San Diego State University

ROHAN Academic Computing

Guide to Using ROHAN

Contents

1.0 Introduction
2.0 Connecting to ROHAN
3.0 Finding Help
4.0 Available Software
5.0 Solaris 8 OS
6.0 File Security
7.0 Printing
8.0 Email

1.0 Introduction

This document is an introduction to Solaris 10 UNIX, as used on the Sun SunFire 4900 (ROHAN) computer at San Diego State University and is available for campus instructinal use. UNIX has very detailed on-line documentation. Therefore this manual does not attempt to be a complete reference manual. Instead, the goal is to give you general information.

1.1 About the ROHAN System
1.2 Terms, Special Keys and Key Sequences Used
1.3 User Guidelines

1.1 About the ROHAN System

 ROHAN uses Solaris 10 as its operating system. For information about ROHAN's system see ROHAN System Overview. For detailed information on ROHAN's available software, see ROHAN Software which includes X-windows, Motif, compilers, symbolic math and statistical programs. ROHAN has access to paid laser printing in LL-200 (see section 7.3 Printing).

1.2 Terms, Special Keys and Key Sequences Used
User
Any individual having an account on the computer system.
Username
The name that you log in to the system under.
File
Data, information, text, programs, or graphics reside on the system as files. Files reside on hard disk drives.
Directory
A work area on hard disk in which files are stored. Directories can be thought of as folders in which to keep files.
Home Directory
The directory that you are in after login.
Disk quota/Disk space
The amount of disk space that a user is allowed to use for files. Expressed in 1024 byte blocks. User files are stored on disk (hard drive).
Email
Electronic Mail. Messages and/or files sent to other users via computer/computer networks.
Email Address
The address where Email can be sent to you. On ROHAN, the address format is username@rohan.sdsu.edu
Multi-user
A computer system with many users logged into the system at once.
Network
A group of computers and their associated devices connected via communications facilities. A network may be local (as in an office area), company-wide, or state, country, or world-wide.
Internet
An international network of networks. Many smaller regional or national networks connect together and comprise the Internet.

Notice many keys are labeled as they are on a typewriter. Certain keys on the terminal keyboard have special functions.

RETURN
Sends the current line to the computer
DELETE
Corrects typing mistakes. The command stty erase ^H allows use of the BACKSPACE key instead of DELETE. See section 5.2.2 The Login StartUp File (.login) on the .login file
CONTROL
Used with other keys to send control characters to the computer. Press and hold the CONTROL (shown as an up arrow ^) key down when typing the character key. NOTE: The character key indicated doesn't denote uppercase
^C
Terminates (kills) the current program (process)
^D
End of file
^Q
Continues a halted listing
^S
Halts a listing on the terminal screen
^U
Deletes the line being typed
^W
Deletes the word being typed
^Z
Stops a process. NOTE: it doesn't terminate the process. See section 5.3.2 Job Control

1.3 User Guidelines

 The instructional computers are multi-user systems with shared and finite hard disk drive, memory, and CPU resources. Because of the limited nature of these resources, users should minimize any unnecessary computing activity.

User activities on these systems are subject to all applicable University regulations and Federal and State laws. Any known violations of these regulations or laws will be referred to the appropriate departments or agencies for review and possible disciplinary and/or legal action. Please use common sense and courtesy.

Guidelines


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2.0 Connecting to ROHAN

2.1 Accessing Your Account
2.2 Passwords
2.3 Logging Off Your Account
2.4 Account Expiration

2.1 Accessing Your Account

 To login to your ROHAN account, connect to rohan using ssh and enter your username and password in response to the login prompts. Your username and password are case sensitive. This means abcd and ABCD are different words. Most commands as well as your username are lower case.

The rohan% is the default bash shell prompt and indicates that the computer is waiting for you to type. When the rohan% prompt is displayed, any system command can be entered, programs compiled, files created and so forth.

2.2 Passwords

 Your password is a sequence of characters which the system uses to make sure you are really you. You should keep this password secret, so that others can't use your username. See section 1.4 User Guidelines for user responsibilities.

You can change your password by the command passwd after logging in. It is a good idea to change your password now and then, as well as select a password that is not easy to guess. If you suspect that someone else is using your username, you should certainly change it.

To change a password, type: rohan% passwd

You will be prompted with:

Old password:
<--Enter your old password
New password:
<--Enter your choice of new password (at least 6 characters)
Retype new password:
<--Reenter your choice of new password.
If you lose your password, follow one of these procedures:

2.3 Logging Off Your Account

 When you are finished working, type the logout command. You will have to be at the system prompt (normally rohan%) . If the system responds You have stopped jobs, you have jobs in the background. Typing logout a second time will abort the background jobs and log you out. Type jobs to see what you have in the background. See section 5.3.2 Job Control, or man bash for more information.

2.6 Account Expiration

 Please note the expiration date of your account. The following are standard expiration dates:
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