ECE Machines and Tool Setup for EEC 181

Using ECE Linux Computers in Kemper Hall or Remotely

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: 1) sitting at its console in Kemper 2107 or 2) by logging into a computer remotely from outside the 2107 lab. Remote logins are done by either: a) guacamole through a web browser, or b) ssh and X11 over a VPN.

ECE IT Documentation and FAQs

Read the Knowledge Base article Electrical and Computer Engineering RedHat Lab Resource Guide.

Read the ECE Department's Computer Resources page (at http://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/ > Quick Links > Computer Resources) where you can find answers for many computer-related questions.

Perhaps less helpful are the wide variety of help pages at the https://kb.ucdavis.edu/ Knowledge Base.

Logging into ECE machines remotely using guacamole

The guacamole interface is accessed through a web browser using your kerberos login. While very convenient both in terms of using a web browser and not requiring a VPN, the lag time can be somewhat higher.

You may log into 2107 linux machines through the following link from a web browser:
https://lab-access.engr.ucdavis.edu/

On the web page, select any computer listed under the 2107-Remote-Desktop heading. Do not use 2107-SSH since there is no X11 forwarding on SSH connections in Guacamole so it will be a text-based terminal only.

Once you have logged in using your kerberos login, your browser should appear the same as if you were sitting at a workstating in the 2107 lab.

Logging into ECE machines remotely using ssh (secure shell) and X11

ssh (secure shell) is a 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. Type "man ssh" if you want to learn more about ssh.

You will need an ssh client and X11 server to run magic and irsim remotely. These applications come standard on UNIX-based systems such as linux and MacOS. Info for other systems is listed at the bottom of this page.

1. If needed, start your X Server. Refer to its documentation on how to setup "X11 Forwarding". In Linux the X server is always running.

2. Log into an ECE machine from your local ssh client.

VPN — Virtual Private Network



Due to the large number of hacking attempts coming into campus, you must connect through a UCD VPN to ssh into ECE computers remotely. When you connect your computer to a university VPN, for all practical purposes, your computer will behave exactly the same as if you had dragged an ethernet cable from your location to an ethernet port on campus and plugged it in there.

There are two primary campus VPNs:

• Library. This seems to be the best option. Click https://library.ucdavis.edu/vpn/ for the VPN client and installation instructions.

• College of engineering. This seems to be for only research and requires special faculty permission as of 2026.

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.

Windows (PuTTY/Xming)

Putty is a free, robust, and very easy to setup ssh xterm program for Windows.

1. 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.

   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

   Xming: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming

2. 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).

3. Run PuTTY by double-clicking the icon you downloaded.

4. 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"

5. "Port" field should already be "22"

6. "Connection type" should already be "SSH"

7. In the left column, click the "+" symbol next to "SSH", then click "X11". Check the box next to "Enable X11 forwarding".

8. In the left column, click "Session" at the very top.

9. In the "Saved Sessions" field, type a short name to remember the machine name such as "python"

10. Click "Save" so you can quickly double-click on python to log into that machine with one simple step.

11. Double-click on python to log into the machine.

12. 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.

MacOS

Use the built-in Terminal program.

Windows (cygwin)

cygwin is a program for Windows that has a massive number of available packages, and behaves essentially exactly the same as a unix computer. The website http://xahlee.info/mswin/installing_cygwin.html is a helpful starting point.

To download and begin installation, go to https://www.cygwin.com/, click on "Install Cygwin". Then download and run setup-x86_64.exe (64-bit) to begin downloading the necessary packages.

Logging In

From Windows/Putty: follow the instructions given above.

From Linux, MacOS, or cygwin, type:
ssh user_name@snake.ece.ucdavis.edu -X
or ssh -l user_name snake.ece.ucdavis.edu -X
to log into the machine that should have a light load.

Test your ssh connection

Type "xterm", "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.

A few more ssh notes

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.

The ECE Support "Remote Connection Tutorial" page may be helpful.

Available ECE machines

Normally log into snake.ece.ucdavis.edu

All ECE machines in 2107 Kemper Hall should have the same installation of CAD tools.

RedHat Linux: 4.18.0-553.34.1.el8_10.x86_64     (from uname -spr)
NCverilog: 15.20-s031     (from ncverilog -version)
Design compiler: W-2024.09-SP1     (from dc_shell -version)
magic
ext2sim
irsim

ECE machine names (subject to change):

adder
asp
blind
boa
boom
brown
cobra
copper
corn
crowned
deathadder
fierce
fox
garter
gopher
hognose
indigo
king
krait
mamba
milk
mud
python
queen
racer
rainbow
rat
rattle
redbelly
ribbon
scarlet
swamp
timber
viper

Add the suffix .ece.ucdavis.edu after each hostname above.

Machines can also be accessed by their cumbersome but formal names: coe-ece-2107-01.ece.ucdavis.edu through coe-ece-2107-35.ece.ucdavis.edu

Using VNC from Windows or Mac

Positive: VNC will allow you to continue your entire environment including open windows and simulation sessions even if you login from a different machine or if your internet connection drops.

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.

1. Download and install VNC Viewer (or TightVNC Viewer)
2. Log into a suitable machine for your work
3. Create a VNC desktop by the command: vncserver. This will create a desktop with default resolution. If you want to specify the resolution by yourself, then you can use the -geometry option. The command will become: vncserver -geometry width x height. For example, your monitor resolution is 1920x1080, then just use: vncserver -geometry 1920x1080. Then a new desktop will be created, such as: 'python:1 (username)' desktop is python:1
4. Open TightVNC Viewer, if you want to log into "python" and the desktop number in step 4 is '1', in the "Remote Host" entry, type in: python.ece.ucdavis.edu:1, then click "Connect', a new small window will pop up for you to enter your password, after that, you are connected to the target machine
5. Note: You may receive an "Authentication Error" after you type your password in VNC, even if you use the correct password. To fix this problem, try this:
   1. Close all your vnc sessions.
   2. Then, on a 2107 computer, delete your ~/.vnc folder with: rm -rf ~/.vnc
   3. Then run: vncserver

Setting up Your Environment for CAD Tools

1. Open up a new terminal

2. Edit your ~/.cshrc file (for example, assuming you are using the csh or tcsh shell). Edit the ~/.bashrc file if you use the bash shell.

3. Add the line   module load altera/modelsim   and press enter

4. Add the line   module load altera/quartus   and press enter

5. Close this terminal window and open a new one.

A complete list of available module software can be found at: https://labs.engr.ucdavis.edu/#6

Updates

2025/01/13  Written