Difference between revisions of "CS Accounts and CS Lab Computers"

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This section contains information for CS majors to help get you started with logging into the CS server and do the sorts of programming that goes on in most of the CS courses
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This section contains information for CS majors to help get you started with logging into the CS server and do the sorts of programming that goes on in most of the CS courses. For getting your home computer setup to connect to the CS server, see [[Linux and CS Systems - Getting Started]].
  
 
== Operating System and Class Accounts ==
 
== Operating System and Class Accounts ==
 
Many of the CS courses make use of the CS server, which runs Linux. For courses that use the CS server, your programming assignments will be compiled and run on the CS server.
 
Many of the CS courses make use of the CS server, which runs Linux. For courses that use the CS server, your programming assignments will be compiled and run on the CS server.
  
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If your class makes use of the CS server, you will be given a "class account". These class accounts allow you to login to the CS server remotely and login to the computers in the CS lab and classroom (Root Hall, A-015, A-017, A-019). The class accounts will be given to you by your instructor. The class account login names all start with cs and then the number of course. For example, CS 151 students get class accounts that begin with cs151 (e.g., cs151000, cs151001, ...). Note that the class accounts are deleted at the end of each semester. If you are a CS major and would like a permanent account on the CS server you can ask your instructor.
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If your class makes use of the CS server, you will be given a "class account". These class accounts allow you to login to the CS server remotely and login to the computers in the CS lab and classroom (Root Hall, A-015, A-017, A-019). The class accounts will be given to you by your instructor. The class account login names all start with cs and then the number of course. For example, CS 151 students get class accounts that begin with cs151 (e.g., cs151000, cs151001, ...).  
  
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For courses using the CS server, you are encouraged to do your programming while logged into the server (e.g., using Putty from Windows, or another terminal client if using another OS). You should use the same program to compile/run your code that the instructor uses, so you are sure it will function properly when your instructor grades your code.
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Note that the class accounts are deleted at the end of each semester, so you need to backup your files at the end of the semester (transfer the files to your home computer). If you are a CS major and would like a permanent account on the CS server you can ask the [http://cs.indstate.edu/info/contact.html CS lab/server coordinator].  For how to backup your files see [[CS Account Backup]].
  
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== Using Linux ==
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== CS Account Policies ==
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See the [[Linux and CS Systems Bootcamp]] for getting started in Linux - getting software setup on your personal computer, basic commands to use, text editors, etc.
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=== Prohibitions ===
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For any accounts that you have on the CS server (whether class accounts or permanent accounts), you should follow all ISU policies.  In particular the following are prohibited -  
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* using your account to store or distribute anything that is against its terms/copyright/etc. (e.g., no movies, textbooks, answers to HW problems)
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* using your account to do anything that is illegal
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* using a password that is too easy to guess (i.e., a password cracker that we run finds your password)
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* overloading the CPU or GPU of the system, or filling up any of the system drives
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* anything that is along these lines that we have not thought to state explicitly
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A violation of any of these will result in your account being locked and no longer being allowed to have an account on the systems.
  
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== Logging into CS Server Remotely ==
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=== Inactivity ===
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You can view videos of the installation and use of the software mentioned here on the CS at ISU youtube playlist.
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Permanent accounts that are not used for a period of 6 months will likely be locked as a security precaution. You can write to root@cs.indstate.edu to ask to have your account unlocked again.
  
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=== Working Remotely on the CS Server ===
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==Assignment==
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From Windows - To login to the CS server from a Windows computer, you should install the Putty software. Putty is a shell/terminal that runs on your computer and sends the commands to the CS server. This allows you to edit files on the CS server, compile using programs installed on the CS server, etc. To install, follow the [http://cs.indstate.edu/FAQ/PuTTY/ Installing Putty on Windows] instructions.
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For courses that want to give credit for successfully logging into the system with your class account, you should do the following.
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* Get your account information from your instructor.  Some put this as a comment to a grade item for the class in canvas.  Some have it emailed to your ISU email. If you are not sure then check with your instructor
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* When you login the first time, it will ask for your full name, office, etc. For the full name put in your name.  For Office put your ISU email address (the @sycamores.indstate.edu one).  For Office Phone and Home Phone, leave them blank.
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** If you need to update this information later on, you can do so by being logged in and running: <code>chfn</code>
  
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From Mac or Linux - To login to the CS server from a Mac or Linux, you do not need to install putty. Instead, you can open your terminal or shell program, and then type "ssh username@cs.indstate.edu". On a mac, you find the shell by going to Finder, then Applications, then Utilities, then Shell or Terminal.
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You should also update your password to be something you will be able to remember.  The first time you login it will ask you to do this.  If you need to do this later on, you can do so by running this command in the terminal: <code>passwd</code>
  
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=== Transferring Files To/From the CS Server ===
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'''Pass rating check'''  To check if you should get a ''pass'' rating for this task, your instructor can do the following.
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To transfer files between your computer and the CS server, use an sftp program. This can be a text-based sftp program (one comes pre-installed on Mac and Linux, and one comes with Putty for Windows). Or, you can use a GUI sftp program. [https://filezilla-project.org/download.php FileZilla] is a GUI sftp program that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. [https://winscp.net/eng/download.php WinSCP] is another popular GUI sftp program that only works on Windows. If given an option of what port to connect to, use port 22 (this is the "secure" port, so data is encrypted while transferring over the public internet).
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* Run <code>finger YOUR_LOGIN</code> to verify that your name and email show up. If not, you need to run <code>chfn</code> to update them.
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* Run <code>passwd -S YOUR_LOGIN</code> to check when your password was last changed. It should show that it was changed some time after initial account creation. You can run <code>passwd -S</code> to see when your password was last changed.
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== Other Software ==
 
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If you want to develop on your own computer without logging into the CS server you have a few options...
 
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* MS Visual Studio - the best option to develop GUI programs for Windows, not a good option for developing for Linux.
 
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* Eclipse - a cross-platform IDE that can be used for Java, C/C++, and some other languages.
 
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* Cygwin - software that installs a shell/terminal and associated programs on your Windows computer so that it works pretty much like the CS Linux machines. If you select the option to install gcc/g++ and emacs/vim, then you can work on your programs on your local Windows computer with basically the same environment as the CS Linux computers.
 
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== Programming Languages ==
 
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Many of the CS courses use C and C++. If you are a new graduate student or a transfer student, you should get started by making sure you can connect to the CS server with Putty or another terminal program. Once you can connect, you should familiarize yourself with linux shell commands (see the Unix/Linux Quick Reference Card linked above). You should also learn to use one of the text editors mentioned above.
 
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For CS courses that use C and C++, the gcc and g++ compilers are normally used. These are already installed on the CS server. If you have a C or C++ program, you compile it by first logging into the CS server using Putty or another terminal program and typing
 
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<blockquote><code>gcc code.c -o outputName</code></blockquote>
 
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for C, or g++ for c++. You run the resulting program by typing ./outputName (and then enter/return) at the shell prompt (aka command line). You should make sure your C/C++ programs compile and run using gcc/g++. Note that programs made using MS Visual Studio or some other compiler will normally not work straight away with gcc/g++ because there are some differences in which functions are included in the header files.
 
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=== Tutorials and Reference ===
 
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For a review of C and C++, you can look at various tutorials and references online and courses from other universities that teach these languages. The following is a list of resources we have used in the past; there are many others online as well.
 
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* [http://publications.gbdirect.co.uk/c_book The C Book]
 
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* [http://markburgess.org/CTutorial/C-Tut-4.02.pdf C Programming Tutorial]
 
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* [http://fresh2refresh.com/c-tutorial-for-beginners/ Fresh2fresh C Tutorial]
 
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* [http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/C_Programming C Programming Wikibook]
 
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* [http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkcppHow to Think Like a Computer Scientist C++ Version]
 
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* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_C_Programming_Language The C Programming Language by Kernighan and Ritchie]
 
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* [http://www.cplusplus.com/ cplusplus.com]
 
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* [http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-087-practical-programming-in-c-january-iap-2010/ MIT course - Practical Programming in C]
 
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* [http://www.cs.cornell.edu/courses/cs2022/2011sp/ Introduction to C - course at Cornell]
 
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=== Practice Programming Problems ===
 
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To practice C/C++ programming, first start by following a tutorial and writing the programs the tutorial shows you. Once you are reasonably familiar with all the syntax rules, start trying "programming contest problems". These are problems with precisely defined correct output, so that you can submit your program to make sure it is 100% correct.
 
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* [http://www.hackerrank.com/ Hacker Rank] - very user-friendly, different programming languages available, different categories of questions
 
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* [https://open.kattis.com/problems Practice problems] at open.kattis.com (sort by difficulty or solved % to try the easiest ones first)
 
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* [http://cs.indstate.edu/acm/contests.html ISU ACM Club's Contest Problem page]
 
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* [http://cs.indstate.edu/~jkinne/Cpractice/ A few simple practice problems], with solutions to some on the CS server. See the .txt files.
 
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== Source Control ==
 
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It is a good idea to use source control when developing software, and is necessary when you are developing in a group or professionally. When working on assignments or course projects it is the best practice to use a private repository so other students cannot copy your work. Git is the industry standard for source control. Here are some resources to use to learn Git.
 
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* https://try.github.io/
 
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* https://learngitbranching.js.org/
 
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* https://www.atlassian.com/git
 

Latest revision as of 13:37, 24 August 2023

This section contains information for CS majors to help get you started with logging into the CS server and do the sorts of programming that goes on in most of the CS courses. For getting your home computer setup to connect to the CS server, see Linux and CS Systems - Getting Started.

Operating System and Class Accounts

Many of the CS courses make use of the CS server, which runs Linux. For courses that use the CS server, your programming assignments will be compiled and run on the CS server.

If your class makes use of the CS server, you will be given a "class account". These class accounts allow you to login to the CS server remotely and login to the computers in the CS lab and classroom (Root Hall, A-015, A-017, A-019). The class accounts will be given to you by your instructor. The class account login names all start with cs and then the number of course. For example, CS 151 students get class accounts that begin with cs151 (e.g., cs151000, cs151001, ...).

Note that the class accounts are deleted at the end of each semester, so you need to backup your files at the end of the semester (transfer the files to your home computer). If you are a CS major and would like a permanent account on the CS server you can ask the CS lab/server coordinator. For how to backup your files see CS Account Backup.

CS Account Policies

Prohibitions

For any accounts that you have on the CS server (whether class accounts or permanent accounts), you should follow all ISU policies. In particular the following are prohibited -

  • using your account to store or distribute anything that is against its terms/copyright/etc. (e.g., no movies, textbooks, answers to HW problems)
  • using your account to do anything that is illegal
  • using a password that is too easy to guess (i.e., a password cracker that we run finds your password)
  • overloading the CPU or GPU of the system, or filling up any of the system drives
  • anything that is along these lines that we have not thought to state explicitly

A violation of any of these will result in your account being locked and no longer being allowed to have an account on the systems.

Inactivity

Permanent accounts that are not used for a period of 6 months will likely be locked as a security precaution. You can write to root@cs.indstate.edu to ask to have your account unlocked again.

Assignment

For courses that want to give credit for successfully logging into the system with your class account, you should do the following.

  • Get your account information from your instructor. Some put this as a comment to a grade item for the class in canvas. Some have it emailed to your ISU email. If you are not sure then check with your instructor
  • When you login the first time, it will ask for your full name, office, etc. For the full name put in your name. For Office put your ISU email address (the @sycamores.indstate.edu one). For Office Phone and Home Phone, leave them blank.
    • If you need to update this information later on, you can do so by being logged in and running: chfn

You should also update your password to be something you will be able to remember. The first time you login it will ask you to do this. If you need to do this later on, you can do so by running this command in the terminal: passwd

Pass rating check To check if you should get a pass rating for this task, your instructor can do the following.

  • Run finger YOUR_LOGIN to verify that your name and email show up. If not, you need to run chfn to update them.
  • Run passwd -S YOUR_LOGIN to check when your password was last changed. It should show that it was changed some time after initial account creation. You can run passwd -S to see when your password was last changed.
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