Computer Science Ubuntu machines

Passwords

• new passwords must be at least 10 characters long and must be changed at least once every two years by using ssh to connect to master.cs.rpi.edu and using the passwd command after logging in
  • note there may be up to a 5 minute delay for password changes to propogate to the other Ubuntu machines

Accessing machines

• connect using ssh to the linux.cs.rpi.edu rotary
  • for help on using ssh, see here
• you can ssh directly to linux.cs.rpi.edu from off campus but you will need to use the external vpn to reach most other machines from off campus

File access

• The Ubuntu remote access machines mount your home directory from the netapp and are located in the VCC with cooling, UPS, and generator.
• If you need to mount your home directory from some other machine, you can use sshfs to mount it from linux.cs.rpi.edu
  • To mount it from your own linux machine, type something like: sshfs user@linux.cs.rpi.edu:/cs/user mountpoint
  • To unmount it, the corresponding command would be: fusermount -u mountpoint

Printing

• The machines are set up to print to lxp (the Lally copier) by default. Note that if you use lpr to print a raw pdf/dvi/jpg/etc., you will get garbage unless you first use a program to convert it into postscript (pdf2ps,dvips,eog, etc.), so print cautiously.
• Jobs that cannot be printed immediately will still queue up to be printed later, so if your job doesn't print right away, make sure that there is paper in the printer, no jams, etc. and delete the job from your print queue before printing it to another location.
• Jobs will not show up in lpq if sent from a different machine.