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Logging in to the RCR's Alpha Server

Getting Started

The first step is to establish a "telnet" connection with the RCR's Alpha server.
During our "transition" for the next few weeks, the address of our UNIX machine will be ranger.med.nyu.edu

Once we have completed the transfer of all files in user accounts from the old VMS MCRCR0 machine over to the new UNIX machine, then the telnet address for the RCR will return to mcrcr0.med.nyu.edu

In order to use telnet (which stands for "Terminal emulation"), you will need some kind of program for your desktop computer.

For the Macintosh, we recommend the free software package NCSA Telnet

or Better Telnet (which is preferred by Academic Computing staff)

• The commercial Macintosh program VersaTerm PRO offers some additional functions such as multiple sessions and some graphics support.
  
  

For Windows computers we recommend the free program QVTnet . Many IBM compatible users have also had success with the LAN WorkPlace for DOS.

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Phone and Internet Connections

You can also connect to mcrcr0 from any computer outside the Medical Center either directly by phone to our own modems or via any other type of Internet connection (AOL, other telephone ISPs, Cable Modem, DSL, etc.)

To set up your home computer to dial directly into the NYU Medical Center modem pools, follow the instructions on the NYU Medical Center's Modem Access Web page

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Regardless of the type of computer and the type of Telnet program you are using, when you make a connection to ranger.med.nyu.edu you will get a screen that looks like this:

when the computer shows the login: prompt:

You type: your assigned username {RET}

Note: Usernames are created from the First 5 letters of your last name + the first letter of your first name + a two digit number. Your username on mcrcr0 should be the same as the first part of you NYU-SOM e-mail address.

When the computer shows

Password:

You type: your password {RET}

Notice that when you type a password, nothing shows up on the screen

Now you will get a screen that looks something like this. You can ignore all of the information that is typed on the screen and just go ahead with your work.

You can change your password with the passwd command.

The next step is to start up the GCG suite of programs with the GCG command. This will bring up a bunch of new information including the current versions of the databases installed on the system (if I have remembered to update the file that lists the databases when I update the databases). Now you are ready to start doing bioinformatics work.

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Using Computers for Molecular Biology
Stuart M. Brown, Ph.D, RCR, NYU Medical Center

Comments to: browns02@mcrcr.med.nyu.edu