Getting started using ODIN

• What is UNIX?
• Logging In
• Changing Your Password
• Using ODIN's NETWORK ACCESS MENU
• Getting Help with Commands
• Logging Out
• Useful UNIX Commands
• UNIX file permissions
• Basics of using TCsh

What is UNIX? [Back to Top]

UNIX is the operating system that runs on the PSU ODIN servers. UNIX controls access to the computer, manages your files, prevents users from interfering with each other, and provides the environment application programs need to be able to run.

Logging In [Back to Top]

Open a ssh session to odin.pdx.edu. After you have connected to ODIN you are now logged into a timesharing computer that runs the UNIX operating system, you'll see

SunOS 5.6 login:

Enter your username and press Return. You'll see

Password:

Enter your password and press Return. (It won't be displayed). If you entered your username and password correctly, you should see a numbered %, the UNIX command prompt. If you made a mistake entering your username or password, you'll see the message

Login incorrect login:

Try reentering your username and password again, just in case you made a typing error. (Keep in mind that uppercase and lowercase characters are not interchangeable in UNIX.) If you continue to be unable to log in, you may need to have your password reset.

Changing Your Password [Back to Top]

Every few months you should change your password.

The best way to change your password is through the web at: http://www.account.pdx.edu/passwd

Or at the UNIX prompt Type

% passwd

You'll then need to verify the change as follows:

If your new password is too short, is a word in the dictionary, or is otherwise easily guessable, it may be rejected. A password will need to be 6-8 characters long, and will need to contain a mixture of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, characters, or numbers.

Using ODIN's NETWORK ACCESS MENU [Back to Top]

For help on using ODIN's Network Access menu see the documentation at the Helpdesk.

Getting Help with Commands [Back to Top]

UNIX commands are normally documented in online manual pages. For example, if you'd like to see information about the find command (list files), you'd type

The first screen of the man pages for find is displayed:

To search all manual pages for entries about a topic (like "find"), type

To retrieve an entry from a specific manual page section (e.g., to see the find entry from section 4), type

Logging Out [Back to Top]

To log out when you're finished, type

If you get the message, "There are stopped jobs," you've accidentally stopped execution of a command by hitting a Ctrl/Z sometime during your session. To log out in this situation, first see which jobs are stopped by typing

To restart a stopped job (e.g., job number 2), type

You can then continue your work on that job. When you finish, restart the next stopped job and finish working with it, and so on. You should then be able to log out normally. If you want to log out, regardless of the status of other jobs, type the logout command twice:

Useful UNIX Commands [Back to Top]

The command summary shown below is intended merely to serve as a quick refresher to jog your memory if you forget a basic UNIX command.

Working with Files

Editing Files

Working with Directories

Miscellaneous Commands

UNIX File Permissions [Back to Top]

Setting Default File Protections for New Files

Default file protections leave most new files readable to any user on your system who may attempt to look at them. To change this for files you create in the future, use Pico (or any other text editor) to change the default file permissions.

NOTE: If you want to publish files to the web DO NOT change the default file permissions unless you know what you are doing.

Setting File Protections for Existing Files

Some Basics of Using the TC Shell [Back to Top]

Many so-called UNIX commands are actually provided by the TC Shell. Take a look at the manual pages for tcsh (i.e., man tcsh).

Commandline File Completion

Working with the Command Line Editor

Combine Commands and Redirect Output

TC Shell Job Control

Changing Your Default Editor from Pico to vi

If You Damage Your .login File ...

If you damage or delete your .login (TC and C shell initialization) file, your account will not work properly and you'll need a fresh copy of the file. To get one, type