Some course homework and projects are completed using CAD tools located on the ECE computers in Kemper 2107. You may use one of those computers by either sitting at its console in Kemper 2107 or by logging into a computer remotely from off campus.
ssh (secure shell) is program and protocol that allows secure logins over insecure networks. Using ssh is the best way to log into ECE machines and work with them from remote computers. Within the ECE department from linux, ssh machinename should work however if it does not, type man ssh to see which options are needed.
You will need an ssh client and X server to be able to run magic and irsim from a department computer. These applications come standard on UNIX-based systems such as linux. Some helpful links to various programs for other systems are listed at the bottom of this page.
If needed, start your X Server. Refer to its documentation on how to setup "X11 Forwarding". In Linux and HP-UX the X server is always running.
Log into an ECE machine from your local ssh client.
Verify that you can display X11 applications on your local computer.
As of June 2020, you must connect through the College of Engineering's VPN to ssh into ECE computers from off campus. The library's VPN no longer works. This was implemented as a security measure due to the large number of hacking attempts coming into our computers. When you connect your computer to a university VPN, for all practical purposes, your computer at home will behave exactly the same as if you dragged an ethernet cable from your house to an ethernet port on campus and plugged it in there.
https://kb.ucdavis.edu/?id=09438 explains how to install the CoE VPN. The ECE department has a less-helpful Remote connection tutorial.
To test whether your VPN connection is working correctly, enter "what is my ip" into your browser both before connecting and after—the address will be different when you connect with the VPN.
Putty is a free, robust, and very easy to setup ssh xterm program for Windows.
Download and install Xming and PuTTY from the links below. Installing Xming will require that you first download the executable file (.exe), then install the program.
Xming: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming
PuTTY: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
Putty can also be found from:
putty.org > "Download PuTTY here" > www.chiark.greeneend.org.uk
> Binaries > LatestReleaseVers >
For Windows on Intel x86 > PuTTY > putty.exe
After installation, start Xming from the start menu. It is normal that you will not see any changes. Xming is necessary for applications running on the ECE computers to show windows on your local computer (using the X11 protocol).
Run PuTTY by double-clicking the icon you downloaded.
In the "Host Name (or IP address)" field, type "ComputerName.ece.ucdavis.edu". For example, for "python", then this field should be: "python.ece.ucdavis.edu"
"Port" field should already be "22"
"Connection type" should already be "SSH"
In the left column, click the "+" symbol next to "SSH", then click "X11". Check the box next to "Enable X11 forwarding".
In the left column, click "Session" at the very top.
In the "Saved Sessions" field, type a short name to remember the machine name such as "python"
Click "Save" so you can quickly double-click on python to log into that machine with one simple step.
Double-click on python to log into the machine.
Type in your ECE login and password. Verify your display is working using the tests above. Your Putty terminal window will now behave in exactly the same way as if you were logged into the console of the machine in Kemper Hall.
MobaXterm is another option for a ssh terminal program. Read the ECE Support instructions for MobaXterm. I have not used the it however it sounds like it has very nice features.
From Windows/Putty: follow the instructions given above.
From Linux/MacOS, type:
"ssh user_name@gopher.ece.ucdavis.edu -X"
for example using the machine "gopher". See "Available ECE Machines" web
page for a full list.
Type "xeyes" or "xclock" to verify that your display is working correctly. Type ctrl + c to kill the application.
You can also type "setenv | grep DISPLAY" and verify that a line of the form "DISPLAY=localhost:10.0" is displayed. If neither appear to be correct check your local client settings.
The ECE Support "Remote Connection Tutorial page may be helpful.
Since the waveform viewer requires the display of its X window, X forwarding must be handled correctly. The key is to enable trusted X11 forwarding.
Common possible options include:
-X for correct X11 operation,
-Y for correct X11 operation, and
-l ECEusername in case your local machine's username
is different from your ECE username.
Negatives: Once started, the environment must be run on the same machine. The session window size can not be changed which can be inconvenient if you log into your environment from different machines with different monitor sizes.
Linux: 3.10.0-514.6.1.e17.x86_64 (from uname -spr)
Ncverilog: 15.20-s012 (from ncverilog -version)
Design compiler: J-2014.09-SP2 (from dc_shell -version)
ECE machines that are active as of Jan. 24, 2017:
crowned rattle redbelly viper gopher cobra rat asp krait coral queen boom timber copper rainbow garter racer milk hognose python mud brown king blind deathadder scarlet swampWhen logging in, add the suffix .ece.ucdavis.edu after each hostname above.
ECE Machines that are offline as of Jan 24, 2017:
mamba
boa
adder
corn
indigo
fox
fierce
ribbon
The hostname snake.ece covers all systems in 2107 Kemper Hall. You may
either login to snake.ece.ucdavis.edu and be forwarded to an available
machine, or directly login to one of the machines shown above. If a
machine that is offline is selected, it will not respond to remote
connections.
2024/01/16 Re-wrote ssh section and added VPN notes 2020/10/20 Re-wrote putty instructions and put into a shareable file 2020/01/27 Minor edits 2019/01/26 Minor edits 2019/01/22 Minor edits 2019/01/17 Added MobaXterm reference plus minor edits 2017/01/25 Complete update of machines from SW and PW 2015/01/16 Changed procedure to point to ECE machines instead of VCL 2013/02/07 Updated ECE machines in 2107 2011/01/27 Updated ssh -Y info 2010/01/27 Updated DOT.cshrc path and machine info 2009/02/12 Written