Introduction to Unix GLY 560: GIS for Earth Scientists Class Home Page:

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS What is Unix? Unix is an operating system, not a machine (just as Windows is a operating system). Created in the late 1960’s at Bell Labs, to handle multiple users on multiple machines. Still a standard for multi-user environments and workstations. Unix is actually a class of operating systems, with different “flavors”. We will use the Unix system sold by Sun Computers, called Solaris.

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS Why Use Unix Advantages Number crunching ability, 64 vs 32 bit processing. Networking Security Stability Disadvantages Command line based, poor help facilities Limited software availability Dominance of MS Windows and Mac

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS How Will You Use Unix? The primary software package you will use in this class, ArcGIS 9.1, runs only on Windows. The lab machines are based on LINUX, which is a UNIX-like operating system for PCs. ArcGIS will actually run in Windows on top of LINUX using VMWare. To complete the exercises in this class, you will need to know LINUX (basically the same a UNIX) and Windows.

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS Accessing Unix Local Window (Terminal Window) Remote Terminal Smart Terminal

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS System Access and Administration Geology Unix systems are managed by Science and Engineering Node Services (SENS) located in Bell Hall. Our computers are managed remotely by SENS designated “superusers”. Your instructors are not superusers but human, like you, so if you run into problems CONTACT NODEHELP DIRECTLY

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS Logging In Unix is designed for multiple users and is consequently very security-minded. To run any machine, locally or remotely, you need to log in with a username and password that the system recognizes. Who is recognized is determined by the system administrator or superuser.

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS The Unix Shell The shell is a program that communicates with the guts of the Unix system (the kernel). When you type in a command at a terminal, you are talking to the shell. There are different flavors of shells, so Unix commands can vary slightly. The shell is invisible for most basic operations and probably everything you will do in this class.

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS What You Will Need to Know How to log on to a Unix machine locally and remotely. How to administer your accounts (password, disk space etc). How to move, copy, edit files. How to list files and directories and change their access privileges How to send and receive files to and from remote computers (via FTP protocol).

6/11/2015GLY560: GIS and RS Exercises You will work through some exercises to familiarize yourself with the Unix operating environment. It will be best if you can arrange your window so that you can see both the web browser and the terminal window at the same time. Work through the exercises at the link given below. You will be given a quiz to test your understanding after you complete the exercises. Unix Exercises are located at: