Computing at Home

Thanks to Mike Buckley for the start of this webpage.  Thanks to Tim Terrill  for keeping it current.

There are two ways that you can use your personal computer (Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh) to work on your labs from home.
  1. Method #1: Work using the SENS system
  2. Method #2: Work using your PC
For Method #1 you establish a connection to the SENS servers (unix.eng.buffalo.edu) and do all your work just as you would if you were in the computer lab in Bell hall. For Method #2 you work without connecting to the SENS servers, but then you must transfer your files to your SENS account in order to submit them.

The first method is recommended because there is less software to install, there are fewer steps involved in working and submitting your work, and you work on your labs in the same way as you do in the computer labs on campus. The drawbacks to this method are that it has a slower response time and requires you to have a constant connection to UB in order to do your work.

The second method allows you to work independently of UB's computer system until it's time to submit your work, at which point you'll have to transfer your files to the SENS computer system.

Choose wisely, because regardless of whis option you choose, it's your responsibility to ensure that your programs are submitted on time!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since there are computing labs available to you for use with this course (340 Bell & 101 Bell), course time will not be spent discussing how to install and configure your PCs for working at home. Help is available from the CIT Helpdesk.

This webpage discusses how to configure your Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh computer for this course. Microsoft Windows instructions are discussed first.

Microsoft Windows Users

Method #1: Work Using The SENS System

Download and install the following two programs from the iconnect@ub website (click here) Follow the directions that are given on the web page for installing each package. Once installed follow the steps described here:
  1. Establish a secure connection between your computer and UB
    1. Connect to your ISP, or dial into UB's modem pool
    2. Run the "VPN Client" program
    3. Select "off-campus" if you're off, "on-campus" if you're on
    4. Click "Connect" (icon in upper left)
    5. Enter your UBIT name and password when prompted
    6. If it works, a window will pop up with text in it, click OK, and you're in
  2. Open a terminal window to the SENS system (unix.eng.buffalo.edu)
    1. Run the "X-Win32" program (if its working properly, a blue "X" will appear in your lower right icon tray)
    2. Right-click on the blue "X"
    3. Click "Sessions", then "UBUnixSSH"
    4. A window should pop up
    5. For Host, type in yeager.cse.buffalo.edu
    6. Type in your SENS username and password
    7. Hit OK and wait for the terminal window to appear (it might take a minute or two)
    8. To test that you have a working graphical connection, type "xeyes" at the prompt. If everything is working correctly, a cute pair of eyes should pop up on your screen...move your mouse and watch the eyeballs follow your mouse around!)
Congratulations, you can now work on your labs exactly as you would in the on-campus computer labs (just a bit slower).

Method #2: Work Using Your PC

You can edit, compile, and run Java programs on your PC with no connection to UB (until you're finished with the program, at which point you will need to transfer your program over to the unix.eng.buffalo.edu system). Here are the steps to get going:
  1. Install the UBVPN Client software as described in Method #1 above
  2. Install the Java Development Kit (JDK 5.0) (to compile and run your java programs)
    1. Download the JDK using the links on the "Resources" page of this site under the section "Java Downloads"
    2. You may wish to install the Java Documentation as well
  3. Install an editor (to edit your java programs)
    1. There are many editors to choose from, ask around for opinions. My personal favorite is emacs. To install a version of emacs use the links on the "Resources" page of this site under the section "Emacs Downloads". Emacs is available on the SENS system, so it might be nice to work using the same editor at home as you do at school.
    2. Other good ones include: Eclipse, jGrasp, jEdit, NetBeans, Vim, GVim, and the list goes on. Do a google search on these editors to see which you may like.
  4. Install a file transfer program (to transfer your programs to the SENS system so you can submit them)
    1. Download and install the program called "FileZilla" from the iconnect@ub website (click here) under the section entitled "Utilities"

Apple Macintosh Users

Method #1: Work Using The SENS System

Download and install the UBVPN software from the iconnect@ub website (click here) under the section entitled "Install First!".

Follow the directions that are given on the web page for installing the software. Once installed follow the steps described here:
  1. Establish a secure connection between your computer and UB
    1. Connect to your ISP, or dial into UB's modem pool
    2. Run the "VPN Client" program
    3. Select "off-campus" if you're off, "on-campus" if you're on
    4. Click "Connect" (icon in upper left)
    5. Enter your UBIT name and password when prompted
    6. If it works, a window will pop up called "VPN Client | Banner" or something like that (it will have text in it)
    7. Click "Continue", and you're in!
  2. Open a terminal window to the SENS system (unix.eng.buffalo.edu)
    1. For non-graphical use, use the default Mac Terminal
      1. Use the Finder and go to "Applications/Utilities/" and start up the "Terminal" program
      2. A terminal window should appear.
      3. At the prompt, type: ssh your_UBIT_username@unix.eng.buffalo.edu
      4. Type in your password when requested. You now have a TEXT-ONLY Unix session.
    2. For graphical use, use an X11 Terminal
      1. Install X11User.pkg on your MAC OSX installation disks (usually the final disk in the set that came with your computer)
        1. MAC OSX 10.4 (Tiger) users will have to user the X11User.pkg that came with their Mac OS X 10.4 installation disks.
        2. Earlier MAC OSX users (10.3.0 thru 10.3.9) can get it here: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/x11formacosx.html as well as their installation disks.
      2. Use the Finder and go to "Applications/Utilities/" and start up the "X11" program
      3. A terminal window should appear.
      4. At the prompt, type: ssh -X your_UBIT_username@unix.eng.buffalo.edu
      5. Type in your password when requested. You now have a GRAPHICS-CAPABLE Unix session.
      6. To test that you have a working graphical connection, type "xeyes" at the prompt. If everything is working correctly, a cute pair of eyes should pop up on your screen...move your mouse and watch the eyeballs follow your mouse around!)
Congratulations, you can now work on your labs exactly as you would in the on-campus computer labs (just a bit slower).

Method #2: Work Using Your PC

You can edit, compile, and run Java programs on your PC with no connection to UB (until you're finished with the program, at which point you will need to transfer your program over to the unix.eng.buffalo.edu system). Here are the steps to get going:
  1. Install the UBVPN Client software as described in Method #1 above
  2. Follow the steps under the "Java Downloads" section on the "Resources" page of this site to determine if you have the proper version of Java already installed. If not, install it as directed.
  3. Install an editor, if needed (to edit your java programs)
    1. Mac OS X comes with many editors built-in to the OS (pico, vi, and a text version of emacs). If you want a different editor, continue to the next steps.
    2. There are many editors to choose from, ask around for opinions. My personal favorite is emacs. To install a version of emacs use the links on the "Resources" page of this site under the section "Emacs Downloads". Emacs is available on the SENS system, so it might be nice to work using the same editor at home as you do at school.
    3. Other good ones include: Eclipse, jGrasp, jEdit, NetBeans, Vim, GVim, and the list goes on. Do a google search on these editors to see which you may like.
  4. Install a file transfer program (to transfer your programs to the SENS system so you can submit them)
    1. Download and install the program called "Fugu" from the iconnect@ub website (click here) under the section entitled "Utilities"
    2. Alternately, Mac OS X comes with a program called "sftp" (For assistance using sftp, ask a computer lab consultant).
Contact the CIT Helpdesk for assistance installing and configuring any of this software.