Account Set Up Procedures

Abstract

The SOGS Firewall

• Telnet
• X11 Display
• FTP

Meet the computer and software people

From Information Technology Services (IT)

Send e-mail to support@stsci.edu or call the computer support help desk (x4400, room 330).

From Astronomical Planning & Support Branch (APSB)

For Assist Database questions, see Maria Bertch.

For Transformation questions, see Reiko Rager.

For Spike questions, see Bob Boyer.

For APT questions, see Rob Hawkins.

Obtain computer accounts

You will need an account on the SOGS network.

In order to obtain the accounts, fill out a computer account request form. (If you are new to the Institute the account form may have already been completed for you - ask before you fill out a new form.) They are available outside of room 330. On the form, request a SOGS account; and be sure to indicate that your default group should be spb for HST and ops for JWST. These groups are more like properties of the account which gives you certain privileges. If you already have an account on another STScI computer, request the same account names for your new accounts.

Obtain database privileges

• Read and write access to the Assist databse on HAL9000
• Read and write access to the 'spss' database on HAL9000

• Read-only to the 'gss' databse on GORT
• Read and write access to the 'pps' database on GORT

Set up your account

Change your password

Change your password by using the Accounts panel in the Mac System Preferences. You will be prompted for your old and new passwords. The new password will be automatically communicated to all SOGS workstations.

Set up ssh

ssh (secure shell) is a unix command that allows secure remote login into another machine. A number of HST and JWST planning and scheduling tools depend on ssh. To configure your account for the proper use of ssh, login into a SOGS Mac and type the command:

/data/multi-mission/infrastructure/ssh/scripts/setup_single_ssh_dir

Copy some set up files

When running the account-setup command mentioned below, you might see an error message indicating a conflict between a file in /User or /home and a file of the same name in /user. To resolve this conflict, it is fine to delete the former file in favor of the one in /user. If you have any questions about account-setup, please contact Tony Roman.

• Linux - Login to a SOGS Linux machine (e.g. coyote) and run the command:

  /data/multi-mission/tools/implementation/account-setup

• OS X - Login to a SOGS OS X machine (e.g. your desktop workstation) and run the command:

  /data/multi-mission/tools/implementation/account-setup

• Solaris - Login to a SOGS Solaris machine (e.g. bugs) run the command:

  /data/multi-mission/tools/implementation/account-setup

Once you have copied these files, log out and log back in.

Very briefly, this is the purpose these and other "hidden" setup files:

• .alias: - This file is also sourced directly by the .cshrc. It contains both aliases (shortcut commands that you define) as well as shell settings. Aliases and shell settings that all PCs need are grouped in a file called ops-alias.
• .clinit.cl: - This file is executed whenever you run a LISP program (e.g. Trans, CASM, Spike, or POPS). Again, a common setup file is loaded, but your own preferences can be added.
• .cshrc: - The cshell run commands file is executed at login (or whenever you bring up a new shell window) if your default shell is the cshell or tcshell. The file should not be modified. It contains calls to other files which you can change to modify your environment.
• .emacs: - This file is executed whenever you start up the emacs editor. It can contain preferences you have for running emacs, but it also loads a generic preference file that is maintained for us.
• .envrc: - This file is sourced indirectly by the .cshrc through the checkenv routine. It contains "packages" of environment variables, paths, etc. needed to run applications. The standard packages that you will need as a PC have been further packaged into something called OPS.
• .setenv: - This file is sourced directly by the .cshrc. This is where you set environment variables such as your default printer and editor. Environment variables that all PCs need are grouped in a file called ops-env.

The following information will help you start using and customizing your set up files:

Play around a little to get the hang of opening (double click!) and closing icons, moving icons and windows around, and resizing windows. If you need additional terminal screens you can select them from the dock. The graphical desktop mailtool is available from the dock. Bring up an emacs editor and web browser.

To set your default printer, set the LPDEST and PRINTER environment variables in your .setenv file. To see a list of available printers, see the printer web page .

You also may want to change your terminal prompt, and there are some environment variables that provide shortcuts for doing this:

• MACHINE_NAME_PROMPT - Set the prompt to the machine name.
• INCLUDE_USER_IN_PROMPT - Include the user's username in the prompt.
• INCLUDE_MISSION_IN_PROMPT - Include the mission name in the prompt.
• LOWERCASE_PROMPT - Set the prompt to all lowercase.
• UPPERCASE_PROMPT - Set the prompt to all uppercase.

Any combination of these environment variables can be set in your .setenv file; and in these cases, it is sufficient to simply define the variable without giving it a value. For example, putting these lines in your .setenv:

	  setenv MACHINE_NAME_PROMPT
	  setenv INCLUDE_USER_IN_PROMPT
	  setenv LOWERCASE_PROMPT
	

would result in a prompt like:

elrond aroman>

With the right unix syntax, further customization of your prompt can be done in your .alias file.

You can further customize the desktop environment by doing things like adding new menu items in the Terminal application and changing the behavior of the windows. This is documented in the on line desktop help, but you can also ask someone for help doing this.

Check to see if you have the tcshell

When your account was set up, you should have been given a default shell of the tcshell. The tcshell (tab c shell) is built on top of the cshell and has some nice features. (For instance you can use the up arrow at the command line to retrieve recent commands, and use the tab key to complete file names and command names.) To confirm this, type:

printenv SHELL

Set PC Tool Box Preferences

You can create and modify your PC Tool Box preferences by using the tool box itself. So bring up the tool box by typing:

tools

at the prompt. There is a preferences button on the top row. (Don't forget to use the command:

mkdir

to make the working directory you just gave yourself.)

Get your name added to the PCs lists

Database List of PCs

Some of the software here allows you to select your name from a list (instead of making you type your name). Send e-mail to Tony Roman and request to be added to the list of PCs in the database. NOTE: Persons cross-training as PCs should omit this step.

Get your phone added to the voice mail distribution list

Put yourself on the software distribution lists

Email distribution lists are available for the major software systems, databases, and database servers. Being on these lists will allow you to stay informed about problems or discussions about the software:

Unfortunately, STScI has two different systems (MajorDomo and Exchange) for email list management; so the procedure to join a list depends on the system under which it is managed.

Subscribe to the following MajorDomo lists, by visiting the MajorDomo Page:

• apt-users

Subscribe to the following are Exchange groups:

• assist-users
• JWST-PIT
• hal9000_dist
• oed_opb
• opm
• pc
• ppsdb-ops-users
• sogs-systems-status
• spike-users
• target_of_opportunity
• trans-users
• zeppo_dist

To subscribe to an Exchange group:

1. go to Outlook Web Application
2. sign in using your STScI AD password
3. select Options->See All Options... in the upper right
4. select Groups from the menu at the left
5. under Public Groups I Belong To, select Join...

Test Your Account

check-account