Logging on and Doing Windows

<BODY > <HR><center> <table border=1> <td><img height=36 width=36 alt="" src="../../../icons/latex2html/previous_fade.gif"></td> <td> <A NAME="tex2html3" HREF="../../../classes/Lab_Manual/contents.html"><img height=36 width=36 alt="UP" src="../../../icons/latex2html/up.gif"></A></td> <td> <A NAME="tex2html5" HREF="node1.html"><img height=36 width=36 alt="NEXT" src="../../../icons/latex2html/next.gif"></A></td> <td><a href="contents-windows.html"><img height=36 width=36 alt="CONTENTS" src="../../../icons/latex2html/toc.gif"></a></td> </table> </center> <HR>  <P> Carleton DeTar detar at physics.utah.edu <P> <P> <H1>Logging on and Doing Windows</H1> <P> <P> This lesson provides a first introduction to our laboratory SunRay terminals, including how to log on and off, how to select and change your password, and how to manipulate windows with the window manager. <P> If you are viewing this document with a browser, on the left frame you should find navigation buttons that can help you move around in this document. <P> We find that nearly all of our students are already familiar with Apple's or Microsoft's windows system. Our Unix classes use the SUN Software ``Java Desktop'' manager, which has a similar look and feel. So we assume this level of familiarity. <P> <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000010000000000000"> Class Accounts</A> </H4> <P> If you didn't already have a Physics computer account before you enrolled in your class, you should have received a sheet of paper with your username and password. Students who registered late may have been missed. Please see the instructor if you don't have your account information. <P> <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000020000000000000"> Other Physics Computer Accounts</A> </H4> <P> <A NAME="tex2html1" HREF="../../obtaining_accounts/obtaining_accounts/obtaining_accounts.html">See instructions.</A> <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000030000000000000"> Saving Sessions</A> </H4> Old UCards had an embeded computer chip (not the new invisible RFID chip - one that looks like a little gold medallion). If you don't have such an old card, just skip this paragraph. If it does, you will be able to save your session, which might be useful. Although you don't need any card to log in to the SunRay, if yours does have a chip, we recommend you insert it into the SunRay slot before logging in. Your session is then identified by your card. Remove it without logging off to end your session. Then you can return to your unfinished session on any lab machine a few hours later by just inserting your card. Still, it is a good idea to save any essential files before you remove your card, since a power failure will erase your session. <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000040000000000000"> Logging on to the SunRays</A> </H4> You should already see a login screen. Enter your assigned login user name and password in the space provided. Unix is case-sensitive, so be sure to type upper and lower case exactly as given. If you are successful, you will get the window manager screen. Our classes have adopted the Java Desktop manager as a standard. If you see the Java logo coffee cup at the bottom left on the Launch button, you have the Java Desktop. If not, see the next paragraph to change it. <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000050000000000000"> Selecting the Window Manager</A> </H4> You shouldn't need to do this, but if you get an unfamiliar window manager when you log in, just log out. Then on the login Welcome screen, use the mouse to select Options->Session->Java Desktop System. After that, enter your username and password to log in. <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000060000000000000"> Changing Your Password</A> </H4> If this is the first time you have logged in, you <EM>must</EM> change your password. Do this in three steps explained in the next four paragraphs: (1) Choose a good password. (2) Open a terminal window. (3) Use the Unix <B>passwd</B> command to make the change. <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000070000000000000"> Selecting Your Password</A> </H4> Your password is a string of letters, numbers, and/or special characters that you can remember easily but others would find it very difficult to guess. Unix distinguishes upper and lowercase letters. For the sake of security on this system, we urge you to choose your password wisely. Don't use names and words found in dictionaries. A combination of letters and numbers, upper and lowercase and/or special characters is good. Your password should contain at least six characters. For example, you could create a password from the first letters of a mnemonic phrase, such as ``Ga,mmd!'' for ``Go ahead, make my day!''. (But don't use this one, now! Make up your own.) <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000080000000000000"> Getting a terminal window</A> </H4> Open the root window menu by right-clicking with the mouse in an empty space on your screen. Select ``Open Terminal''. <H4><A NAME="SECTION00000090000000000000"> Typing in a Terminal Window</A> </H4> The terminal window is the basic interface for communicating with the shell. Any command or other information you type will not be interpreted until you hit <B><Enter></B>. Before that, you may hit <B><Backspace></B> to redo the previous character. To redo the entire command from the beginning, hold down the <B><Ctrl></B> key while typing <B>u</B>. (This operation is abbreviated <B>C-u</B> in these notes.) <H4><A NAME="SECTION000000100000000000000"> Changing Your Password</A> </H4> After you have invented a new password, type <B>passwd<Enter></B> (it i.e. the letters <B>passwd</B> followd by the Enter key) at the prompt in a terminal window to run the procedure that changes your password. You will first be asked for your old password, then your new choice, and you will be asked to repeat your new choice to verify that you didn't make a typing mistake. You may change your password as often as you want using this method. It takes about one hour for the change to take effect, so you may have to continue to use your old password for a while. <P> <HR><center> <table border=1> <td><img height=36 width=36 alt="" src="../../../icons/latex2html/previous_fade.gif"></td> <td> <A NAME="tex2html3" HREF="../../../classes/Lab_Manual/contents.html"><img height=36 width=36 alt="UP" src="../../../icons/latex2html/up.gif"></A></td> <td> <A NAME="tex2html5" HREF="node1.html"><img height=36 width=36 alt="NEXT" src="../../../icons/latex2html/next.gif"></A></td> <td><a href="contents-windows.html"><img height=36 width=36 alt="CONTENTS" src="../../../icons/latex2html/toc.gif"></a></td> </table> </center> <HR>  <HR><P><ADDRESS> <I></I> </ADDRESS> </BODY>