Accessing Linux

Secure Shell Access (SSH)

Our Linux servers are accessible via secure shell (SSH). Use the SSH Secure Shell Client for this. A shortcut to the SSH Secure Shell Client is on your Windows desktop. Click File, then click Connect to start a session. The host name and your user name should be filled in for you. Click the Connect button to start and enter your password when prompted. You can copy and paste text from a Windows application to a Unix application using the SSH Secure Shell Client, but you should press CTRL+Y to paste to an emacs window.

Running X Applications

Once you establish an SSH connection, you may use the terminal like any Unix terminal. In particular, you may invoke X applications from it (make sure Tunnel X11 Connections is checked in the SSH Secure Shell Client settings). SSH Secure Shell Client forwards X11 connections, which means that you do not have to set your DISPLAY environment variable. So, if you have any setenv DISPLAY... commands in any of your files, you should remove them. If X applications fail to start, make sure that your X Server is running.

Running Mathematica Faster on a Linux Server

It is possible to use a fast Linux server for calculations on the Mathematica Kernel, while continuing to use Mathematica on the Windows desktop. To do this:

1. Start Mathematica.
2. Click Evalutation the click Kernel Configuration Options...
3. Click Add.
4. Choose Remote Machine.
5. In the space for Machine Name, type the host name of one of the compute servers ¹¹.
6. Type your username in the space for Remote Login.
7. Type a name for this kernel setting in Kernel Name, then click OK to save this kernel.
8. Now, the kernel you added is available on the Evaulation menu, either to choose as your Default Kernel or the Notebook's Kernel. When you evaluate a notebook with the remote kernel, you will be required to log on with your Linux password.