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Getting an Account and Logging In

Getting an account

The interactive logon service to Linux for all CERN users is called LXPLUS. The AFS file service provides a distributed file system. Central EMAIL and WINDOWS services also exist at CERN. Accounts must be obtained on all these services in order to use them.

The procedure for getting a personal computer account to use all these services at CERN is described in the Account Registration page. The procedure requires that you contact your group account administrator. If you are in PH/SFT group please contact Nathalie Knoors.

The use of CERN's computers, networks and related services, are governed by a set of rules. Please read these carefully and abide by them.

Refer to the CERN/IT Home Page for further information on all the services managed by CERN/IT department.

Checking your account exists

To find out if your account has been registered do the following (accessible only from inside CERN):

1. Go to the CERN Phonebook
2. Fill in your name and press 'Start Search'
3. Select your entry from the list returned
4. Select the 'accounts' link at the bottom of the page

Here is an example of a page with the AFS and PLUS services enabled.

Connecting to LXPLUS from your Linux desktop computer

If your desktop machine runs Unix use the command ssh:

ssh your_account@lxplus.cern.ch

$ ssh aimar@lxplus.cern.ch
*******************************************************************************
*                    The LXPLUS Public Login Unix Service                     *
* http://cern.ch/ComputingRules : Govern the use of CERN computing facilities *
*******************************************************************************
aimar@lxplus.cern.ch's password: 

Connecting to LXPLUS from your Windows desktop computer

Using Exceed to connect from Windows

Hummingbird Exceed is available from the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. Click Add New Programs, select Hummingbird Exceed and then click the Add button.

All information on how to configure and install Exceed is available here.

Using putty to connect from Windows

If your desktop machine runs Windows use the application "putty":

• To install putty go to the PuTTY download page and download locally the file putty.exe.
• Start the putty application and enter lxplus.cern.ch in the hostname field.
• Then you will be prompted to login. Use your AFS username and password.
• Once you have logged in issue the command setenv DISPLAY "" in order to make sure that when you edit the putty window will be used.

Your session should then look like this:

*******************************************************************************
*                                                                             *
*                    The LXPLUS Public Login Unix Service                     *
*                         (Scientific Linux SLC 3.0.5)                        *
*                                                                             *
*                                                                             *
* A web page containing information about this Linux version on LXPLUS:       *
*   http://cern.ch/plus/SLC3.html                                             *
* In case of problems, please contact the helpdesk: tel 78888                 *
* If you have any feedback not already included there please send it to:      *
*   it-dep-fio-lxslc3@cern.ch                                                 *
*                                                                             *
* In                                                                          *
* http://cern.ch/plus           : Information on the usage of LXPLUS/LXBATCH  *
* http://cern.ch/ComputingRules : Govern the use of CERN computing facilities *
*                                                                             *
*******************************************************************************

[... removed lines ...]

lxplus001 /afs/cern.ch/user/a/aimar [1]>

Now you are connected to the Linux central computer service.

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Further Reading

Information on the current certified version of Linux in use on the central services is documented here. Currently this is Scientific Linux CERN 3 (SLC3). Further information including details on how to install SLC3 can be found here.

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-- AlbertoAimar - 05 Aug 2005