Using the CS Computers

You will probably want to use our settings file (.tcshrc file) to take advantage of the software installed for the Linux labs.  The commands described below will not work unless you first update your settings file.

Contents:

Getting a terminal window (must read)
Updating your settings file (must read)
Running BlueJ
Running Netbeans
Accessing turnin, email, and WWW directory from the Linux machines
Customizing your GNOME desktop

Getting a terminal window:

On the Linux machines:   To get the terminal window, after you login click on the Red Hat on the lower left-hand corner of the screen.  From there select the System Tools menu. Then select Terminal (it has a terminal icon that you should click on).  See the screenshot.

On the Sun machines:   When you login, select the "Common Desktop Environment".  Once logged in, right-click on the desktop (somewhere in the background, not on any particular item).  Then select Tools, then Terminal.  See the screenshot.

Updating your settings file

There is a settings file (called .tcshrc) that sets up your environment to do various useful things, like allowing you to run BlueJ, Netbeans, etc. from the command line.  In the terminal window, execute the following two commands using the command line:

cp ~i102/.tcshrc ~
source ~/.tcshrc

After you update your settings file, you can run the commands described in the following sections.  You do not need to update it every time you log in.  However, if a command described below does not work, you may need to update your settings file again (because it's become out of date).

Running BlueJ

Open up a terminal window and type bluej followed by ENTER.  If you are in the Linux or Sun labs, BlueJ will start up and you can use it the same as you do on the Windows XP machines.

Running Netbeans

Open up a terminal window and type netbeans followed by ENTER.  If you are in the Linux or Sun labs, Netbeans will start up.

Accessing turnin, email, and WWW directory from the Linux machines:

The Linux machines do not have immediate access to the following resources:

The turnin command (used to turn in your assignments)
The CS email account (your_id@cs.uic.edu)
The WWW directory (where your web pages are stored). 
However, you can open a terminal window and type connect to access these services.  This command uses SSH to connect to a (random) Sun machine.  Note that you will have to type yes if you have never connected to that particular Sun machine before.  You will also have to re-enter your password.

Customizing your GNOME desktop

The Linux machines are running the GNOME desktop.  On the GNOME desktop, you can customize your panel.  Open up a new window (right-click on the desktop, then select New Window...), and type the following in the Location text field:

~i102/launchers

Press ENTER and you'll be taken to a directory where you will see three application launchers (shortcuts, in Windows terminology).  Drag and drop these application launchers into your panel.  See the screenshot.