VNC on cpe02
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Last Update: May 24, 2003

Thanks to Gil Glass (ECE545, Fall 2001) for preparing the following instructions on how to set up your  environment on your MS-Windows machine at home to use VNC on cpe02.gmu.edu.

From - Fri Sep 14 19:27:38 2001

For those of you interested in accessing cpe02.gmu.edu from remote locations, I have good news!  I have finally been able to gain full access to the graphical capabilities of cpe02 and so can run applications like vsim from home.  Now, you can too!!

Before proceeding, please note that only the high-speed connected should attempt this.   I have DSL at home which makes using cpe02 from here tolerable.  If you do not have DSL, T1, cable modem, ISDN, or some other high-speed connection, I don't recommend doing this.

Please note also that I can only address Windows NT 4.0 but 2000 is probably similar.

Updated instructions on using VNC with WindowsXP.

Now, for quick instructions on how to install MindTerm, which will enable you to start a VNC server session on cpe02, skip to the line with "%%%%%".

If you can already establish a secure shell to cpe02, skip to the line with "#####" for quick instructions on how to install vncviewer on your PC.
If you're interested in the different means of connecting and other details, please read on:
There are basically two different ways to connect to cpe02.gmu.edu, at least that I've tried.
One is to run an X-Window server on your computer in which case you make your computer look like a terminal connected to a UNIX box.  Your PC is a server because cpe02 behaves as a client treating your PC as its display server.  It's not intuitive, I know.  What do you expect from a bunch of MIT geeks?  ;-)
Anyway, this is accomplished by running a UNIX emulator on your computer (Cygwin) and then running an X-Window emulator on top of that (Cygwin/X-Free86).  Once connected, cpe02 uses your computer as the display rather than, say, a workstation on campus.
The other way is to run a VNC viewer.  With a VNC viewer, the session that you run is entirely remote but your PC "controls" the remote terminal.  In other words, it's as if you had started an X-Window session at a workstation on campus and then used your PC to control that session -- what's being displayed on the workstation on campus appears on your screen in your home or office.  I've used this to control my work PC from home.  It's pretty cool actually.
Now, I have chosen to use VNC as it appears to be faster than X-Free86.  It is also much easier to explain how to set up VNC than it is to set up Cygwin and X-Free86.

%%%%%

Before setting up VNC Viewer, you need to set up your NT network environment correctly (this is what took me 2 weeks to figure out!!)

1.  In Windows NT 4.0 , go to the Control Panel.

2.  Select the "Network" panel.

3.  Select the "Services" tab.

4.  Select "Remote Access Service" from the list and click on "Properties..."

5.  Click on "Network..." (it doesn't matter which port is highlighted)

6.  Under "Encryption settings" select "Allow any authentication including clear text".

7.  "OK" your way though all the dialogs and then restart your machine.

NOW, onto instructions for setting up MindTerm, an ssh terminal emulator from MindBright, a company in Sweden whose website is gone:

1.  Copy the attached ZIP file to a known directory.

2.  Unzip the file.

3.  Create a new shortcut to execute the java program in the JAR file which you just unzipped.  The "Target:" field of the shortcut should contain the following:

"$NT_DRIVE$:\WINNT\jview.exe /cp:p $PATH$\mindtermfull.jar mindbright.application.MindTerm"

Where $PATH$ is replaced by the full path (including drive!) to the files that you just unzipped and $NT_DRIVE$ is the drive where you have NT installed.

4.  The "Start in:" field should contain the following:

"$NT_DRIVE$\WINNT"

5.  You should now have MindTerm available.  This will enable you to contact cpe02.gmu.edu through a secure shell (ssh) to set up your vnc session.

#####

NOW, onto instructions for setting up VNC Viewer from AT & T Labs, a company in the UK whose website still exists:

1.  Point your browser at http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/.

2.  Go to the DOWNLOAD link.

3.  Fill out the form and check the box for your platform (very important)!   You may also select documentation and source code if you're interested.

4.  Click on "Proceed to download"

5.  Pick a site and download the latest ZIP file.

6.  When you unzip this file, a folder will be created with 2 sub-folders (winvnc and vncviewer).  The vncviewer sub-folder will contain VNC viewer while the other contains the setup for VNC server.  You only need to use vncviewer.

7.  Make a shortcut to vncviewer.exe on your desktop for your convenience.

Now, back to MindTerm:

1.  Execute the shortcut you created for MindTerm.  A window will appear which will ask you the name of the ssh server you wish to connect to.  Type "cpe02.gmu.edu".

2.  Log in to cpe02.gmu.edu as you normally would.

3.  Once you are at a cpe02 UNIX prompt, type "vncserver".  cpe02 will respond with a display number in the form of "New 'X' desktop is dab:n".   n is your display number.  Remember it.

4.  Back in your NT environment, execute the VNC viewer which you just downloaded.   When it asks for the server, type "cpe02.gmu.edu:n" where n is the display number from the previous step.  Then click "OK".

5.  When vncviewer asks for your password, enter it .

THAT SHOULD BE IT!!  You should now have an X-Window session appearing on your PC from which you can run vsim!  From there, you're on your own!!!

If you find any problems with or have any questions about these instructions, please e-mail me at GilGlass@UWAlumni.com

 

 

Thanks to Sami Omer (ECE331, Spring 2003) for updating the following instructions on how to set up your  environment on your WindowsXP machine at home to use VNC on cpe02.gmu.edu.

Instructions for setting up MindTerm, an ssh terminal emulator from MindBright, a company in Sweden whose website is gone:

1.  Copy the attached ZIP file to a known directory.

2.  Unzip the file.

3.  Create a new shortcut to execute the java program in the JAR file which you just unzipped.  The "Target:" field of the shortcut should contain the following:

"$WINDOWS_DRIVE$:\WINDOWS\system32\jview.exe /cp:p $PATH$\mindtermfull.jar mindbright.application.MindTerm"

Where $PATH$ is replaced by the full path (including drive!) to the files that you just unzipped and $WINDOWS_DRIVE$ is the drive where you have WINDOWS installed.

4.  The "Start in:" field should contain the following:

"$WINDOWS_DRIEVE$\WINDOWS"

5.  You should now have MindTerm available.  This will enable you to contact cpe02.gmu.edu through a secure shell (ssh) to set up your vnc session.

#####

NOW, onto instructions for setting up VNC Viewer from AT & T Labs, a company in the UK whose website still exists:

1.  Point your browser at http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/.

2.  Go to the DOWNLOAD link.

3.  Fill out the form and check the box for your platform (very important)!   You may also select documentation and source code if you're interested.

4.  Click on "Proceed to download"

5.  Pick a site and download the latest ZIP file.

6.  When you unzip this file, a folder will be created with 2 sub-folders (winvnc and vncviewer).  The vncviewer sub-folder will contain VNC viewer while the other contains the setup for VNC server.  You only need to use vncviewer.

7.  Make a shortcut to vncviewer.exe on your desktop for your convenience.

Now, back to MindTerm:

1.  Execute the shortcut you created for MindTerm.  A window will appear which will ask you the name of the ssh server you wish to connect to.  Type "cpe02.gmu.edu".

2.  Log in to cpe02.gmu.edu as you normally would.

3. Once you are at a cpe02 UNIX prompt, type "vncserver". You'll be asked to create a password, create one that suites you and REMEMBER it. Then, you'll be taken back to the command prompt, type "vncserver" again, cpe02 will respond with a display number in the form of "New 'X' desktop is dab:n". n is your display number. Remember it.

4.  Back in your WINDOWS environment, execute the VNC viewer which you just downloaded.   When it asks for the server, type "cpe02.gmu.edu:n" where n is the display number from the previous step.  Then click "OK".

5.  When vncviewer asks for your password, enter it (this is the password that you've just created, not your cp02 password).

THAT SHOULD BE IT!!  You should now have an X-Window session appearing on your PC from which you can run vsim!  From there, you're on your own!!!

 

Maintainer of page:  khintz@gmu.edu or rhayne@gmu.edu