Introduction to the CSCI Linux Lab (OCNL 251)

Compiled by Dr. J (BJuliano@csuChico.edu)



  1. Overview

    This Module gives a brief introduction to the Department of Computer Science (CSCI) Linux Lab, OCNL 251. In particular, this module only provides an overview of the Desktop Environment used in the CSCI Linux Lab. Prior to going through this Module, you are expected to have already setup your ECC Unix account and know a little bit of Unix.

    1. Lab Setup

      The computers in OCNL 251 are Dell Optiplex 755s (2.83GHz Intel Core2 Quad CPU with 8GB RAM) running Slackware 13.1 64-bit Linux (version 2.6.33.4) with the Gnome 2.32 desktop environment

    2. The GNOME Desktop Environment

      The GNOME desktop environment, an intuitive and attractive desktop for users. GNOME is free, usable, accessible, international, developer-friendly, organized, and supported. Additional information is available from the GNOME website at gnome.org ... 

  2. The Default GNOME Desktop

    This section describes various portions of your default (initial) GNOME desktop, which will be similar to Figure 1 below.



    Figure 1: The default GNOME Desktop.

    The various sections of the desktop are ...

    1. Default GNOME Desktop objects

      1. Computer - gives you access to CDs, removable media such as USB drives, and also the entire filesystem (pending the appropriate security permissions).

      2. Username's Home - your home folder, where Username is replaced by your ECC Unix username, where all your personal files are kept; your home folder is also accessible from the Places menu

      3. Home - same as your home folder  [Sorry, this is currently not working!!!]

      4. System - [Sorry, this is currently not working!!!]

      5. Trash - special folder in chich to place files and folders you no longer need.

      Additional icons may appear on the desktop, like when you insert a CD, a flashdrive, or other removable media, or a device containing files such as a music player or a digital camera. You may also choose to store files directly on your desktop for easy access.


    2. the GNOME Panel (a.k.a. the "Taskbar")

      The GNOME Panel is a highly configurable launcher analogous to the Taskbar in MS Windows variants. By default, GNOME usually contains two panels (one on the top of the desktop, and one to its opposite on the bottom) spanning the width of the screen. These are called the top panel and the bottom panel, respectively. In the CSCI Unix Lab, these panels may both be on the bottom of the desktop on top of each other.

      We will discuss the components of the GNOME Panel next, starting with the left side then moving on to the right side.



      Figure 2: Left side of the GNOME panel.

      In the default GNOME Desktop, the default components on the left side of the GNOME top panel are (listed left to right from Figure 2):
      1. Applications, the "Applications" navigation menu - contains links to common applications

      2. the "Places" navigation menu - contains links to various areas of the file system

      3. the "System" navigation menu - contains links to system preferences and administration utilities

      4. Terminal, the "Terminal" emulator application shortcut
      5. Firefox, the "Firefox" web browser shortcut
      6. Vim, the "Vim" editor shortcut
      7. Scite, the "SciTE" SCIntilla-based Text Editor shortcut

      The left side of the GNOME bottom panel contains
      1. Hide or Restore Desktop, the "Show Desktop" button - use this to minimize all windows and quickly reveal the desktop, which can also be done by pressing Ctrl+Alt+D
      2. active applications will appear on the bottom panel, right next to the "Show Desktop" button, allowing you to switch between application windows on a given desktop by either (1) clicking on the appropriate window/application button on the bottom panel; or (2) pressing Ctrl-Alt-Tab repeatedly to toggle among all windows, then release when the title of the appropriate window appears in the middle of your screen.




      Figure 3: Sample GNOME Desktop with some active application windows.

      Figure 3 above illustrates a sample GNOME Desktop with three active application windows (gedit text editor with two C++ source files opened, Mozilla Firefox browser showing part of the CSCI website, and a GNOME Terminal window). Notice that to the immediate right of the "Show Desktop" button are three buttons that allow you to switch to the appropriate application window.



      Figure 4: Right side of the GNOME panel.

      In the default GNOME Desktop, the default components on the right side of the GNOME top panel are (listed left to right from Figure 4):
      1. Power Management, the "Power Management Preferences" button
      2. Tasks/Appointments, the "Date/Time and Tasks/Appointments" button
      3. Tasks/Appointments, the "Window Selector" button - only looks this way if you have no active application windows on your desktop; otherwise, shows a small icon containing the currently active application window. You can click on this button on the top panel to switch between application windows. (Notice that in Figure 3 above, this button shows the "Terminal" icon which is the currently active application window on the desktop - indicated by the dark blue/grey top bar on the "Terminal" window.)
      4. Firefox, the "Logout" button - always remember to click this button when you are done with your session!!!

      The right side of the GNOME bottom panel contains
      • Virtual Desktops, the "Virtual Desktops" button - use this to switch between one of four (default) desktops available to you. (Notice that in Figure 3, the active desktop area to the right of the bottom panel outlines the application windows currently on display on that desktop.)


  3. Remote Access to ECC Unix Servers

    For information on remote access (e.g. from home or from your laptop) to ECC Unix Servers, please go here.


  4. Your Turnin Directory on the Server

    For information on your turnin directory for submitting your programming assignments to ECC Unix Servers, please go here.


  5. Accessing Code Used in Class

    For information on how to access code used in class that are also stored in the ECC Unix Servers, please go here.


  6. References

    1. GNOME homepage, http://www.gnome.org
    2. GNOME documentation library, http://library.gnome.org
    3. GNOME project listing, http://projects.gnome.org
    4. Wikipedia entry for GNOME, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME
    5. Wikipedia entry for GNOME Panel, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNOME_Panel
    6. Wikipedia lis of GNOME applications, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GNOME_applications



Note: This Module is based on information Dr. J put together for the former
CSCI Thin Clients Lab in OCNL 244, which is now the
CSCI Networks and Systems Lab, and the former KDE-version of the
CSCI Linux Lab in OCNL 241.
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