ECE Machines and Tool Setup for EEC 281

Working from Off Campus

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.

Setting up an ECE computer account

If you have not yet set up an ECE computer account, go to the ECE home page http://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/, click Resources, click Computing Support, and look for "Request ECE Computer Account" and fill out and submit the form.

Logging into ECE machines with ssh (secure shell)

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.

1. 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.

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

3. Verify that you can display X11 applications on your local computer.

VPN — Virtual Private Network



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.

Windows (Xming/PuTTY)

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.

   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

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.

Logging In

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.

Test Your ssh connection

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.

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.

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 281 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

Available ECE machines

All ECE machines in 2107 Kemper Hall have the same installation of NC Verilog and Design Compiler. (confirmed by Phil)

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
swamp

When 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.

Setting up Your Environment for CAD Tools

1. Open up a new terminal

2. Type 'setup cadence' (without quotes) and press enter

3. Type 'setup designcompiler' (without quotes) and press enter

4. The tools will work once you close this terminal and open up a new one.

Updates

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