Linux lab computer

General
Logging in with your username and password
Remote connections
Disk space
Printing
Email and calendar
Software and upgrades
Network

General

TUNI Linux is a centrally maintained Linux workstation and server environment that is available to all students and staff across Tampere Universities.

This page offers instructions for using staff members’ TUNI Linux computers. For problems with the Linux computers, please contact the it-helpdesk [at] tuni.fi (IT Helpdesk). Include the name of the computer (name.lin.tuni.fi), a detailed description of the problem and the time when the problem occurred in your email.  

If your problem concerns course-specific software or a course assignment, please contact the course staff.

Logging in with your username and password

Log in to a TUNI Linux computer with your TUNI username and password. You cannot use your TUNI email address as your username when logging in to a Linux computer.

Desktop

After you have typed your username, click the cogwheel icon and select your preferred desktop from the drop-down menu. GNOME 3 and GNOME 3 Classic are the centrally supported desktops. You can choose to use other desktops, but please be aware that our IT staff do not test or provide user support to the other desktops. We recommend you use GNOME 3. GNOME 3 Classic looks much the same as the older GNOME 2 but the similarities are largely superficial.
For instructions on using GNOME 3, please see Redhat’s Desktop Migration and Administration Guide (Chapter 1. Introducing the GNOME 3 Desktop) and the GNOME wiki (GNOME 3 Cheat Sheet). As Tweak Tool and Shell Extensions are already installed on the TUNI Linux computers, the “No topleft hot corner” extension is enabled and moving the mouse near the top left will not trigger the Activities overview.

First login

When you log in to the GNOME 3 or GNOME 3 Classic desktop for the first time, you need to select your display language and keyboard layout (Input Source). You can skip the Online Accounts setting at this stage.

Passwords and the GNOME keyring

The GNOME Keyring application, which stores your security credentials and makes them available to different applications, is enabled by default on your GNOME desktop. The Keyring is used by at least the GNOME Online Accounts, Evolution and NetworkManager. The Keyring protects your passwords and private keys by encrypting them using a master password. When you log in, the Keyring will unlock individual applications automatically. Use the Passwords and keys application to manage your stored passwords and encryption keys.

If you change your password the Keyring will no longer be automatically activated when you log in, but you will be prompted to reset your Keyring password.

Remote connections

Remote access to the classroom computers is not allowed. You can set up a remote connection to TUNI Linux via Tiger VNC (linux-desktop.tuni.fi servers) or SSH (linux-ssh.tuni.fi servers). These servers have access to the same home directory and network drives as the classroom computers. Instructions about using shared TUNI Linux SSH and Remote Desktop Servers can be found at IT Handbook.

Disk space

Home directory on shared TUNI Linux computers

The shared TUNI Linux computers, meaning the computers located in the computer labs and the desktop and SSH servers, all have the same home directory. As disk space is limited, the home directory is primarily intended for configuration files. You should store your work in the network drive under the tuni/home/ directory.

If you have been using TUT Linux computers and you have files in TUT Linux home directories, you can find instructions how to move your files to TUNI Linux home directories at Intra page Moving files from TUT Linux home directory.

Network drives

Your personal network drive (the P: drive on TUNI Windows computers) appears in the /tuni/home/<username> directory.

Local disk space

The remaining disk space left over from operating system and software installations is available in the /worktmp/ directory. If necessary, you can create a directory that corresponds to your username under /worktmp/ for storing your files. The /worktmp/ directory may be a symbolic link depending on the computer but you should still create all references through the /worktmp/ link. Do not store any important files in the /worktmp/ directory as it has no backups or redundancy in place.

IT staff may delete files stored in the /worktmp/ directory to free up disk space on the shared computers.

Printing

The SecurePrint print queue is available by default on all TUNI Linux computers. Please see the IT handbook for more information about printing services.

Email and calendar

You can access your Office 365 email through a web browser at https://outlook.office.com/ or a variety of applications. Log in with your TUNI email address and password.

The Gnome Online Accounts service is used for integrating your Office365 email and calendar to your GNOME desktop and the Evolution application.

Set up your Office365 email account as a Gnome Online Account as follows:

Select Applications -> System Tools -> Settings and click Online Accounts. In the Online Accounts dialog, click the plus (+) button and select Microsoft Exchange. Provide the following information:

• E-mail: your TUNI email address
• Password: your TUNI password
• Custom
  • Username: your TUNI email address
  • Server: outlook.office365.com

Online Account will automatically save your password to the GNOME Keyring (see above).

You can also read your email with other email clients such Mozilla Thunderbird (see instructions in the IT-services handbook).

Please see the IT handbook for more information about email services.

Software and upgrades

The TUNI Linux computers are equipped with the standard set of software and course-specific software. If software you need is not available, please can send an inquiry to the IT Helpdesk.

Upgrades are installed automatically without user intervention. The TUNI Linux lab computers are automatically restarted overnight.  

Network

Dedicated network outlets are provided for the TUNI Linux computers in the computer labs on campus. Do not plug in any other devices into these outlets.

IT Helpdesk
0294 520 500
it-helpdesk [at] tuni.fi (it-helpdesk[at]tuni[dot]fi)
helpdesk.tuni.fi