Yurt Remote instructions

Accessing the YURT

There are two possible ways to access the YURT: SSH and VNC.

Using VNC:

(Note that these instructions are from Spencer's Paraview YURT tutorial, but I included them here for clarity)

  • Download and install the CCV VNC client from this link.

  • Next, open the CCV VNC client by double-clicking the downloaded CCV VNC client jar file

  • Log in with your CCV credentials.

    • You may get a screen saying something like "Starting up CCV VNC session" -- this is normal. Just wait for the popup option to appear.

    • Once it does, it's important that you get a machine with a GPU so make sure to select the option that says "( 3 Cores - 15 GB Memory 2 GPU) ."

    • You may need to cancel and retry this a few times -- often times, a node might not be available to connect to right away. This is normal.

    • Also, ensure that you are connecting to the server desktop.ccv.brown.edu.

  • Once you are connected, a desktop should appear.

  • At this point, you should use the terminal provided by the desktop to run any necessary commands to launch your program.

Using SSH:

  • If you are on:

    • MacOS / Linux:

      • Type: ssh YOUR_CCV_USERNAME@ssh.ccv.brown.edu in your terminal and enter your CCV password

    • Windows:

      • Open PuTTY

      • Click on Session and in the Host Name field type: ssh.ccv.brown.edu

      • Next, click the Open button.

      • Then, a new window will open and you will be asked to type your CCV username and password

  • Once SSH connects to the YURT, you can run any necessary commands to launch your program.

Turning the YURT On / Off

Reminder: at this point, you should be connected to the YURT over SSH or VNC. If you're using VNC, you'll need to open the terminal to complete the following steps.

Turning the YURT On

  • Type ../cavedemo/yurt-kiosk/System/Turn_On_Yurt/run from your home directory

Turning on only the Front Wall

  • Type ../cavedemo/yurt-kiosk/System/Turn_On_Minimal/run from your home directory

  • Note that this command is a substitute for the regular YURT Turn On script

Turning the YURT Off

  • Type ../cavedemo/yurt-kiosk/System/Turn_Off_Yurt/run from your home directory

Please remember that turning the YURT on and off is expensive. Run these commands sparingly per YURT session and MAKE SURE TO TURN THE YURT OFF AFTER YOU'RE FINISHED

Killing Programs on the YURT

Reminder: at this point, you should be connected to the YURT over SSH or VNC. If you're using VNC, you'll need to open the terminal to complete the following steps.

Stopping a program on the YURT is relatively simple. To do this, type:

  • yurt-kill

Note that if you are logged into a cave node and you run this command, then your ssh instance will be exited. So, it's recommended that you only run this command when you're not sshed into a cave node.

Running Programs on the YURT Kiosk

Reminder: at this point, you should be connected to the YURT over SSH or VNC. If you're using VNC, you'll need to open the terminal to complete the following steps.

All of the commands and programs available on the YURT Kiosk are stored in the directory /users/cavedemo/yurt-kiosk. To access this directory from your home directory on OSCAR type:

  • cd ../cavedemo/yurt-kiosk/

Once you are in this directory, you access and run all of the kiosk programs you need to. For example, if you'd like to run the gigapixel, you'd execute:

  • ./Demos/Gigapixel_Viewer/run

More generally, all programs on the YURT Kiosk are executed using the run file located in the directories representing these programs. So, if the kiosk has a program stored under:

  • /blah/random_program/

then this program can be executed by typing:

  • ./blah/random_program/run

Operating the YURT Webcam

To operate the YURT webcam, you will need to install Teamviewer on your computer. Once Teamviewer is installed:

  • Open Teamviewer

  • Under the Control Remote Computer panel, enter the partner ID 490 152 785 and click Connect

  • Then, you will be prompted to enter a password. The password for the YURT is t2mm95 (this appears to have changed on 8/22/20 to be k4sd97!!)

  • Next, you will see a Windows login screen. Login as the YURT (no password required)

The easiest way to view the YURT webcam is to use Zoom. You should first create a Zoom meeting using your computer. Then:

  • On the remote computer, open Zoom and join the meeting you created

  • Once you've joined the meeting on the remote computer, change the video source to Logitech Webcam C930e in Zoom (seem the image below)

  • Now, you should able to view the webcam stream from the YURT on your computer via Zoom

Issues

  • If the YURT camera is not working over Zoom, make sure that the Logitech camera application is closed, as this application prevents Zoom from using the camera.

Help Resources

If you ever have any questions or feel lost, consider consulting the following resources:

  • As always, the course TA(s) can be reached over Slack or via email

  • If you are having trouble logging into the YURT or have any technical issues with the YURT, contact the CCV

  • If you need someone to physically visit the YURT for you, consider contacting David -- over Slack or Email --. You could also post to the class, since some will still be on campus.

  • If you are running a specific piece of software, the following resources might be helpful: