Central Unix Computers at VCU

• Documentation
• Software
• System Specifications
• Communicating with Unix for the MAC
• Communicating with Unix from Windows

Software

The following is a list of software that is available for researchers on central unix servers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Based on the software on each computer, decide on which machine you'll need an account.

Name	Available To	Available Software
GIS	Faculty/Staff/Graduates Request an account	ESRI ArcIMS and is the data repository and server for GIS data.
Hubert	Faculty/Staff/Graduates Request an account	DB2, SAS 9.1.3, SPSS 13 (use with PC SPSS 13 client), S-PLUS, Sudaan, C, C++, FORTRAN 77, FORTRAN 90, FORTRAN 95, IMSL, LISREL, PRELIS, Multilev, Perl, VI and Pico.
Medusa	Faculty by request	Babel (Molecular modeling format converter), Gamess, Gaussian 98, Orac (Biomolecular simulation), Rasmol, C, C++, FORTRAN 77 and FORTRAN 90
Watson	Request an account	GCG and other bioinformatics software

Undergraduates may request an account on a central unix computer by submitting a ticket to the Technology Services Helpdesk. Please specify the the machine where you are requesting an account and the software you need to use.

Site license software available at VCU

Communicating with Unix from Windows

Secure Shell/SSH is the recommended method for connecting to unix servers from Windows.

X-Win32 is an x-terminal emulator with mouse control which allows access to windows style editors (xemacs, nedit), PC-like emulations of SAS, GCG sequence displays in color and access to other x-terminal based packages. It is recommended for users on campus who are connected to the VCU ethernet.

Communicating with Unix for the MAC

Macintosh OS X comes with a Terminal utility application that allows secure telnet connections. This is the application found in Applications/Utilities. To use the Terminal application for a secure telnet connection:

1. Open the Terminal application.
2. Go to the File menu and select New Command...
3. In the New Command window type slogin (for secure login) and your user id@computer name. Sample logins:
   
   To login to hubert.vcu.edu type:   slogin yourlogin@hubert.vcu.edu
   
   To login to watson.vcu.edu type:   slogin yourlogin@watson.vcu.edu
   
4. Select the Run button.
5. If this is your first connection to this computer you will be asked if you want to register your login on this system. When asked if you want to continue connecting, type the word yes and press the return key. Note you will see the ip address of your computer followed by the Unix prompt.
6. You will then be asked for the account password on the computer to which you are connecting.
   
   You can have multiple sessions open at one time. You may also change the look or configuration of each session by using Inspector found under the Shell menu.
   
   After you have customized the session you may save it as a terminal file. This will remember all of your settings for future connections.