ECE Computer Support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Account Issues

How can I change my ECE password?

Log into the ECE login server, login.ee.duke.edu, via ssh. At the command line, issue the "passwd" command.

I can't login to ee.duke.edu

ee.duke.edu is no longer used as a login server. Please use login.ee.duke.edu.

How do I know if I have an ECE account and what my username/password are?

Check the ECE Login Distribution Page. If you are unable to determine your status from that page, create an ECE Help Request or visit 110 Hudson Hall with a picture ID.

How do I change my SAMBA password?

Log into login.ee.duke.edu and run the following command:
smbpasswd -r franklin.ee.duke.edu

Web Server

How can I create a web page on the ECE web server?

See the ECE personal web page creation instructions.

Networking

What's SSH? What's Secure Shell?

SSH, aka Secure Shell, is a cryptographically strong replacement for rlogin, telnet, ftp, and other programs. It allows secure communications and file transfers over the network. It's also the only way to access the ECE login server, login.ee.duke.edu. SSH clients exist for all modern operating systems. OIT offers clients for Macintosh and Windows, free for download by staff, faculty and students at http://www.oit.duke.edu/site/software/fsecure.html.

Linux and Solaris machines generally have the ssh command line client available. To initiate a SSH session on a Linux or Solaris machine, type "ssh hostname" at the command line where "hostname" is the machine to which you wish to connect.

I need access to departmental resources like printers and the license server...how do I get a fixed departmental IP address?

A limited number of fixed IP addresses is available. If you have a compelling reason to have a fixed IP, submit a help request. Include your machine's MAC address/hardware address in the request. To determine what is is, start up a Windows command window and type "ipconfig /all". Cut and paste the output into your help request.

Why can't I access the DSIL or DATC machines from outside the department?

The DSIL and DATC machines are accessible via ssh from within the department and from the departmental login server, login.ee.duke.edu. If you want to connect to a DSIL or DATC machine from outside ECE, connect first to login.ee.duke.edu, then to the DATC or DSIL machine. Your ssh connection will forward your tunnelled X connection through login.ee.duke.edu.

Software

How do I run graphical programs like Matlab remotely?

On Windows, you'll need 2 tools: X-Win32 and an SSH client. You will need to configure your SSH client to tunnel X connections. OIT's X-Win32 page contains instructions on how to configure various SSH clients to tunnel X.

Once your SSH client is configured, start up X-Win32, then use the SSH client to connect to the remote Solaris or Linux machine. Test that X is being tunnelled correctly by bringing up a simple X application such as an xterm. If this works, start up Matlab or any other graphical application you want to run.

Why can't I use the old Mentor tools? Why does ic crash?

The old Mentor tools are not supported on the new Solaris 9 OS installed on the DSIL and DATC Sun Blades. Make sure that your startup scripts reference the /opt/digital/setup_mentor_new script rather than the /opt/digital/setup_mentor_old script, which calls the old tools.

Printing

How can I print LaTeX documents?

To print LaTeX files, you first have to convert your Tex file to a printable format, namely postscript. This a two-step process, first converting the TeX file to a Device-Independent format using the TeX interpreter:

latex [file.tex]
which creates a corresponding [file.dvi] file. This file can be viewed by typing:
xdvi [file.dvi]
To convert a DVI file to postscript, use the dvips command as follows:
dvips -f [file.dvi] > [file.ps]
which creates a postscript file. To print the postscript file, type:
lpr -P [printer name] [file.ps]
The "-P [printer name]" argument is optional; without it, printouts will go to the default printer (hp/hp161), located in the DATC lab.

How do I make a PDF file from a LaTeX file?

See this document.

Misc

I don't know anything about the Unix command line. Help!

There are many good Unix tutorials on the net. Here is a sampling:

O'Reilly's Unix in a Nutshell is another excellent resource.

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