Obtaining a login/password

In order to login to our Linux server, you need to obtain a hostname, username and password.  To receive these, fill and submit this form.  You should receive a username and password within the next business day.

Tutorial Examples

StarNet's Online Tutorial will provide instruction for accomplishing the following tasks on the online Linux server:

• Create a LIVE Session
• Running LIVE Sessions
• Create an SSH Session
• Running X-Term Sessions
• Setting up a Sessions Shortcut on Your Windows Desktop

WARNING!! Because you are connecting over the Internet to the Online Tutorial Linux server located at StarNet's office in California, the response may seem slow. Commands that take a fraction of a second to execute on a Local Area Network, may take several seconds. Please do NOT make performance conclusions until you have set up sessions on a server on your own network.

Create a LIVE Session

1. Start X-Win32 and select X-Config from the Taskbar menu (right-Click).
2. On the Session Name window, enter a name for the session, such as "LIVE Session".
3. Use the Session WIZARD option and select the "LIVE" Connection Method.
4. On the Host Name window, enter the host name you have been given.
5. On the Login/Password window, enter your username and password.
6. In the next section, select GNOME in the Type field, press Finish.

Running LIVE Sessions

To launch the session, Click on the task bar icon and select the session name. The GNOME desktop will appear in a window. You can run any application on your desktop.

To suspend your session Click on the LEFT icon in the title bar and select Suspend. Relaunching the session will reconnect to your running session.

To terminate your session Click on the LEFT icon in the title bar and select Terminate. Relaunching the session will create a new instance.

Back To Top

Create an SSH Session

We will use the xterm application in this example to set up an SSH-based session named "xSSH"

1. In X-Config, select the Wizard and click the SSH Connection Method.
2. On the Session Name window, enter "xSSH".
3. On the Host Name Window, enter the hostname you were given.
4. On the Login/Password window, enter your username and password.
5. On the next window, select "Linux". "/usr/bin/xterm" will appear on the command line. Press Finish to complete the set up.

Back To Top

Running X-Term Sessions

1. Click on the X-Win32 taskbar icon and select the session name you want to run.
2. An xterm window will open. To see the list of applications available, type "ls /usr/X11R6/bin" and press Enter. Note: The command "ls /usr/X11R6/bin" is specific to Linux. On different operating systems this may vary. Please contact your system administrator for guidance.
3. On the list of files, type the name of any of the following sample applications or any application on a linux server and press enter:
   • xclock
   • xeyes
   • xcalc
   • xclipboard
4. The application will come up in a window on your desktop.
5. You can run multiple applications by adding a "&" after each executable command so that the command prompt will return for entering the next executable command. For example, "xterm&".

Back To Top

Setting up a Sessions Shortcut on Your Windows Desktop

You can set up desktop icon shortcuts to your X session, which makes running the application as simple as double-clicking the icon.

1. Launch X-Config
2. In the Sessions tab, select the session in which you want to create the shortcut.
3. Press the Shortcut button.
4. Give the shortcut a name and press OK.

You will find a new X-Win32 icon on your Windows desktop with the name of that session. To run the session, simply double-click on the icon.

Back To Top