Using Mentor remotely

You must use the Computer Science linux computers to do your work for 552. In the past, students who have used the CAE systems have experienced difficulty. The instructions and procedures given will not work as intended.

There are two ways to use the CS machines remotely (i.e. from your home, CAE lab, or some place else).

Method 1: ssh (Very SECURE)

If you wish to use the CS systems remotely, either from home or from CAE workstations, you may log on with the command:

ssh -X username@system.cs.wisc.edu

where "username" is your CS login name, and "system" is replaced by the name of the individual computer (e.g. emperor17).

To do this, you must have the mentor fonts set up on the machine that you are logging in from. Instructions for doing this vary from system to system. Only some systems have had instructions identified for them.

When you log in, you will be asked for your password. Once you type it in, the window you are running is a window into your CS account. Other programs that you open up from that window will access your CS afs directory. You can run dmgr, da, and most anything else you might need in this way. Use "ps -lA" to see if you happen to be using a system already loaded down by an in-person user.

If you are having problems with fonts or get a font error, go read the Tools FAQ.

Method 2: VNC (not at all secure!)

Run a vncserver on a cs machine and connect to it remotely by running vncviewer on your local machine. For example, on your remote machine:

ssh -X username@system.cs.wisc.edu

After being asked for login and password, you will be dropped into your prompt. If you are on a windows machine, use putty to connect using ssh. At the shell prompt on the remote machine:

% vncpasswd
% vncserver -geometry 1280x1024
% exit;

The vncpasswd command will ask you for a password - type in a password here. This SHOULD not be your CS password, this is a new password you must create. On your local machine, now execute vncviewer system.cs.wisc.edu:1

When prompted for a password, type the password you specified to vncpasswd. Refer to this this tutorial on using vnc. Or ask Asim or me during office hours.