-Win32 process (press <ctrl><alt><delete> and then end the X-Win32 processees under windows)

You can start X-Win32 (the linux emulator) from the Windows menu: START - Programs - X-Win32 V.8 - X-Win32

When you start X-Win32 from the desktop icon a session is started automatically. If xwin32 is started manually then you will need to start the zeta-session. Right-click on the title bar of xwin32 and select 'Shared Sessions - zeta'.

If you have X-Win32 or an X-emulator and your at the School of Computer Science you can define a session as follows:

• Session name: SCS Linux Network
• Connection Method: XDMCP
• XDMCP Mode: Indirect
• Host: 134.117.27.43

If your windows XP login and password will not allow you to login to the SCS Linux network then you may have one of two problems:

1. You do not have an SCS linux account
2. You do not know your SCS linux password

If you do not know which one applies to you do the following:

1. Change your SCS password using the online web-account system.
2. Note any warnings and errors.
3. Wait 10 minutes for your password change to take effect. Please note that your SCS Windows XP password will change as well.

If there is an error or warning that sais that you do not have a linux account then you will have to create one using the web-account system.

There are two or more files that can cause a login problem: .cshrc and the .xsession files. You can login to a zeta using putty and then move those two files. There is a small script that will backup those files and all the gnome-windowmanager files. Login to a zeta host (using the putty terminal window) and then run: /usr/local/bin/backup-gnome Now try logging in again using xwin32.

This is an xwin32 bug (related to the linux gdm settings). The zeta machines should not show the black screen. If you do see the black screen contact the SCS technical staff and report the problem.

You may have an entry in your ~/.cshrc file that limits the number of processees. If this occurs you can use 'putty' to log into a zeta host or quest and then you can remove or edit the .cshrc file. Look for the 'limit' command and remove it. easier yet, move or delete the entire .cshrc file (it's not needed).