Running Linux on the TJW mainframe from a Windows PC.

Last update: 9/6/2008

A.  Running Linux with the Graphical User Interface (Gnome or KDE)

1.  In order to connect to the Linux systems on the TJW computer from a Windows PC, you must "appear" to be actually on campus. You cannot just Telnet (via any telnet client) to the Linux systems. A secure login is required, via any SSH-capable program. From anywhere off-campus, do this:

a.  Use your favorite browser to connect to http://SSL.Binghamton.edu and login with your PODS ID and password.

b.  Click on "Network Connect" at the top-left of the SSL screen. You can then close the browser. You will now have a new icon in your system tray. To close the connection later (when you are done working), just right-click the icon and select "signoff". Note: this does NOT log you out of Linux. It leaves you in "disconnected-but-running" mode.

c.  For the 1st time only: use a program called Putty and log in to your tjw machine at tjwxxx.cc.binghamton.edu (where xxx is the Linux account number and password I will give you. Your login ID was announced in class, as was the password.

d.  At the Linux prompt, type "vncserver", (without the quotes). You will be asked for a password. Make up a new password for logging in to your Linux account via VNC. This should be a NEW, UNIQUE PASSWORD. Do NOT use the one you used via Putty!

e.  Click on the "X" that closes your Putty Window (do NOT issue the "exit" command, as this will kill your Linux session. Using the "X" leaves your Linux account "live".

2.  Connect to your Linux system

a.  Use the "TightVNC" viewer program available (free) from: http://www.tightvnc.com/download.html. This program supports the full GUI of Linux from your Windows PC. Be sure to enter the ":1" at the end of your TJW machine name (e.g.; tjwxxx.cc.binghamton.edu:1)

b.  First time: CHANGE YOUR Linux password (issue the "passwd" command from a Terminal window or use System Administration User services. This does NOT affect your VNC password. So now you have TWO passwords for the same account: one for linemode (via Putty) and one for full graphics mode via VNC.

B.  Running Linux in "command-line" mode (no GUI)

1.  go to http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html and download the latest supported version of Putty (the one at the head of the list, named "putty.exe".) Save it anywhere in your folder list. Right mouse on the program's name and click on "send to" and select "desktop as a shortcut". There is no "installation" process. Putty runs as-is.

2.  Click on the Putty shortcut. You need to supply some parameters, as follows:

a.  Session:

(1)  Hostname: TJWxxx.cc.binghamton.edu (I will give you the "xxx")

(2)  Saved Sessions:: my-Linux, then click Save

b.  Connection:

(1)  Data: Autologin/Username: joeuser ,then back to Session and Save again. Everyone uses the same userid (joeuser). Your password protects your files, so be sure to issue the passwd command immediately after your first login.

C.  Changing your path so the system can find your executable program in your current directory (when in a Linux terminal window):

1.  log in to your TJW Linux account

2.  type:
nano .bash_profile

create a PATH statement by inserting the following line (WITH the quotes):
PATH=.:"${PATH}" (note the period and colon before the 1st quote)
immediately after the = sign. Do NOT insert any blanks. And those are curly braces, NOT parentheses. Don’t forget the quote signs.
Next, look at the bottom of the screen. You will see a list of nano commands. They are all prefixed with a "^" character. That character represents the PC "CTRL" key. So to exit (with or without saving) press the "CTRL" key and the "x" key together. You will be asked if you wish to save, then you will be asked how you want to name the file when you save it.
To test it, after you exit nano, type the command:
echo $PATH

Remember that everything in Linux is case-sensitive.