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How to Run IDL on Your (Windows) Laptop




There are several options in running IDL on your PC. The simplest is to download a freeware Secure Shell program and remotely log in to the UG Astro servers. The more complicated method is to actually install IDL on your PC. IDL is a very expensive program to buy (even a student version) if you don't have access to a free copy. You can download an illegitimate version of course, but we won't go into that here. The following tutorial explains how to use IDL on the UG Astro servers remotely.

Windows:


Step 1 - Download and install an SSH (Secure Shell) client program.
There are many programs that will work. I recommend PuTTY (putty.exe) for its simplicity.


Step 2 - Download and install Exceed from the UCB software site.


Step 3 - Once both programs are operational, open PuTTY. There will be an options screen.

Type 128.32.92.45 for the Host Name, if you are trying to connect to the server from OUTSIDE of the astrolab. If you are inside of the lab, the Host should be 128.32.92.220, I think...

Port: 22.

Connection type: SSH.

Now go to Connection in the left side pannel.

Type 5 for Seconds between keepalives. (otherwise the connection will keep breaking if you stop typing for a minute in the terminal)

Below Connection (in the side pannel) click the [+] next to SSH to expand the menu.

Select X11 and click the check box next to Enable X11 forwarding. (to allow xWindows, which is the point of all of this)

Now go back to Session in the side pannel.

In the space under Saved Sessions, type a profile name like ugastro or something, and click save.

Now close PuTTY.


Step 4 - Open Exceed from the start menu or wherever.

Right click on the minused Exceed.

Select Tools -> Client Startup -> New...

When the window pops up, for Method, select from the drop down: Local Application.

For Command, click the browse button and select the putty.exe file.

Then Click the Save Icon and save the file as ugastro, or something you'll remember.

Finally click the green Run button.

This will start PuTTY, and from here you can select your ugastro profile in saved sessions. Double click the profile, and a terminal will open.

Type your UG Astro username and password and it should connect to aquarius.

Startup IDL and type: IDL> window,0 to see if the xwindows are working properly.

If you have problems you should ask someone else who is working on a laptop in the lab, and they can probably help you... of course, they will probably give you a completely different method.

GOOD LUCK!


Update: Paul Higgins - January 15, 2007 - UG Astro, Department of Astronomy, University of California at Berkeley