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Sun Ray Usage

Important notes on Sun Ray use in the PSU CSE Labs

Sun Ray Usage

 

Important notes on Sun Ray use

 

The Sun Ray is a thin client, and as such operates somewhat differently than a typical Solaris workstation. Most notably, you will NOT be able to use the older OpenWindows desktop unless you follow these steps. Also, for older accounts, selecting the GNOME Desktop may result in the execution of the OpenWindows Desktop instead. To ensure that your account is up to date, please perform the following steps. You can perform these steps at any Solaris workstation (including the Sun Ray clients).

  1. If using a Sun Ray client, click the "Options" menu, scroll to "Session" and choose "Common Desktop Environment (CDE)". If using a regular SunBlade 1000/2000 or Ultra 5 workstation, you can skip this step, and log in with your preferred desktop.
  2. Enter your user name and password and log in.
  3. In a terminal window, execute the following program: /usr/local/bin/new_dots
  4. The new_dots program will back up your current "dot" files (such as .Xsession, .cshrc.cat, .fvwm2rc, etc.) to the .hold directory (in your home directory) and will install new ones. If you have previously made modifications to these files, you can integrate them back in to your new dot files(1) Be sure not to run new_dots twice, this will destroy the backup copies in .hold.
  5. Exit your session.

You may now log in as usual. You can select any of the three desktops (GNOME, OpenWindows, or CDE).

 

Some neat features

 

The Sun Ray client supports Smart Cards. Those of you with original PSU id+ cards with the java chip on the front (i.e. the ones in use until December 2004) can use mobile sessions. We may offer cheap or free smart cards to those without old cards at a later date. To use mobile sessions, simply insert your card into the smart card slot on the front of the Sun Ray client. After a second or two, a new login screen should be displayed. You can now log in as usual. Removing your card will cause the client to return to a login screen, but your session will be saved (and locked). You can reinsert your card on another client and restore your desktop there.

 

Those of you who have set up ssh keys for easy access to other systems may note that an ssh-agent is now automatically started around the desktop process. Additionally, ssh-add is run as part of the session startup process in the new �dot� files. If your ssh key has a passphrase, you'll now see a passphrase dialog. If not, your key will automatically be added to the agent, so steps you took to do this before are no longer necessary. For more information on setting up SSH keys (to allow you to log in without a password), see FAQ entry #36

 

 

Please report any problems, complaints, (praise?), etc. to the CSE IT Helpdesk.

 

1

At a minimum, you must incorporate the changes made to .Xsession, and remove the .xinitrc symbolic link for Sun Ray clients to work properly in other desktops.

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