Interacting with a UNIX computer in the MathCS Lab

Introduction

• The computers in the MathCS lab are using the UNIX Operating System

• Most students have not used a computer that is controlled by the UNIX Operating System

• This webnote is a short overview on how to interact (use) a UNIX based computer

• An extensive lab (in fact, it's the first lab) will teach you hands on how interact with UNIX based computers:

Lab 1: http://192.168.1.3/~cheung/teaching/web/170/labs/lab1/lab1.html

Introduction (cont.)• Important notice:

• In what follows, I will summarize the things that you will learn (or have learned) in lab 1....

• It is extremely important that you attend all labs

• If you don't understand some part of the lab, please ask the Teaching Assistant for help

They are paid to explain the material to you; so take advantage of this service.

• The labs is an essential part of the course and supplements the lecture materials that are best taught hands on (such as the material in this webnote)

• If you miss a lab, make sure you do (most) the lab on your own before coming to the next lab

And if you don't understand some part of the lab, ask the Teaching Assistant for help during the next lab

Log in • Log in procedure:

• Use your Emory ID as ID

• Use your Emory password as password

Log in (cont.)

• After a successful login, you should see a desktop that look something like this:

• The (white) window in the center of the desktop is a Terminal application

• This is a UNIX "shell" program that allow you to interact with the computer through command lines typed from the keyboard

Launching a new "Terminal" application