Using Supporting OS/X Applications

Using OS/X X11

It is easiest to set up custom application starters to perform specific tasks with OS/X X11.

Authenticating to the Stat/CSL Printing Network

To use the Stat printers from a Mac connected to the wireless network, you must log in to the to the print authentication server and be authenticated as a valid user. The preferred way to connect a Mac OS/X system is through the X11 application. Please be sure that X11 is installed and functional before continuing. After starting X11, got to the Applications pull down and select Customize.... Select Add Item, and in the left (Name) column, enter:

Printauth

This is the name to be given to the custom command (change it to whatever you prefer). In the middle (Command) column, enter:

xterm -e ssh <yourID>@print-authgw.cs.wisc.edu

where yourID is your Stat department user ID. Select Done. Now, when you pull down the Applications menu in X11, you can select Printauth and an SSH session will open asking for your Stat department password. Once you enter the password, a message will appear saying you are authenticated for printing and that the window can be hidden, but should not be disconnected or closed. You now have access to Stat printing services. For instructions on setting up a printer, go to Printing from a Mac to Statistics Printers

Accessing Linux Desk Server Applications from a Pull-Down Menu

The "Applications" pull-down menu gives Mac users direct access to many Linux applications. Please be sure that X11 is installed and functional before continuing. After starting X11, got to the Applications pull down and select Customize.... Select Add Item, and in the left (Name) column, enter:

XMenu

This is the name to be given to the custom command (change it to whatever you prefer). In the middle (Command) column, enter:

xterm  -e ssh -Y <yourID>@<yourServer>.stat.wisc.edu "/p/stat/bin/Applications"

where yourID is your Stat department user ID and yourServer is the name of the Stat computer you want to work on. Select Done. Now, when you pull down the Applications menu in X11, you can select Xmenu and an SSH session will open asking for your Stat department password. Once you enter the password, a pull-down menu will appear in the top-left of your window. You can then hide the SSH session, but it should not be disconnected or closed. You can then select applications from the pull-down "Applications" menu that will run on the specified server but be displayed on your Mac.

Accessing Linux Desk Server Applications with a Simple X-Terminal Session

If you prefer using the command line to start Linux applications, you can use this simple X-Terminal option. You can get a similar X-Terminal by selecting one from the pull-down menu described above. Please be sure that X11 is installed and functional before continuing. After starting X11, got to the Applications pull down and select Customize.... Select Add Item, and in the left (Name) column, enter:

XTerm

This is the name to be given to the custom command (change it to whatever you prefer). In the middle (Command) column, enter:

xterm -sb -sl 6000 -e ssh -Y <yourID>@<yourServer>.stat.wisc.edu

where yourID is your Stat department user ID and yourServer is the name of the Stat computer you want to work on. Select Done. Now, when you pull down the Applications menu in X11, you can select XTerm and an X-Terminal session will open asking for your Stat department password. Once you enter the password, the terminal session is available for you to enter Linux commands on the command line. The -sb and -sl 6000 options provide a scroll bar function that saves up to 6000 lines of terminal history.

-- MikeRedmond - 17 Oct 2008