Accessing the Zoo from MacOSX Using FastX

Using FastX you can turn a window on Mac into the same Linux desktop that you see when you log into a Zoo node.

To install the software on your own Mac:

  1. Visit the Yale Software Library and download the file containing the FastX 2 Client application.
    If asked whether you would like to save the file, choose "Save File".
  2. Double click on the file you downloaded (FastX-2.0.64.dmg) to open the the disk image.
  3. When the icon for the "FastX" volume appears on the desktop, double click on it to open the "FastX" folder, which contains the application.
  4. When the "FastX" folder appears, drag the file "FastX" (which is the FastX application) to the desktop or wherever else you want to save it.
  5. To clean up, close the "FastX" folder and drag the icons for the "FastX" volume and the "FastX-2.0.64.dmg" disk image to the Trash.
  6. Launch the FastX application by double clicking on its icon.
    If asked whether you are sure that you want to open an application downloaded from the Internet, click "Open".
  7. Click on the + sign in the upper right-hand corner of the FastX window.
  8. In the tiny window that appears, click on "ssh".
  9. In the "New SSH Connection" window that appears,
  10. If warned that "This host is not recognized by the system.", click "Continue".
  11. Enter your password when requested.
  12. Close the "Zoo" window that appears.
  13. Close the "FastX" window.
If you run into difficulties up to this point, seek help from a student tech or one of the instructional staff.

Once you have installed the software, do the following to run FastX:

  1. Launch FastX by double clicking on its icon.
  2. In the "FastX" window that appears, double click on "Zoo".
  3. Enter your password when requested.
  4. In the "Zoo" window that appears, click on the + sign in the upper right-hand corner.
  5. In the "FastX" window that appears, double click on "mate".
    A resizable window containing a Zoo desktop will appear.
  6. When you log out of the Zoo, close the "Zoo" window and then close the "FastX" window.

Please report any errors in this set of instructions to angluin @ cs.yale.edu.

Last updated 08/25/17