If you already have a Linux account skip to step 3.
Before you can use the workstations in the Linux lab (B1.11) you need to register for an account. You will have to register in a PC lab. or the Mac lab.
To register for an account apply online at http://hopper.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/unix_account (You will need your student online username and password). You will receive an email and you need to click on the link in that email.
Log onto a Linux workstation using your student on-line username and password to log on. Usernames and passwords are case sensitive. Type your username in lowercase.
A number of web browsers are available for Linux e.g. Firefox, Opera and Konqueror. Internet Explorer is not available on UNIX.
Firefox is an excellent browser that is free and is also available on Windows. Before you can fully use Firefox, it needs to be setup to use a proxy. The proxy is used to reduce internet traffic by storing some web pages.
(a) Set up the proxy. This is necessary to access web sites outside of the University
(b) Set a home page
You can now use Firefox. You should not have to change the above settings again unless you want to change your home page.
Try accessing a few sites at La Trobe and elsewhere to check that it works correctly. Check that the home button returns you to the CS&CE Department web page.
To run Firefox either:
Other Web Browsers are available at: Applications > Internet
The subject web pages can be found via the Subjects link on the Department of CS & CE (Bendigo) or directly at:
http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/subjects/PE
Open a terminal (console) window by
Rather than selecting programs via the menus, programs can be run by clicking on an icon in the panel next to the menu bar. To add Open Terminal Window to the panel, type the following:
The traditional (and most powerful) way to manage files on Unix systems is to use a terminal window and type commands. An alternative is to use a File Manager application such as Nautilus. Nautilus is similar to Windows Explorer, allowing directories (folders) to be navigated, files to be selected, renamed, deleted; directories to be created, renamed and deleted; file details to be viewed, file protections to be set etc.
To run the Nautilus File Manager either:
Try using Nautilus, to explore your account and other directories. Investigate the menus, buttons etc to see what they do.
To open a file, double click on the file and the associated application will open it. If no application is associated with that files file type/extension, then you can make an appropriate association (see Viewing Powerpoint slides in the OpenOffice section)
OpenOffice (www.openoffice.org) is a MS Office compatible suite of programs that is available for free. A version of OpenOffice is also available that runs under Windows. It has a word processor (writer), a spreadsheet (calc), presentation developer/viewer (impress), draw and other software that is compatible with Microsoft Office and easy to use.
To run OpenOffice, either:
PowerPoint is not available on the Linux workstations. An alternative is OpenOffice Impress which can be used to view and edit powerpoint slides.
The file extension .ppt can be associated with Impress so that double clicking on a .ppt file will open it in Impress. To do this:
Try using OpenOffice.
The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is useful for creating and editing images. GIMP is available for free, and a version exists for Windows.
To run GIMP, either:
The ampersand & after a command is used so that the terminal window is freed up after typing the command. Without the ampersand the terminal window would be locked up while the application is open.
Type the following command in a terminal window. Note there isn't an ampersand after it:
Try to type a command in the terminal window e.g. ls
Nothing happens! Now exit firefox. Try typing a command in the terminal window
again. It should now work.
Now re-run firefox with the & after the name. Type a command in the terminal
window. It should now work.
Multiple terminal windows can be open at once. Open a few terminal windows. Type different commands in each one. Close all but one of the terminal windows.
A number of applications can be run in the manner in the previous section by specifying the program name followed by the file name e.g.
Amaya (www.w3.org/Amaya) is a free program for developing web pages. Amaya is also available for Windows.
To run Amaya:
Changing your Student on-line password does not alter your Linux password.
Because of the number of different computer systems used at University it is suggested that you use the same password on all systems (e.g. leave it as your student on-line password).
Experiment with some of the commands discussed in the lecture. In particular, try:
Have a look around. See what applications, settings etc. are available.
When you have had a look around logout. To logout:
Written by Tim Whitfort